Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1892-12-10
Charrncd by . Rattlcsnakc.

-. W NAN1, q piOAA4ihShN SAiAA AS4AbHA~
citizen Of Cheatham county, Tenn. re.
lntes the following extraordinary story
of the influence cxerted upon him by q
rattlesnake short time ago.
II started out one day in company
with colored man, to cut some timber,
having measuring pole in hand, the
negro carrying an axe. After time
we separated, and I had not gone far
before l noticed a large rattlesnake in
the path ahead of me. Apparently we
discovered each other about the same
time, and both stopped. My first
thought was to kill the reptile, but he
at once threw himself into a coil and |
concluded, as the space around was
open and not fearing his escape, to
wait and see what the snake would do.
1 was soon intently watching his move
mcnts. He cut up more antics than l
had ever seen performed by q snake.
To me it was a picture calculated TO
attract and rivcJ attention, and my
purpose of destruction was soon forgot
ten.
ERE | was aware of it l stood or
rather stopped, spellbound as if trans
fixed to the spot, without the power OF
speaking or moving, save in obe-
dience TO the will of my captor.
l felt the distance between us contin-
nally lesscning, and, although | was
conscious Of my perilous position, |
seemed powerless to change it, and
what may seem to be more strange,
had no desire to do so, only to approach
nearer the object that under different
circumstances would have been one of
terror rather than attraction. | knew
we were gradually nearing each other,
but how | could not tell, not being
conscious of moving and the snake
seemed to occupy the same position
relatively rs at first. only knew that
in the beginning / stood erect, now l
was in q kneeling position, my body
inclining forward, my right hand ex-
tended, gradually nearing the snake,
not in straight line, but oscillating,
and at each movement lessening the
distance. From the first moment that
| caught the eyes o. The reptile there
seemed line extending from each of
his eyes 10 mine about the size of or
dinarv sewing thread, which seemed to
exert a power over me sufficient to
hold me and make me subseryieut to
his will.
'How long I remained in this po-
sition | know not. The colored man
becoming uneasy at my prolonged alb
sence commenced calling me. l could
distinctly hear him, but had no power
to answer. Finally searching for me
he found me in the attitude described.
He again called to me, but as before I
paid no attention to him. Then he
came nearer and discovered the huge
reptile within few feet of me coiled
for the deadly spring, my right hand
within a few inches of its mouth, each
gazing intently into the others eyes.
He comprehended the situation at
once, took hold of me violently and
threw me backward from the snake,
thus partially breaking the spell. No
effort was made by the snake to es-
cape. The negro at once killed the
snake, while all the time was begging
him not to do so. 1t measured about 6
Iceb III IcLStl anu 1t lIiCucS III CliSuiA
ference and had eight rattles.
Il was so completely under the in
fluence OF the snake that l could not
shake it off, nor, in fact, had any dis
position to do so. The hallucination
wasnot only pleasant but exhilarating,
but there was only lacking one unde-
Unable something-I could not tell
what. but it seemed almost within my
erass-to make my happiness complete.
So powerful was the effect upon my
system, that l was stricken down with
a severe spell of Sickness