The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-01-31
CHARMED BY A RATHER.

An Able-B0Gfsd Man Made Helpless BY
the ssrpeas's subtle Spell.
4 prominent and reliable citizen Of
the adjoining county Of Cheathan, says
a Clarksville cTenn.) correspondent, re-
lates the following extraordinary story
of the influence exerted upon him by q
rattlesnaA1e short time ago:
81 started out one day in company
with colored man to cut souFe tim Der,
having measuring pole in hand, the
negro carrying an ak. After time we
separated, and 1 had not gone far before
] noticed large rattlesnake in the path
ahead of me Apparently we discov-
cred each other about the same time,
and both stopped. NY first thought
was to Kill the reptile, but he at once
threw himself into a coil, and | con-
cluded. as the space around was open,
and not fearing his escape, to wait and
see what the snake would do. ! was
soon inrently watching his movements.
He cut up,more antics than l had ever
seen7Serformed by a snake. To me it
was picture calculated to attract and
rivet attention, and my purpose of de-
structlOn was soon forgotten.
Ere l was aware Of it / stood, or
rather stopped. spelIbound, as if trans
fixed to the spot, without the power of
speaking or moving, save in obedience
to the viii of my captor. felt the dis
lance beTEeen as continually lessening,
and. although l was conscious of nv
perilous position, seemed powerless to
change il, and, what seemed TO me
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 at
traction l knew we were gradually
nearing each other, but how l could
mot tell, not being conscious of moving,
and the snake seemed 20 occupy the
same position relatively as at first l
knew that in the beginning ! stood
erect. now Twas in a kneeling position,
my body iDclining forward, nv right
hand extended, gradually nearing the
snake, not in straight line, but oscil-
lating, and at each movement lesseninq
the distance. From the first moment
that 1 caught the eye of the reptile
there seemed a line extending from
each of his eyes to mine, about the size
of ordinary sewing thread, which
seemed to exert power over me suf-
fcieDt TO hold me and make me sub
servieut TO his will
How long 1 remained in this posi-
ton know not. The colored man be-
coming uneasy atmy prolonged absence
commenced calling me. I could dis
tinctly 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 ! paid
mo attention to him Then he came
nearer and discovered the huge reptile
within a few feet of me coiled for the
deadly spring. my right hand within a
few inches of his mouth, each gazing
5ntently into the others eyes He COM
pretended the situation at once. took
hold of me violently, and threw me
backward from the snake, thus par
italy breaking the spell No effort
7vas made by the snake to escape. The
negro at once killed the snake, while I
all the time was begging him not to do
SO. It measured about six feet in
length and fourteen inches in circum-
ference and had eight rattles.
II was so completely under the in
huence of the snake that could not
shake il off, nor, in fact, had any dispo-
sition to do So The hallucination was
mot only pleasant but exhilarating
and there was only lacking one unde-
Unable something's could not tell
what, but it seemed almost within my
grasp-to make my happiness complete.
So powerful was the effect upon nv
system that ! was stricken down with
severe spell of sickness st Louis
Globe Democrat