The silver state. [volume] (Unionville, Nev.) 1870-1903, 1880-07-17
A HORRIBLE FATE.
The skeleton Ofa NissiRG Child Found
In the Den OF II Black snake.


land, six miles northwest from West
Union, Ohio, says correspondent OF
the New York Sun, is much excited
over the killing of aa enormous black
snake, that for several years has played
havoc with the farmers focks. Hogs,
poultry, calves, sheep, etc.. have mys-
teriously disappeared, always at night.
Two years ago band of gypsies were
camped in the neighborhood, and they
were accused of stealing the missing
property. John Painforth, farmer
who greatly suffered from these depre-
dations, swore out a warrant before
Squire Peter AIMS, and had several OF
them arrested Nothing was proved
against them and they were discharged.
They went away muttering threats of
vengeance.
MIR. Rainforth had golden-haired
little daughter, four years old, whose
beauty and sunny temper was the prize
of her parents. On the day after the
arrest OF the gypsies little Nellie Rain
forth was missed She was last seen
playing with a pet lamb on the edge OF
rocky ridge, short distance from the
house. Search was made for her, but
neither the girl nor lamh were found.
The whole neighborhoGd was aroused
and men searched the fields aud woods
for miles around. Mr.. Ralnforth sus-
pected the gypsies Of abdacting her out
of revenge for their arrest, and followed
the party across the Ohio river, into
Lewis county, Kentucky. When he
came up with them, they Indignantly
denied all knowledge of the child's
whereabouts, and search OF their camp
failed TO discover Ais little daughter.
He then returned to his home broken
hearted.
Qne day recently Mr. Rainforth was
planting field Of about 25 ceres, near
his house. He had not been at work
long when he discovered what at first
seemed to be fresh furrow across the
middle of the field Ee stopped work
and followed the track TO a fence that
separated the field from a dense thicket
OF underbrush On the fence he found
blood and some sheep's wool, which at
orce convinced him that the body of
sheep had been dragged across the
fence. He went to his pastuse and
found that large Cotswold ram was
missing. Accompanied by four or five
OF his neighbors, he made search for
the missing sheep. The track through
the brush was marked by drops OF
blood and tufts of wool About sixty
rods from the fence they came to n
ledge of rocks, forming one side Of
steep hill The track led directly to
this ledge, in which they found open
ing OF sufficient size TO admit the body
OF a large man. a large chsrge Of giant
powder was exploded in she opening,
and the rocks were thrown asunder by
the blast. When THE smoke cleared
away, the farmers drew near and
peered down the opening, aud there,
among at least a wagon-load OF bones,
lay huge black snake Quivering from
his hurt. The farmers waited until the
snake was dead, and then attached
cham to his body and dragged the NOR
ster from his hole. lie measured fiji
Teen feet seven inches IN length, and
the biggest part of his body was over
two feet in circumference. He had an
ugly-looking head and enormous fangs.
sharp as needles. The missing ram
hay beside him, crushed out OF shape,
and covered with sticky, glutinous
substance.
visited the spot to-day, and saw
the monster snake While | was there
men were at work clearing the den of
the bones. One of th I'M picked up
human skull. Ii was small, like a
child's, and he brougkt 1t forward to
the light. Mr. Rainforth was standing
by my side when the man came toward
us with the skull in his hand. He
glanced at it, and staggering against a
tree, buried his face in his hands and
burst into tears.
Poor little Nellie, he cried through
his sobs, "My God, it is horrblel"
After time he controlled his feel
ings and told me the story Of his little