The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1880-08-05
Heller, the Snake Charmer.

bill to obtain splendid view of TIT
beautiful valley of the Schuylkill
hemmed in on both sides by spurs o.
the Blue Mountains. The old man was
Michael Heller, known far and wide ir
these parts as the great snake bite curel
and snake charmer. He was hunting
herbs for his medicines. He gained
his knowledge from his father, who had
gained it from his grandfather. 1t haG
been handed down from father to sor
for many generations.
Heller continued his search, and paid
but little attention to the sketchino
party near by. He crept on all fours,
with his face near the grayrocks under
the brush.
Hunting copperhead?' he was
asked.
"No, but you'll find them hereabouts
on hot days. he replied, scarcely tax
ing time to look up. Ten minutes later
he consented to JOIN us over lunch.
'Were you ever bitten yourself?''
was next asked of him.
"Once or twice many years ago; but
did not mind it much. l soon got the
poison out of my blood. l am not
afraid of the worst snake l ever saw.
May be that's the reason l can pick 'em
up and walk away with them. don't
go to snake with club or rock, of
course not. Charming a snake is no
more than taking it by kindness.
Handling it without being bitten is
another thing. A snake must get used
to you before you can feel safe. 1t
must first feel that it is safe before it
will become peaceful. There is every-
thing in handling it when you pick it
from the ground or the rocks. never
allow any one with me to kill snake.
Copperheads are the sneaks of the hills.
They lay low and cut people in all sorts
OF ways, generally in the feet, face or
fingers. Rattlesnakes give an alarm,
copperheads never do. The bite of a
copperhead is worse than that of a rat
tier. l can tell the kind of snake the
minute see the bite; l don't care how
long afterward. The skin around the
wound made by young snake turns
chestnut color; by an old Snake it will
be darker. The bite of an old copper
head will kill very quick. heard of a
boy who died in two hours. They sent
for me by horse and wagon, but before
| got there the boy was nearly black.
He had been cut in the head by very
old snake. l hunted for that snake two
weeks. anyhow. but l never saw any
traces of her. She got away. I was
curious to see her, and felt sorry be-
cause l did not get the chance. Of
course, like the business very much.
| like it because 1 have done a great
deal of good. My father and grand
father never made any charges. All
they took was their expense in coming.
Milk is used considerably in killing
poison. In the summer l am never
without my medicine. On the hills I
have it with me all the time. Here is
some now"
The old man produced small bottle.
half filled with dark red, thick fluid.
THAT is it. 1t is cooked out of roots
and herbs, and is very bitter. But med
lcine is not all / use. Some call the
motions 60 through with over snake
bite 'pow-wowing.' Pow-wowing con-
sists OF gently rubbing and blowing the
wound. But there is a special PRAYER
said in low tone of voice as I rub.
That's what they call pow-wowing. In
The Pennsylvania German dialect it is
Jailed 'brauche.' Pow-wowing is done
or burns, sores, erysipelas, wildfire.'
md similar ailments. 1t is an old German
custom. They say there are special
prayers for each ailment, although I do
lot know more than about curing snake
bites. They say that nearly ali DOW
Vowing is handed down from man TO
woman and from woman to man. A
nan can't tell man nor a woman a
woman. This pOw-wowing is believed
n by very many in this section of the
state, especially among the German
'eOple. l believe in nv secret. of
course. because l never fail in it. IF |
'ou will walk along over these rocks we
nay come across a copperhead, and 1 |
vii show you how to pick her up. I'll
axe one OF you along, and no more. I |
ont like to 60 with a crowd. Gener-
lily am alone"
An hours tramp with the old snake
harmer followed, over the rocks and
trough the brush. At various spots
ed stop and listen, with his left ear
lose to the ground. Suddenly he
topped and very coolly remarked: in
here lays a black snake. No use MAX
1g much fuss with her. She's not bio.
nd she'll run. If she was a big one
he d stand her ground" He took his
ane, and in few minutes had the
erpent prisoner under it. Bv a dex-
erous movement with his right hand
g clutched the snake back OF the head
nd lifted it out of the moss. Don't
9 afraid; she can't hurt if she would.
ee what a piercing black eve she's
OF. She's q clean one, two wears old.
female" He caught the serpent by
he tail and wound it around his arm
rasping the coils, he transferred II tn
Is left hand and stroked its head with
is right. In five minutes he had. or
semed to have, perfect control of the
,rpent, and it ceased wrigplinp
Now I'll lay her down and She Il not
IN" He did SO, and the snake re-
aimed as he placed it. He then stirred
about gently, and it silently elided
way into the bushes again. don't be
raid of black snakes. A big one NAV
sht you, but watch it's head. wish
e could find better game. We've had
good many thunder storms. and con-
'rheads and rattlers lay very low. The
)tter the weather is, the more thew