The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1888-06-16
Strange Occurrences.

Dir. j. M. Sales, a prominent pianter,
residin. about a mile below town. in
forms us of a very strange occurrence
which he witnessed on his plantation
last week. He had a fine dog to which
he and his family was greatly attached,
which was taken sick and died short |
ly afterward. On making a post NOR
tenn examination it was found that
death was caused by from M hundred
and thirty to one hundred and fer
ty thin snakes from twelve to eighteen
inches long in the heart, which had
and were alive when the heart was cut
open.-St Martinsville Messenger.
The above is a strange occurrence,
indeed, and yet not more startling
than one which took place in this pa
rish some years ago, and which has ev-
er been vouched for by very reliable
citizens Of the ~vicinase. Francisco
Amendorza, a sturdy farmer of one of
the interior settlements of this parish,
once had a turkey gobbler which vas
afflicted with il singular malady. 1t
would at intervals fall seriously sick
as into fits and remain at the point of
death for hours then revive and con
time in apparently the best of health
for days, before another spell would
come on. But the strangest thing of
all. was that every time any one or
thing approached its turkish majesty
and every time it gobbled, it would
curdle itself up and assumin: a defen-
sive attitude a peculiar rafting sound,
somewhat muftled, would smanate
from the interior of its body as il to
warm off the obtruder. This fact has
been testified to not only by the Amen
DORA family but also by their MOST
reputable neishb0rs.
Time wore on and the gObbler APP
peared cured of it's fits though not rid
of its noisy internal machine, and it
was finally singled out to grace the fes-
tive board Of the Amendorza house
hold for an approaching Christmas
tide. The day of slaughter came, and
the good wife, with her young brood
around her, was picking the goodly
bird. when 10! the same low rafting
noise. louder and more distinct than
ever. and proceeding from the very en-
l trails of the dead turkey. frightened
+ her and the children almost into
spasams. The head of the family wa.
called in and with the assistance OF
neighhorly visitor, at once proceed tt
disembowel the fowl. Louder ant
more vigorous became the rafting
and some animate object was observed
: to writ!,e within the carcass. Sudden
4 ly all stood aghast as there besar
crawling out OF it, what looked like
huge snake. Out and out it crept ant
Il down upon the kitchen floor it drop
ped, where, after AmendorZa and Iii
Z friend had recovered from their fright
ther attacked it with sticks and killet
it after a fierce struggle. The uncan
ny reptile proved to be Il genuine rat
tle-snoke with nine rattle. and fou
d feet long. 1t was duly skinned and
until recently. it's stuffed skin, witt
Il the ~rattles on, was to be seen in tn,
Amendorza family.
,, On examination of the dead turkey
y it was found that all its entrails wer
g gvne-there was nothing but the hear
y and liver left. A prominent lOca
physician. to whom it vas shown, ex
pressed the opinion that the lives q
# the turkey and the snake had becom
incorporated, the snake acting as tn
IS digestive organ of both after havin
is destroyed the gizzard and e~ntrails G
Of the turkey
1t is not known how the snake effee
: ted an entrance into its strange home
NJ but as the gobbler was an old stage
le it is surmised that it must. in its your
is ger days, have swallowed the snak
whom yet i'll its infancy.