The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-09-01
A SNAKE CIIARMER.
A DISGUSTING EXHIBITION GIVEN
BY A cOLORED PERFORMER.

A Sight Which sont Cold Chills to tho
Hearts of All tho Spectators-A Box
OF Hidcous Reptiles Under Wonderful
Control.
"Youll breed the chillsi Come along with
mel"
The remark needed no peremptory tone to
enforce obedience. To one who has seen O
real live, genuine Arkansas chill in operation
the suggestion alone is sufficient. So down
came pair of feet from their elevated place
above the head of the owner, the pipe was
pocketcd, and the morning sun bath on the
piazza was abandoned. Pleasant as they arc
sun baths in this state breed chillS, and once
bred heaven guard the posSessor! Much
might I've said of them. They stand without
a rival; long ago they reached the acme OF
chjlliness. The bottom lands of other sec
tions may do their best, may toll and strive
and rack their victims as they will, but when
it comes right down to shaking marrow out
of bones, loosening teeth and nails, and then
calmly introducing fever beside which tho
interior of a coke oven seems Siberia-why,
then, Arkansas chills have walk-over for
the Derby No sun baths here.
"Let us go and sec the snake charmer," said
the native ARKANSAS produces the snakes,
Mississippi the negro"
No need to question the first statement 1t
there is any species of snake not common III
Arkansas he is yet to he heard from. They
arc everywhere, of all kinds and sizes, of all
degrees of venom. In the bayous they may
bc seen anywhere by hundreds and thousands.
On the prairie they lurk under every shrub
and bush. In the forests they arc nunbcrlcss.
Not mile from here in little pony bayou,
may he seen enough snakes any day to stock
oil tho museums in the country, with few
car loa.!s over for export. It's not considered
much of place for snakes, either, but
fairly good fishing ground, where catfish
reach five-pound notch, and game fish are
occasionally taken When the long-legged
native, however, spoke Of a colored snake
charmcr, this was something worth looking
into.
A DRAMATIC EFFECT.
Not having any acquaintance with the
blacks of Mississippi could not question his
word, but that any negro would handle
snake seemed incredible. Arkansas blacks
will kill them-if their poles ore long enough.
But to touch one-ncvcr. To produce dra-
matte effect in a crowd of blacks, young or
old, male or female, introduce ever so small
snake unexpectedly. There will be ono wild
whoop, eyes will bulge out in terror, jaws
will fall like trap door, there will be a
vision of vanishing legs and anliles-then the
experimenter is sadly alone.
All this as we stroll up to investigate the
mississippi charmcr." The wonder proved
reality. He was leaning against the lee of q
drug store, surrounded by circle of the
curious, both black and white. lie was
nearly full blooded, tall and angular. His
jeans were worn and decidedly dirty. On his
head was q torn and mucli-faded felt hat
relic of tho storms and sunshine of many sea-
sons. His movements were awkward, and
altogether he would DO thought the last i'll
iivilual on earth to rival the fabulous snake
charners of the east. Yet, standing there in
the sunshine he gave such an exhibition as
sent cold chills to the hearts Of all the specta-
tors. To q white man not having an inborn
horror of snakes-if there be such one-his
final act was sufficient to make the flesh creep.
Evidently he was 10 Arkansas native. Those
who were about him preserved q respectful
distance.
STOPPING over small box on the ground ut
his side tho disreputable-looking charmer
raised the lid and exposed his collection.
There were three black snal.es of the species
found in Pennsylvania, each some three feet
in length; ono king snake, mottled green
serpent nearly rs large, and snake known
here rs the water rattlesnake, of dark brown
color and perhaps eighteen inches i'll length.
This snake is said by the blacks to he very
poisonous. However that may be, it was
enough for all purposes. When the lid was
raised there were exposed no stupid, half
awake, inert seIpcnts. Five heads shot into
view, five forked tongues darted out, and
and there was a falling back Of the crowd.
Slowly one of the black snakes raised himself
out of the box and glidcd gracefully away OH
tie ground.
"Hcah yo'!" spoke the charmcr. "War you
goin'! Yo' done git lacl yer to dis chile"
UNDER PERFECT CONTROL.
At this word the snake stopped, wheeled
around, approached his captor and coiled up
his leg and about his body. The other snakes
excepting the smallest, came out of the box
at the word and followed the first. All over
his body they went, their eyes flashing, their
tongues darting back and forth continuously.
They twincd about his neck, rested OH his
erect heads and constantly playing tongues
seemed perfectly at home. One by one they
would be put on the ground and start away
only to stop at the word. Hung over the box
they would maintain one position until told
to move. They seemed under perfect control
and for nearly half an hour entertained and
horrifie1 the rapidly growing circle of spec
tators. Then the Mississippian pat away the
big fellows and took out the water rattle
snake 1t was his final act. There were no
words of introduction, no mumbling invoca-
tions or notices that at the conclusion of the
entertainment tho hat would be passed. He
talked to the snakes as he might to children,
petting and abusing
The new snake was O decidedly lively one,
foot and q half long, as said, and of good
thickness. 1t was Us wide awake Us any of
its prcdeccssors-more vicious i'll appearance,
if anything. 1t did all that they did, then
coiled on the fellows shoulder. He took it in
his hands, and-Great Scott!-delibcratcly
crowded it into his mouth 1t was capa-
cious mouth. BY the side of it even Billy
Kersand's pride would be thrown into
shadow. The lips closed, and the ungainly
black apparently masticated the serpent,
while the crowd stood awed by disgust and
horror. Slowly his lips opened, Us when ono
cxhales tho smoke of a choice cigar. Quick
rs u flash the snakes head shot out, its tongue
a darting flame, its eyes cleaning wicketily.
1t gradually pushed its body into sight, slip
ping down on the blacks shoulder, and coiled
Us if to strike; then, ut the word, returned to
the box The effect of such an unnatural ey-