West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1890-08-21

A Few Clippings From Our Tx.
changes In Regard to the
Festive Serpcnf.

was cooled under bush. Fielding
was about half mile from his
home and before he got there his
foot and leg swelled terribly. The
ordinary antidotes used in the
country were applied without avail.
The man died in great agony seven
hours liberalization Sentinel.
Enoch johnson lives a few miles
above town, on a farm, and last
Sunday morning the family were
late to rise. The morning meal
was prepared in the back part Of
the house, and when the front door
was opened, there was found lying
on the door Gill large RATHER,
apparently waiting for admittance.
Mr.. Johnson seIzed a formidable
weapon and attacked his early Wis
itor, making short work Of him.
He was of the yellow species, very
poisonous, and found to be three
feet and nine inches in length, and
had seventeen rattles. Lincoln
Citizen.
Geo. Chapman killed 25 copper
head snakes in one day in Tyler
county last week, and thinks he
could do better.
yesterday afternoon the inmates
of Mrs. Poole's residence on East
Eight street were startled over the
sudden appearance in the house Of
very nnwelcome visitor.
1t was copperhead snake, about
3 feet long, which had wriggled it.
self up the back steps into the
kitchen, and his presence caused
great CONSERVATION and lively
stampede of the inmates. His
snakeship was somewhat surprised
at the cool reception but he was
more surprised in few minutes
afterwards at the very warm recep-
ton he got. Aiming themselves
with clubs the ladies made vigor-
Gus attack on the intruder and he
has make his last visit. -Parkers-
burg Sentinel.
A singular character by the name of
Martha Ann Tillson, and who was
known as the Snake woman died
near here recently. She lived in a
little cabin at the foot of Twelve
O'CLOCK Knob, and led a hermit
life, having no one to share her
abode except snakes. BY the few
who were ever allowed to see the
interior of her cabin, it is said to
have literally swarmed with her
strange companions, with which
she ate and slept, and which were
to be seen lying in her bosom and
coiled about her neck, body and
arms whenever she was caught sight
of.
Her extraordinary prediction
for these unpleasant creatures is
supposed to have arisen from a
morbid feeling that she was, like
them, hated of man, for naturally
deformed, she received in addition
an injury to the spine while an
infant, and, though perfectly sound
In mind, was of so sensitive ma
ture as to render her miserable and
uneasy IN the presence of any but
her parents. She was observed to
steal away every day with pan of
milk, and, on being followed, was
found to be caressing a dozen or SO
hldeous rattlesnakes, while they
drank from the vessel which she
held in her lap. Mortified, her
parents tried to reason with her,
then to punish, and finally confine
her, in an endeavor to break her of
her fondness for the reptiles, but
she pined so for her pets that they
feared she would die if kept from
them.
She was a little fair woman of
about IS, with sandy hair, very
abundant and long, which she wore
in a number Of tight plaits, which,
combined with her dcformity, and
the odd, miscellaneous style OF
dressing, the result of her refusal
to hold any communication with q
fcliow-being, served to make her a
most remarkable looking object.
She was looked upon as q witch by
thenegroes about, who declared her
to bo possessed Of the evil eye, and
hated and feared her accordingly.
though her life was a most harmless
uiot one Gho bod Icco III