The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1889-11-01
A Snakes Deadly Coil.


On recent afternoon Mr.. Clark Far
Iis, a we'll known and highly respected
citizen of Lancaster, Ky, was walking
through woods searching for stray
mule. Happening to glance up through
the dense foliage. he saw large dark
brown reptile curled up in the fork of a
tree.
Never having seen one like it before,
be determined to kill 1t, and according
ly began throwing stones at it. Great
ly angered at this proceeding, the snake
making peculiar grating noise, crawl
ed quickly to the opposite side of the
tree. AS Farris stepped around further
to see what had become of it, II sud-
denly glided down the tree toward him.
Before he could spring aside it leaped
with a furious Kissing upon his shoul-
ders, and in a twinkling coiled twice
about his neck. Yelling with terror he
started on a dead run through the
woods at the same time making frantic
efforts to tear away the monster, but In
vain. 1t gradually frightened its coils.
while the flying man jeIked his head
this way and that way to avoid the close
proximity of its hindeous visage. AIS
most checked, with his eye-balls start
ing out OF their sockets, Farris pre-
sently sank to the earth and rolled over
and over in the grass, digging his nails
into the serpent's body IN a fearful
struggle TO free himself. But the
snakes great strength was superior to
that OF the man, for, even in the midst
Of these energetic movements it coiled
again and again around his neck. The
conviction was now forced upon him
that, unless the horrid constructor
could be made TO relax its terrible coils,
be should te stranggled In a very few
minutes. The maneuvres he was now
executing were as rapid as they were
singular. He thrashed the weeds with
his tossing limbs, drew his body up into
knot and finally turned complete
somersault alighting on his hands ana
knees and with his head pushed hard
against the ground. In this position be
attempted with both hands TO remove
his grisly foe by forcing its coils up over
the top of his head. but his efforts
were unayailing. With a piercing
shrek he started up, plunged forward
few feet and again feel, stunning
determination OF blood surginE in his
head. The snake poked about wild its
fierce head, kissing in the mans ear or
brushing his cheek with its darting
tongue. Twice be clu.ched 1t by the
neck with grip OF iron, and twice 1t
twisted out of his grasp.
II was a thrilling, spectacle, with
prospects OF tragic termination. The
contracting coils gradually reduced his
Wild shouts for help TO spasmodic gurg-
lings, while tiny stream of liquid sali>
va flowed from his wide-gapiug mouth.
Suddenly gleam of hope traversed his
distorted features. Tbrusting his hand
into his pocket with the celebrity of
thought he brought forth a pocket
knife. The next instant he made saw
age slash among the folds of bis tormen-
tor and il fell in writhiDg heap upon
the ground. But he had not yet fully
wreaked his revenge his foe still lived.
He leaped to his feet. Setting his heel
hard upon the reptiles head and seizing
it with one hand by the end of the tail
he plunged his knife thurogh its neck,
and, drawing the blade longitudinally
throughout its body. completely disem-
bowled it. 1t measured a little over
seven feet IN length.