The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-06-25

Violent Rain and Wind Storm-Change
OF Railway Schedule-A Fight with .
Huge slack nake-An Excursion on
the Goldsboro.

-
Correspondence of The Messenger.)
Goldsboro, N c., June IL
About s o'clock last evening there
sprung up in the western horizon a
cloudy OF inky blackness, which, borne
on by a strong wind, soon spread over
this entire community bringing with il
a deluge. In deed, parties from vari-
Gus sections OF the country say they
never witnessed SO heavy a rainfall as
that OF yesterday. Jim Edwards, of
dudley, says, half the corn in his town.
snip Is covered with water TO the depth
OF two feet in the lowlands. In the
Stoney Creek church vicinity a perfect
gale accompanied the rain and many
inmates OF houses were badly frighten-
ed. as houses shook and swayed under
n influence of the wind. Creeks were
swollen very much.
The Atlantic and North Carolina road
has changed the schedule of the two
passenger trains leaving here daily.
The morning train now leaves at 7:45
O'CLOCK for Morehead City and the af-
ternoon train at $40 o'clock for the
same point. This change went into eff
feet yesterday.
James H. Slavingnaud, Of Stoney
Creek township, a a rather exciting
experience with a monster blacksnake
at his home on Friday last. Standing
in his doorway he saw the snake run
under the house, and, Notwithstanding
the house is very close to the ground
he crawled under after the snake, de-
termlned to kill it. He took with him
as a weapon of slaughter an iron poker
and when within striking distance, the
turned and sprang into his face.
In the excitement Of the moment he
grappled the snake and hurled il from
him as best he could, only to be at
tackled at once from the rear by the
snake. This time the snake bit him in
the leg and began coiling around his
legs. The man by this time was in a
state of frenzied excitement. Twisting
himself around as best he could he
took hold Of the max and loosing the
coil he throws it from under the house,
himself following in close pursuit.
When in the open he soon pounded his
snakeship to death The blacksnake
is not regarded a vicious n by any
means but there is about it's history
the story that in the months of May
and June when crowded it will show
fight, while in other months it will fly
for it's life when approached. Mr..
S~laVlngnaud is not suffering very
much from the bite of the snake, but
in the scramble under the house his
back was badly skinned by coming in
contact with the %sleepers. He says he
would have fought that snake till re-
lieved by death in order to have killed
it.
Captain T. w. Slocumb sustained a
fall in his home last evening causing
confusion of the right shoulder.
w. H. Goodwin has purchased of r.
A. Watts his very desirable residence
corner Spruce and John streets the con-
sideration being 1900. This is a most
desirable property in everyway.
The steamer "G%oldsboro," with a
number of eXcusionists, returned from
| Seven Springs this morning. A de-
lightful trip is reported by all. The
boat returned to Seven Springs this
evening with a cargo of general mer.
chandise.
A Sunday school convention will bs
held with Piney Grove church on Wed,
nesday.
The life ~preservers and other para,
~phernalia, for the steamer G%oldsbor,
for passenger service have reached
New Bern.
Mr.. j. p. Williams, of Georgia, VIII
has just been elected president o
Emory college, is a native of this coun
ty. He is a brother of Robert an
George Williams, of Mt. Olive, an uncl
of Mrs. J.. M. Wood, and a first cousil
of A. T. Uzzell, of this county and o
| M. ]. Best. of this city.