A SNAKE IN A DRAWING-ROOM.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5271, 14 February 1878, Page 3

A SNAKE IN A DRAWING-ROOM.

(From the Hamilton Spectator, January 19). One of the most sensational snake stories we have yet heard comes tons from Penshurat, and is told by a gentleman whose veracity is unimpeachable. It appears that on the 15th instant a number of ladies arrived on a visit to Eden-house, Penshnrst, and were listening to a young lady playing on the piano, whilst an 18-mouths-old child (a son of the Eev. Mr. Falconer, of Wagga Wagga, N.S.VV.) was left for a moment amusing itself on the floor of the hall, the front door being open. Suddenly the harmony was disturbed by the screaming of the little one, and on rushing out to ascertain the cause, one of the ladies was horrified at seeing a tiger snake fully five feet long within a few inches of the child. To snatch the infant away by its dress and retreat into the drawing-room was the work of an instant, but before the door could be closed his snakeship had also secured admission. Then the more sensational portion of the episode commenced. In the room was a circular table, and round and round this (with the screaming child in her arms) ran the lady, followed by the soak-. The other ladies in the room took refuge on chairs, and helplessly looked on at the painful and very exciting scene that was being enacted below them. One of them next essayed to open the door, which by some means had become closed, thereby creating a diversion, as the snake at once “ went for her,” and nothing but a very active spring on to a chair saved her. Another lady tried a door on the opposite side of the room, but like lightning the venemous reptile went across the intervening space, and actually touched her dress as she sprang on to a sideboard. In the meantime the screaming had attracted the attention of a young man working in the garden, and on running into the house to ascertain the cause he heard cries of “Snake ! snake ! ” proceeding from the drawing room, and prepared himself for the emergency. He rushed in, and presto • the maddened reptile faced him, and fought savagely until compelled, by frequent blows with a thistle hook, to take refuge under the sofa. There it espied a largo dull, round which it twined itself as best it could, and bit it several times. Eventually the sofa was removed, and the intruder received a quick despatch. Our informant adds : —■ “ It is supposed the music attracted the reptile into the house, and it may bo that had its enjoyment not been interfered with, it would not have become so infuriated. Of course upon the restoration of peace the child was anxiously examined, and great was the relief to all minds when it was ascertained that the little thing had not been brought into immediate contact with the venomous fangs of the reptile. After a few hours the ladies recovered from their fright. One of them, though 19 years of age, and born and brought up in this district, had never seen a live snake before, and has since repeatedly stated that she never want# to see one again.” There have

been snake stories and snake stories ; blit we think the above eclipses any of those that have been invented by sensation-mongers, and is another proof that truth is often stranger than fiction.