Democratic Sentinel, Volume 18, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 May 1894 — A SNAKE DROVE HER MAD [ARTICLE]

A SNAKE DROVE HER MAD

* Bang for Beeoaal Bom Over ■*£ Raji IVUIUfeUI SK’tX. Ajo agped lady named Mrs. Bopmaty field has been erased by the awftj pA perienoe through which she wens A few nights ago, says the Phlladetyal Times. Mrs. Summerfield Is the motW ar of a wheat farmer living in Veanogk Texas, and has been lit some with a throat trouble, which haa neaK ly destroyed her voloe. She was attended to bed on the oooasion mentioned by one of her granddaughters, who, at the old lady’s request, left the lamp beside the bea burning brilliantly. The house was newly built, and is not quite completed, with the rafters of the roof still uncovered by any celling. During the night the old lady’s eyes were attracted by some object moving along one of these rafters, and pre-entlv a large bull snake thrust its ugly head over and tying there, looking down at her. She in all probability tried to summon some one, but owing to her affliction was unable to make herself heard. So perhaps for hours she lay with her t'rrbkd eyes fixed on the hideous shape overhead until, overcome with nervous fear, her mind began to wander. When found in the morning shd wils unconscious, and it was with difficulty that she was revived. Her first motion was toward the rafter just over her head, but this was thought only a part of her delirium, until all at onoe the anako ran down along the rafter, nnl then dropped down on the bed. Tile old lady screamed loudly, and again fainted, and when she finally regained o n-clous ess it was seen that her terror had completely unhinged her intellect. Diving the day rhe seemed quiet enough, but at the it'proaoh of night l o ante io frantic that it was necessary to iestrain her. The bull snake la not venomous, but is formidable ahd hideous enough to inspire repugnance In the strongest mind. On searching the rafters and roof of his house. Mr. Summerfield, after his mother’s fright, found and dislodged no less than eighteen snakes of several varieties. This is tlioir season of hibernation, and they seek the warmest spot at hand ia which to lie until spring. Unless molested, they are usually harmless at thi i time, being too sluggish to move, and can cssily be killed, but near a fire they thaw out and become aggressive if shut In.