The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-07-16
THERE WAS a SNAKE IN THE PEW.
II COiIed Around MIR. ArnOId's Leg
and the Service Was interrupted.

From the Chicago Inter-Ocean.
Shelbyville Ind.-A snake story OF I'M
usual incidents and conditions comes from
the northeast corner of this county, dis
tant from this place some fifteen miles.
The scene is at Hargrove Church, a small
meeting house in good community, but
considerably apart from any settlement.
The particulars of the story have just
reached this place and are as follows:
Last Sunday evening was the regularly
appointed meeting time. Among the mem
bers Of the congregation are Mr.. and Mrs.
James Arnold Their accustomed pew Is
well up in front, and they were occupying
il when services began. While familiar
hymn was being sung in congregational
time aud style Mr.. Arnold was made
aware of the fact that there was some
thing wrong with one Of his legs, be-
tween the foot and the knee. This fact
was quickly emphasized by a squeeze that
left no doubt in the mind of Mr., Arnold
as to what the trouble was. He Is q man
of calm disposition, never gets excited
but here was q condition that taxed his
presence of mind. He realized that his
hip was encircled by a snake, and from
the pressure being brought TO bear he
knew il was not a small one. He says
he thought Of "A thousand things to do
but he did not want TO create sensation
or alarm the lady members, who were
more plentiful than the man. TO walk
out Of the church was almost impossible
and to lift his foot and expose 1t to view
meant stampede and that dozen timld
women would faint.
The church is illumined by only a few
coal oil lamps and these were shedding
only a htful light over the room. Be
tween Mr. Arnold's knee and the floor II
was almost absolutely dark In trying 10
penetrate this gloom. in order to best know
how 10 act. the head of the snake was
discovered along the side OF the seat Of
the pew, its tongue reaching out in a
threatening way With a well-directed
blow Mr. Arnold knocked the head of the
reptile 10 She floor, Instantly placing his
foot on It, Reaching into his pocket, ne
drew forth a knife ana attempted to sever
the snake. which by this time was with
ing and trying TO uncoll. His motions ha1
been observed, ond when the knife was
exposed his nearby neighbors commenced
10 get up.
In a moment Il was whispered There
fs a snake in church" CONSERVATION fol-
lowed Ire service ceased women were
screaming and cImbing on chairs and
rushing 10 the outside. Had the congrr-
galon been large enough people would
nave been tramDlcd 70 dcath, mat being
the only thing that prevented q calamity.
A few men gathered around Ir. Arnold.
who was arduously trying 10 cut the
snake in two. After a while he succeed
ed. and lifted the pieces on high. so that
the remaining few could see. The rep
tile was then laid along the floor and WAS
measured. and was found to be six feet
long species once common 20 this coun-
try. not venomous but wiling 10 hght
when hungry or when cornered
After the congregation was assured that
the snake was really dead, 1t reassembled,
und the services were continued, but nor
without many mlsgivings on the part OF
the female portion OF the audience Every
time a foot was dragged across the ..oor
there was a motion by some one as II to
get on top Of a bench, and such were the
feelings Of the entire congregation that,
after a while. the services closed every
body being glad to get away