Democratic Sentinel, Volume 2, Number 33, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 September 1878 — KILLED BY A SERPENT. [ARTICLE]

KILLED BY A SERPENT.

Terrible Encounter With a Deadly Blow ing Viper in a Dark Boom. [From the Altoona (Pa.) Tribune.] A terrible colamity befel Dr. Paulliamus and his lovely and accomplished daughter Eleanor, Tuesday evening, in Williamsburg, Pa. It seems that a couple of weeks ago two tramps captured a pair of enormous reptiles, which the doctor pronounced to be of that deadly species known as “ blowing viper.” The doctor having a desire to contribute something that would commend itself from this district, purchased the reptiles, intending to forward them to the Zoological Garden in Philadelphia. Biding their transportation the snakes were placed in a large glass jar, the top being carefully secured by a covering of wire gauze. The jar was placed on an elevated bracket in a remote corner of the doctor’s office. Last evening the doctor and his daughter w r ere returning from a visit to the country, and, the doctor having occasion to make up a prescription, they both entered his office, the doctor lighting a lamp. And now comes the terrible denouement. A large owl swept in through the transom above the door, and flew with the speed of an arrow against the lamp, knocking it over, and scattering the oil and broken glass in every direction. The bird seemed frantic, flying and dashing in every direction, while a general crushing of bottles and glasses was heard on every side. Meantime the doctor had lit another match, but just in time to receive his daughter, who sprung with a wild cry into his arms. In the darkness he gathered his darling in his arms, and in a moment realized the situation. The owl had dislodged the jar from the bracket, and the vipers were at large. Speedily he groped his way, calling loudly for help, which, the hour being Lite, was slow to put in an appearance. They seemed slow, but scarcely five minutes elapsed until full a dozen ladies and brave men were on the spot. No living hand can indite the horrors of the next few minutes. Miss Eleanor, who had been insensible since she sprung to her father’s arms, was now being cared for by the ladies w’hen one simultaneous shriek almost froze the blood and paralyzed each nerve—yet not all! It was Thomas Lutz’s hand that seized the glittering reptile by the neck and choked its fearful fangs apart. It had bitten the lady midway between the ankle qnd the knee. She was now carried immediately to her home, where every known antidote for poison was administered by her frantic father, but all to no avail. She died at 6:30 o’clock this morning. After taking’ the poor unfortunate young lady home, one of the men, knowing there had been two snakes, returned to the office and soon dispatched the other. An examination showed its two large fangs missing. This led to the conjecture that possibly the doctor had been bitten. A hasty return and close examination resulted in finding the fangs ip the thick leathers of the doctor’s boots, who, being so alarmed for his daughter, had not the slightest knowledge of being struck. The corpse of the young lady hass w'ollen to enormous dimensions, while her complexion is in harmony with the spots and general coloring of the snake.