The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-07-21
CHILDsS TERRIBLE FATE.
Her Skeleton Found In tho Den Of an
Enormous Blacksnake.


Enormous Blacksnake.
A recent letter, dated West Union
Ohio, says: Ginger Ridge, a rugged,
sterile upland, about six miles north
west of here, is much excited over the
killing OF an enormous blacksnake
which for several years has played
havoc with the farmers focks. Hogs,
poultry, calves, sheep, ETC., have my"
teriously disappeared, always ut night.
Two years ago band of gypsies were
camped in the neighborhood, and they
were accused of stealing the missing
property. John Rainfol th, farmer,
who greatly suffered from these depre-
dations, swore out a warrant before
Squire Peter AIMS and lad several of
them arrested. They had a prelimin-
ary examination, but nothing was
proved against them, and they were dis
charged. They went away muttering
threats of vengeance.
Mr.. Rainforth had a golden-haired
little daughter, four years old, whose
beauty and sunny temper were the
pride of her parents. On the day after
the arrest Of the gypsies little Nellie
Rainforth was missed. She was last
seen playing with q pet lamb on the
edge ef rocky ridge, a short distance
from the house. Search was made tor
her. but neither she nor the lamb was
found. The whole neighborhood was
aroused and men secured the fields and
woods for miles a. ound. Mr.. Rainforth
suspected the gypsies Of abducting her,
out of revenge for their arrest, and fol-
lowed the party across the Ohio river
into Lewis county, KY. When ne came
up with them they indignantly denied
all knowledge of the chiid's where
abouts, and a search OF their camp
failed to discover his little daughter.
He returned to his home broken
hearted.
One day last week Mr.. Rainforth was
planting a field of about twenty-five
acres, situated near his house. he had
not been at work long when he dis
covered what at first seemed to be a
fresh furrow across the middle of the
field. He stopped work and followed
the track to a fence which separated the
field from the dense thicket of under
brush. On the fence he found blood
and some sleeps wool, W1lch at once
convinced him that the body OF sheep
had been dragged across the renee; he
went to his pasture and 1ound tnat q
large Cotswold ram was missing, Ac-
companied by four or i've neighbors
Mr.. Rainforth made search FOR the miss
ing sheep. The track through the brush
was marked by drops of blood and tufts
of wool. About sixty rods from the
fence thew came to q ledge of rockS,
forming one side OF steep hill. The
track led directly to this ledge, in which
was found an opening of sufficient size
to admit the body of large man. A
large charge of giant powder was ex-
ploded in the opening, and.the rocks
were thrown asunder by the blast.
When the smoke cleared away the
Z mers drew near and peered down
the opening, and there. among at least
q wagon load of bones, lay a huge black
snake, quivering from his hurt. The
farmers waited until the snake was
dead, and then attached a chain to his
body and dragged the monster out OF
the hole. He measured fifteen feet
seven inches in length, and the biggest
part of his body was over two feet IN
circumference. He had IN ugly-look-
ing head and enormous fangs, sharp as
needles. The missing ram lay beside
him, crushed out of shape, and covered
with sticky, glutinous substance.
visited the spot and saw the monster
snake. While I was there, meI were at
work clearing the den of the bones. In
a corner one of them picked up a human
skull. 1t was small, like child's, and
he brought it 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 1t,
and, staggering against tree, burr ed
his face in lis hands and burst into
tears.
"Poor little Nellie" he cried, through
his sobs. my God, it is horrible!'".
After time he controlled his feelings
and told me the story Of his little
daughters mysterious disappearance
two years ago. The bones of the little
one were gathered together and buried
in the family plot in the cemetery at
West Union. The discovery was kept
from Mrs. Rainfortb, for the poor
woman has never ceased to mourn for
her lost child, and her husband feared
that this intelligence would seriously
affect her, she being in delicate health.
There can be no doubt as to the identity
of tie skeleton, for gold chain when
she wore around her neck was found
among the bleaching bones.