Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-10-22
A SNAKE IN THE pew.
Il Coiled Around nar. Arnold's Leg and the
Service Was lnterrunted.

= - -~r-@--t
snake story of unusual Incidents ana
conditions comes from Indiana The scene
Is at Hargrove church. a small meeting
house In good community but consider
ably apart from any settlement.
Sunday evening was the regularly app
pointed meeting time. Among the mem
bers OF the congregation are Mr.. and Mrs
James Arnold. Their accustomed pew Is
well up in trent, and they were occupy
ing II when service began.
While familiar hymn was being sung
In congregational time and style. Mr.. AT
mold was made aware of the fact that
there was something wrong with one OF
his legs, between 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 a man of calm disposition, never
gets excited, but here was a condition that
taxed his presence of mind. He realized
that his limb was encircled by a snake.
and from the pressure being brought to
bear he knew it was not small one. He
says he thought of thousand things to
do, but he did not want to create a SEN
sation or alarm the lady members. who
were more plentiful than the men.
To walk out of the church was almos.
impossible. and to lift his foot and ex-
pose il to view meant stampede and that
dozen timid 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. Between
Mr.. Arnold's knee and the floor It was al
most absolutely dark. In trying to pene-
trate this gloom, in order to best know
how TO act, the head OF the snake was dis
covered along the side of the seat OF the
pew its tongue reaching out In a threat
ening way.
With a well-d.rected blow Mr.. Arnold
Knocked the head OF the reptile to tho
floor, instantly placing his foot on 1t.
Reaching into his pocket. he drew forth
a knife and attempted to sever the snake,
which by this time was writing and try
ing to uncoil.
His motions had been observed and
when the knife was exposed his nearest
neighoors commenced to get up.
In moment it was whispered. There
is a snake in church." CONSERVATION fol-
lowed, the service ceased, women were
screaming and climbing on chairs and
rushing TO the outside.
A few men gathered around Mr.. Arnold.
who was arduously trying 10 cut the snake
in two. After a while he succeeded, and
lifted the pieces on high, so that the re-
naming few could see. The reptile was
then laid along the floor and was measur-
ed. and was found to be six feet long,
lacking one inch.
1t was a black snake, a species once
common TO this country. not venomous.
but willing to fight when hungry or when
cornered
After the congregation was assured that
the snake was really dead, 1t reassembled.
and the services were continued, but not
without many misgivings on the part OF
the female portion OF the audience.
Every time a foot was dragged across
the floor there was a motion by some one
as II to get on top OF a bench. and such
were the feelings OF the entire congrega-
ton that after a WHILE the services clos
ed. everybody being glad to get away
Chicago Inter-Ocean.