The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1893-03-11
CHARMED BY a SERPENT.



liable citizen of Tennessee relates
the following extraordinary story OF
the unaccountable influence eXerted
upon him by rattlesnake short
time ago, says the Chicago lrioahe'
In his own language the story Is as
follows:
Il started out one day in company
with a colored man to cut some
timber, having measuring pole in
hand. the negro carried an AK. Alter
u time we separated, and | had not
gone far before / noticed 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 XIII
the reptile, but all at once he threw
himself into coil. and l concluded,
as the space around us was open and
not fearing his escape, to wait and
see what the snake would do / was
soon intently watching his movements.
lie cut up more antics than | had
ever seen performed by snake.
To me il was picture well calcu-
lated to attract and rivet attention,
and nv purpose of destruction was
soon forgotten. Ere l was aware of
it | stood. or rather stopped. spell
bound. as If transfxed to the spot,
without the power of speaking or
moving. save in obedience to the will
of my captor. l felt the distance be-
tween us continually lessening, and,
although | was conscious OF my peril
Gus 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 con-
scious of moving, and the snake
seemed to occupy the same position
relatively as at first.
only know that in the beginning
/ stood erect. Now ! was in II lincel-
ing position, my body inclining for
ward. my right hand extended, grad
ually nearing the snake, not in Il
straight line, but oscillating, and ut
each movement lessening the dis
lance. From the first moment that
caught the eyes of the reptile there
seemed a line extending from each Of
his eyes to mine about the size OF an
ordinary sowing thread. which seemed
to exert Il power over me sufficient to
hold me in the first position and make
me subservient to his will.
How long ! remained in this po-
sition ! know not. The colored man
becoming uneasy at my prolonged
absence 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 | paid no attention &c
him. Then he came nearer and dis
covered the huge reptile within few
feet of me coiled for the deadly spring
my right hand within Il few inches oi
his mouth. each gazing intently Int;
the others eyes. He comprehoudel
the situation ut once, took hold az mt
violently and threw me backward from
the snake, thus partially breaking thu
| spell. No effort was made by III,
snake to escape. The negro at onc,
| killed the snake, while all the thnt
was begging him not to do SO. i
measured about six feet in length aal
fourteen inches in circumference and
had eight rattles.
ii was so completely under tho in
| huence of the snake that | could not
shake it off, nor, in fact, had any dis
position to do so. The hallucinatioI
was not only pleasant, but exhilarat
ing, and there was only lacking one
undesirable something-I could no
| tell what, but it seemed almost with
in my grasp-to make my happines'
complete. SO powerful was the clec'
upon my system that ! was stricken
| down with a severe spell of sickness.