Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-01-03
A STRANGE STORY.
PECULIAR ACTION OF A eLACKsNAKe
! OVER A COFFIN.
The Hair Raising Experience of 7Irce
watchers-Myster Death of an Old
italian Fi6llcr-Thc Flood Stained sti-
letto Found In the Iron Chest.


letto Found In the Iron Chest
The story which l am about to narrate
Is related upon the authority of reliable
witness who lives in Louisa county. Na
and was once a wei known public official
of that county. He maintains that the
details are correct and adds that he can
furnish at lesst two Trustworthy witnesses
who will make aflidavts'to his statements
1t was several years ago, according 20
my informant, near the little rural settle
ment of Boyd's Tavern. in Albcrmarle
county, short distance from the Fluvan-
IA line. For mangscars an old Italian
named Faranchini had been Il familiar
figure in that section. He had no rela.
lives, but lived 4 sort of hermit life in
rude, dilapidated two story house abaut
half n mile from the tavern. Nearly ey
cry night he could be seen playing the id-
die at the tavern, and in times of elections
he took in quite II snug sum for his mu-
steal talent. There WAS something: layS-
terious about the old foreigner. He was
known to have earned considerable mon
ey, but rarely, If ever, did any one see him
make purchase. lie was never known 10
take drink. \ light could be seen shin
ing family from his window every night,
long after other people had retired. Some
said the old man had plenty of money,
and was burying ii from time to time in
some secret place.
One afternoon in December the old man
died suddenly, \ runner spread that be
had been poisoned for his treasures. There
was no one to look after tho burial ar
rangcmcuts, and SO u pine box WIS 80.
cured at the expense of charity. Three
young men who had often danced the Viz
ginia reel to his music agreed to sit mp
with the remains during the night. \
dreary looking rain made matters doubly
uncomfortable, and mt 10 O'Clock the three
charitable young men were seated by n
log fire that glowed in the old fashioned
fireplace, slssNking their pipes and telling
anecdotes. while the body of the italian
lay in the rude collin some 10 feet away
They had chattel away for two hours.
w '2u one OF them proposed Il game &C
cards
This was agreed to, and the game was
intcrspersed now and then with a glas,Uf
cider from big jug that SAT- on ono side.
IN old fashioned clock GA the shelf
struck -. The last stroke had scarcely
died away iG the dense stiffness when one
of the men aroused himself suddenly. drop
ped his hand on the table ard stood up
from the stool on which he WAS seated.
His hair was on cad, his eyes were twice
their usual size and with one hand he
pointed ncrvously 10 the coffin in the cor
ner. The other two men left their seats
simultaneously and were in the nct Of
leaving the room when the first caught liA
=
cautiously approached step nearer.
Hiss, Hiss! Hiss" came the sound ut
regular intervals from the direction Of the
coffin. while from = trapdoor, its tail coil
ed around one of the Stats, hung a long
blacksuakc shat swung back and forth
like pendulum over the entire length Of
the coffin. Its head swept within IN inch
or SO of the Italian, and the hidcous thing
fixed its flesh tinted eyes on the face rs II
trying to charm the miscr.
The three men stood perfectly still, as
though riyeteH to the floor, and for gr'cr;.l
moments none spoke. Tho Countcnunce
OF one of them was pale as Il sheet, An
other stared at his companions with be-
willcrcd query written on his face, while
the third, horror stricken, seized the po-
ker, and creeping stealthily toward tie
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