Democratic Sentinel, Volume 9, Number 42, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 November 1885 — Mrs. Runkle’s Museum. [ARTICLE]

Mrs. Runkle’s Museum.

Mrs. B. B. Bunkle, of Mexico, Mo., has a pet crow that can swear in all foreign languages, and when the saucy bird was heard making a great to-do out in the yard of the lady’s residence this afternoon the investigation resulted in beholding “Jim Crow” making full tilt for the house, with a large snake in pursuit. The reptile chased the bird over the porch and into the hall, when, becoming frightened at the shrieks of Mrs. Bunkle and her colored servant, it stopped and coiled up, spreading itself out flat, somewhat resembling a plate. In spite of its ugly appearance, Mrs. Bunkle grabbed a door-weiglit and killed the snake, which proved to be a spreading viper a little over three feet in length, and one of the most venomous reptiles known. When the snake was struck a live frog jumped out of its mouth, which frightened the lady more than the reptile itself. The snake, frog, and crow are all on exhibition at the Bunkle residence. — St. Louis GlobeDemocrat.