The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1886-08-06
A MISSISSIPPI sNAKE-oHARMER.
A Disgusting Exhibition that Had a
Bad Effect on an Indiana Gen.
tleman.

| tleman.
You'll breed the chills! Come along
with mel"
The remark, writes Brinkley, Ark,
correspondent of The atlanta ConSttta-
ton, needed no peremptory tone to en-
force obedience. To one who has seen
a real live, genuine Arkansas chill in
operation the suggestion alone is suffi-
cient. So down came pair of feet
from their elevated place above the
head of the owner, the pipe was pock-
eted and the morning sun-bath on the
piazza was abandoned. Pleasant as
they are sun-baths in this state breed
chills, and once bred heaven guard the
possessor! Much might be said of
them. They stand without arrival; long
ago they reached the acme of chilliness
The bottom lands of other sections 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 nail, and then calmly introducing
a fever beside which the interior of q
coke oven seems Siberia--why, then,
Arkansas chills have walk-over for
the Derby No sun-baths here.
Let us 60 and see the snake
charmer," said the native. Arkansas
produces the snakes, Mississippi the
negro"
No need to question the first state
ment. If there is any species of snake
not common in Arkansas he is yet to be
heard from. They are everywhere, of
I'll kinds and sizes, of all degrees of
Eyenom. In the bayous they may be
seen anywhere by hundreds and thou
sands. On the prairies they LUX un-
! der every shrub and bush. In the for
ests they are numberless Not mile
from here, in q little pony bayou, may
be seen enough snakes any day to stock
all the museums of the country, with
few carloads 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 colored snake-charmer, this
was something worth looking into
! Not having any acquaintance with the
blacks of Mississippi could not ques-
! ton his word, but that any negro would
handle snake seemed incredible. Ar
kansas blacks will kill them-if their
poles are long enough. But to touch
one-never. To produce dramatic
effect in a crowd of blacks, young or
old, male or female, introduce ever so
small snake Unexpectedly. There
will be one wild whoop, eyes will bulge
out in terror, jaws viii fall like trap
door, there will be a vision of vanishing
male legs and more than female ankles
then the experimenter is sadly alone
| All this as we stroll up to investigate
the Mississippi charmer." The won
der proved reality. He was leaning
against the lee of drug store, sur
rounded by circle OF the curious, both
black and white. He was nearly full
blooded, tall and angular. His jeans
were worn and decidedly dirty. On
his head was torn and much-faded
felt hat, relic of the storms and sum
shine OF many seasons His movements
were awkward, and altogether he
would be thought the last individual
on earth to rival the fabulous snake
CLEANERS of the east Yet, standing
there in the sunshine, he gave such an
exhibition as sent cold chills to the
heart of all the spectators. To white
man not having an inborn horror of
snakes--if there be such a one-his f.
nal act was sufficient to make the flesh
creep. Evidently he was no Arkansas
native. Those who were about him
preserved respectful distance.
STOPPING over small box on the
ground at his side, the disreputable-
looking charmer raised the lid and ex-
posed his collection. There were three
blacksnakes of the species found in
Pennsylvania, each some three feet in
length; one kingsnake, mottled-green
serpent nearly as large, and a snake
known here as the water-rattlesnake, of
Edark-brown color and perhaps eighteen
inches in length. This snake is said by
the blacks to be very poisonous How
ever that may be, 1t was enough for ali
purposes. When the lid was raised
there were exposed no stupid. hall
awake, inert serpents. Five heads shot
into view, five forked tongues darted
out, and there was a falling back Of the
crowd. Slowly one Of the blacksnakes
raised himself out Of the box and glid-
ed gracefully away on the ground.
''Heah yo'l'' spoke the charmer.
sWar you goin'P Yo' done git back
yer to dis chile. y
At this word the snake stopped,
wheeled around. approached his cap
tor, and coiled up his leg and about his
body. The other snakes, excepting the
smallest, came out of tho box at the
word and followed the first All over
his body they went. their eyes flashing,
| Ihnir ffln nffna darfinn hanE and f1.fh