A Snake Story

From the Mt. Veraoa (O.) Bauner. Mr. Wm. Bowersmith, a farm hand, while working in a field near where Owl Oreek empties into the Mohican, met with an encounter a few days ago that seldom f alls to the lot of man. Mr. Bowersmith had taken an ax in bis hand to repair some fences bordering on the streams above referred to. Passing over a little bayou formeel by the back water in the recent freshet, and over which a large sycamore had fallen, he carne to a little unused piece of ground, deeply shaded by buckeyes and the common laren, and grown over by tall giass and iron-weeds. Mr. B. repaired some breaks in the fence and was turning to go away, when his attention was attractedby most peculiar sounds, described as something like the hissing of geese-, mingled with dull thuds, like striking on an old boot. Mr. Bowersmith turned his eyes in the direction of the sounds and saw the grass and weeds were in violent motion and leyeled to the earth, as though smitten with a club. He approached the spot cautiously, and by climbing vipon a stump close by his eyes met a sight never to be f orgotten. Almost beneath his feet, locked in deadly conflict, lay two immense serpents, hissing, writhing, and twisting, while their crimson mouths exuded blood and froth. Their eyes gleamed like rockets and protruded fiom their heads like beads. They would twine around one another and lash the ground with their tails and fastening their fangs into each other's necks would shake with the ferocity of bull-dogs. íi suun became apparent that one of the serpents was aboutexhausted and while making a desperate charge upon its opponent the other seized it near the under part of the throat and settled down upon the ground, where they lay writhing for several minutes. At last every thing became quiet, and Mr. Bowersmith crept from his position, and raising his ax, advanced to dispatch the victor. He had scarcely reached the spot when, with the rapidity of [ightning, the remaining serpent sprang upon him, and in an instant had so entwined itself about his person that resistance was impossible,and at each respiration the snake drew his deadly coil closer and closer. Mr. B. sank upon the ground, his face pierced in several places by the sharp fangs of the reptile. How long he remained in this position he knows not, and in all probability would not have been alive to-day had not a neighbor - who, with a common grain sickle in his hand.and who desired to see Mr. Bowersmith apon some unimportant matter- folloved him to the spot and found him as akove narrated. It was but the work of a moment for the neighbor to cut the body of the serpent in twain with the sickle and release the unfortutiate man, who was restored to conscious by the abundant application of water and the imbibing of a little spirits, which the neighbor had in his possession. The serpents proved to be two large reptiles of the species known as the black snake. After straightening them out the smaller one measured six feet f our inches from tip to tip, and the other eight feet two inches, and was thought to be some three inches in diameter. Mr. Bowersmith has now nearly recovered, although his face is still swollen from the poisonous effects of the serpent's fangs, and the shock to his nervous system would have proved fatal to a less robust man. A verdant youth f rom the rural districts wanted to go to Denver by rail (un liis way to Leaüville,) without buying a ticket. Some heartless wag advised him to apply to the baggage master and have himself checked through as baggage. He applied to that offlcial as direeted and the baggage number "205," in large figures was chalked on his back. As he walked around the depot waiting f or the train he made a good deal of f un for the boys," but the innocent traveler himself had no idea that he was a victim of a practical jokeand looked as solemn as s tomb stone.