gistfile1.txt

>>> import numpy
>>> data = numpy.genfromtxt("test.dat", names=["x", "y"])
>>> data
array([(0.0, 1.0), (0.1, 2.0), (0.2, 3.0), (0.3, 4.0), (0.5, 7.0),
       (1.0, 9.0)], 
      dtype=[('x', '<f8'), ('y', '<f8')])
>>> data["x"]
array([ 0. ,  0.1,  0.2,  0.3,  0.5,  1. ])
>>> data["y"]
array([ 1.,  2.,  3.,  4.,  7.,  9.])