The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-07-02
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS,

Mr.. 8Homestead's property, near the path
that leads from Morrisville to the new
stamp mill OF the Virginia Mining and
Development Company, and he resolved
70 gather generous pailful as surprise
to his genial host Of the King Robert Inn.
Mr. Highsted was just descending the
tree when his cars were pierced with
the most agonizing shrleks of woman
IN d!strcss-shrieks that each moment
grew nearer louder and more distress
ing. lie reached the ground Just as a
young and remarkably pretty, but terribly
frightened woman came tearing along
inc path. tficrcely pursued by black
snake larger than any snake Mr. High
sted had ever seen In museum. circus, 4
geological park, or in the native State.
Mr.. Highstcd afterwards admitted that
had he been alone, at the sight OF this
monster, he would have unhesitntingly
fled, but the sight Of beauty in distress
nerved him TO an undreamed of courage,
and he boldly attacked the huge snake.
For q time the air was full of IIighstcd,
snake and feminine screams. and 1t is
difficult to predict how the conflict would
have ended had not the snake got a
scent Of the cherries and given UP the
attnck to devour the contents of Mr..
Highsted's bucket.
Mr.. Hlghstcd then escorted the excited
and still terrified, but very grateful
maiden to place of safety and rest
and borrowing a gun returned to dispatch
the snake. When he got back to the
cherry tree sight stranger than n scene
from Arabian Nights met his eyes The
snake was up in the tree with the mid
die portion of Its body wrapped q couple
Of times around one of the larger limbs
at some little distance out from the body
of the tree, and reaching out the front
portion of its body would grasp the
smaller twgs In Its mouth and shake
them vigorously, while with the hind
PORTION of It's body 1t held the bucket,
around the handle OF which it had curled
the tip of It's tail, under the twlgs, and
caught the cherries as they were shaken
Off
Astonished and bewildcred at this ,n-
usual scene, Mr. Highsted threw down
his gun and rushed OFF to hunt up his
friends. that they might witness this
most remarkable cherry picking spectacle,
Mr.. lIighsted's story was so marvellous
that his friends at first refused to credit 4
It, even knowing his lifelong reputation
as u teetotnler. knowing that he was
raised and still lives In a banner tenn
pcrance section, and knowing that the \
Pennsylvania Railroad Company requires
tho strictest sobrlety OF all Its engineers,
"lH'c vi W VI uuty iiDuI H4S cuTntSulcSSt
and evident excitement finally induced
them to go and soc for themselves. When
they reached tho cherry tree the snake
was gone. but tho ground was we'll lit
tered with Broken twigs, leaves and
cherry seeds, and the limb t6 which the
snake had held was coated with a.1slImy
substance, while In tho grass lay tho
gum with tho empty bucket not far
away,
Those who feel at all skeptical as to
the truth Of this narrative can have all
doubts removed by calling at the main
office OF the Virginia Mining and Dcvel-
opment Company, next door to the post
office, where they will be shown the
bucket used by Mr., Highstcd and Il guide
Will be furnished who, armed with an
ammonia gun and two large bottles of the
strongest ammonia. will conduct them 10
the cherry tree, whore they can see the
ground strewn with cherry seeds, broken
twigs and withered leaves. and show
them the stones piled along the path
and big sticks cut and placed against
trees by Mr.. Hlghstcd at places con-
Yemcnt rs defense against vicious
snakes.