Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-06-22
A REPTILE WONDER.
A Remarkable Stake Taken Captive
in Braxton.
A Tough Stoy---Attempt to Burn New
Martinsyile---fatal Accident
General State News.

Braxton county can down the State on
snake wonders. A gentleman living not
far from the county seat lately
succeeded in capturing snake or
pair Of snakes corresponding TO the
Sismese twins The reptile has two
heads and two tails, and the balance of the
body looks like that of single snake, with
he exception of slight depression both
above and below, extending the entire
length. The bodies join about six inches
from the heads; the tails are almost a foot
| long after leaving the body, while the length
of the portion Joined is two feet and nine
inches. The twins were first seen two
weeks ago By o little son of the gentleman
who possesses the wonder, who told
his father what he had seen aud
showed him the track crossing the road
The gentleman made q thorough search
at the time, but failed to capture the prize
BE, however, ran across it few days since
and succeeded in noosing and taking it
captive. Both the snakes are jet black
with yellow ring Just behind the head
They both eat and in travelling seem to be
wholly of the same opinion as to direction,
etc, stopping at precisely the same time,
and appearing to have one mind about
everything.
We pondered carefully before hazarding
our reputation for veracity by reporting this
phenomena, but decided to enlighten the
world at whatever cost, and to place Brax.
ton county foremost on the list of wonders.
FROM THE SAME COUNTY.
The West Union Record gives prominence
to the following story of the same nature:
A week or SO since, as Clark Evans was
coming down from the mouth Of Holly ne
observed, near the roadside, what he at first
thought to be large barrel hoop lying in
the weeds. He would have passed on and
probably never thought Of the circumstance
again, had he not noticed something pecu-
liar in the position of the hoop, and going
nearer to examine it, he found to his sur
prise that the hoop was formed by two large
black snakes. They had probably BEEN
fighting and each had concluded to get
away with the other by swallowing him.
Each had commenced at the tail and had
swallowed his opponent more than half way
down. After ascertaining that they were
both too much absorbed in each
other 10 pay any attention to
him, Clark picked thsm up and
rolled them along before him Ia wagon
tire. When he became tired of this he
killed the snakes, separated them, and found
by measurement that their length aggregated
sixteen feet three inches. Some over skep.
teal persons might doubt that these snakes
could be rolled along the road like hoop
but when they reflect that each snake had
swallowed the greater portion Of the other,
and in consequence had swallowed aportion
of himcelt-that each had three backoones,
as it were-they will readily see that it
could be done without a collapse.
LITTLE ONE FOR CENT.
II. D. Nutter recently killed a black
snake Just outside the corporation limits Of
West Union which he says was be tween II
and Is feet long, 5! inches in diameter and
l54 inches in circumference.
ATTEMPT TO BURN A TOWN.
An attempt was made Tuesday night to
destroy the most thickly built up square Of
New MartiHsville By an incendiary fire. A
blaze was kindled in the basement OF q
saddlers shop about the middle Of the
square. Had the blaze spread far before
the discovery of the fire there would have
been no hopes of saving any Of the square.
Fortunately, sparks escaping from iue
attracted attention and the blaze was ex-
tinglished. What motive anybody could
have for starting blaze cannot be imagined,
unless the incendiaries expected to draw
the entire population out of doors and reap
rich harvest OF plumber.
A PECULIAL ACCIDENT.
On last Monday morning week ago, as
Ralph Sweeny, OF West Union, was starting
up his grist mill for the days work,
a terrific explosion took place under the
hopper. This was followed by pieces Of the
burr flying in all directions. The frame Of
the mill was badly shattered. When the
mill was stopped it was ascertained that the
burrs had exploded, or in some manner been
blown into thousands ofpieces. One of the
largest pieces was thrown q distance Of
more than thirty feet and struck timber of
considerable size, cutting it almost half of.
A large piece of the stone struck William
Sweeny, the miller, knocking him insensible
and lnjuring him seriously. The cause Of
this unaccountable freak can only be con-
jectured. 1t is supposed that some explo-
sive substance must have been placed in the
OURS. The burr was, however, 80 utterly
demolished that no trace of anything of an
explosive nature could be found.
AIIFELoyG CRIMINAL.
Last Monday morning there was received
at the Moundsville penitentiary a criminal
who has a remarkable history. His name
is Meredith Workman, and he comes from
Wayne county, where he received a sent.
ence Of three years, after belng convicted OF
forgery. This was the third time he had
been sent to the penitentisry from Wayne,
having gone to the Virginia penitentiary
before the division Of the State. He is 81
years of age. Out of that 81 years, q years
have been spent in the penitentiaries Of
West Virginia, Virginia, Kentucky, Penn
sylvsnis and Ohio. By the time he is 81
years old he will have served 80 years in
| prison. During the war lie served four
years in the Confederate Army, and at
tained the rank of Colonel. He was with
Morgan in his famous raid. Workman is
we'll educated, and possessed of more than
ordinary intelligence, but he is thorough
going rascal.
Last Thursday, Rosie Hartman, aged I,
daughter Of 'Thiss Hartman, living at
Matthias Harman's, Mcdowell county while
playing on the roof Of house, fell of and,
striking on her head, was killed. No grown
person was at home at the time Of the acct.
dent, and the child lay whore she fell from
about noon until o'clock in the evening.
SERIOUS ACCIDENT.
A party of colored citizens, consisting of
three ladies and one gentleman, Frank
Brown, started in leakY skiff, Thursday
evening last, to attend festival at Proctor.
Vile and as they neared the opposite shore
Frank nobly succeeded in towing his moth.
er and Mrs. Phipps back to the skifr, aud
had started to the rescue Of the third, Mrs
Smoot, but while nearing her she sank for
| the last time. Assistance soon reached