The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1880-05-08

not last long and his last wcrds, as he sank
to the floor were God bless you and the
child, dear Mary, aud 10 His name don't
uncover your head-then the snakes can't
harm you Some Of the men will release
You tomorrow ! Good byel good bye!"
Imagine the thoughts of the poor wife
compelled to listen to the agony Of her
loved one, helpless herself and unable to
render him any assistance, and her child
to save.
All that long night and the next morn
ing she lay, covered and half suifocated,
afraid to move, and quietiug her child,
whilst the scaly reptiles crawled over her
and even coiled themselves to sleep on and
around her warm body, protected from
their deadly fangs only by the bed clothes,
aud, oh horrible thought, if she should
disarrange the covering and they should
crawl beneath. Thus passed that night Of
horror TO that poor woman.
In the morning the men who worked
for Atkinson wondered at his prolonged
absence, he being generally the first to
make his appearance, until one Of the par
" mentioned that in passing the new
house late at night, on his way TO town, he
thought he heard screams proceeding from
II, but when he got opposite and stopped
to listen, he heard nothing and 80 conclud-
ed that he must have been mistaken.
This was enough TO alarm the workmen
who all liked john Atkinson, and proceed
ing to the house in body they Knocked
on the door and were answered by a smoth-
cred voice, the only word Of which they
could understand being Snakes !"
just then one Of the men, who had been
reconnoitering 10 the rear of the house,
startled his comrades by exclaiming -
my God, boys, come here This house
is built on rattlesnakc den"
1t was only too true; the reptiles were
crawling in and out Of small hole under
the rock and the truth at once flashed
upon their minds.
1t would be certain death TO some oil
them if they dared to enter by the door OF
window. But at suggestion from one oI
the party, some Immediately scaled the low
house and proceeded to tear the board.
from the roof, whilst one or two other,
fastened in search ofropes. After having
demolished the roof sickening sight wa,
disclosed to their view In the centre oI
the room lay the ghastly skeleton of Johr
Atkinson, tho serpents having literally
eaten every particle Of flesh from the bones
while they swnrmcd in hundreds, wrthin.
and darting hilher and thither, Kissing anC
striking at every thing in their way il
their blind passion, at being disturbed a
their horrible feast.
The men having by this time arrived
with the ropes, they succeeded, after man.
failures, in fastening the rope to each beC
post and, while one of the men kept th,
snakes off the bed with a pole, hoisted tn
bed and its occupants bodily out Of III,
room and lowered it to the ground.
Whom they uncovered poor Mary anC
the child they found that she had tainted
BY this time several women had appeared
on the scene and these took charge Of he
aud the child, whom they conveyed t,
town.
The men in the meantime, having nov
no fear for the mother and child, battere,
down the shanty and secured the ghastl,
skeleton; after which they rolled coupl
of kegs of powder, which they procure,
from the railroad, under the rock, aud
lighting the prepared fuse, blowed up tht
rock, snakes and all, into mince meat
The few snakes which survived the explo
sion they killed easily with rods.
Mrs. Atkinson survived, but she wa
for many years raving maniac, and he
once beautiful hair, eyes aud complexion
had turned in that night Of horror, to wha
you now see. She has, however, become
rational again, except when snakes arr
spoken Of in erprescnce, and then she once
more becomes insane aud lives over tha
night again, in all its horrid details Thes,
fits are becoming rare and less violcn
lately, and we have hopes that ultimately
they viii altogether cease.
Yes sir the child lived and is now my
dear wife. You can see her coming VI
the road now, leading her mother, ovel
whom she has a wonderful control, wher
she is suffering from one OF the attacks.
Your horse will be all right tomorrow
eopperbeads are not so poisonous at this
time Of the year as they will be later. -
South florida Journal