The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1886-10-09
A MISSISSIPPI sNAKE-CHARMER.
A Disgusting Exhibition that Had n
Bad Eject on nm Indiana Gem

you'll breed the chills! Come along
with mel"
The remark, writes Brinkley, Ark,
correspondent of The atlanta Constitn-
ton, needed no peremptory tone to en-
force obedience. To ono who has seen
a real live, genuine Arkansas chill in
operation the suggestion alone is suili-
cient. So down came pair OF feet
from their elevated place above the
head of the owner, the pipe was peck
eted, and the morning. sun-bath on the
piazza was abandoned Pleasant rs
they are un-baths in this state breed
chlls, and once bred heaven guard the
possessor! Much might be said of
them. They stand without arrival; long
AFRO they reached the acme OF chilliness
The bottom lands of other sections may
do their best, may toll and strive and
rack their victims, rs they will, but
when it comes right down to shaking
marrow out of bones, loosening teeth
and nail and then calmly introducing
Il fever beside which the interior OF II
coke oven seems Siberia-why, then.
Arkansas chills have walk-over for
the Derby. No sun-baths here.
Let us go 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 We. to be
heard from. They are everywhere, of
all kinds and sizes, of all degrees of
venom. In the bayous they may be
seen anywhere by hundreds and thou
sands. On the prairics they LUX un-
der every shrub and bush. In the for
ests they are numberlcss. Not a mile
from here, in a 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 a five-pound notch,
and game fish are occasionally taken.
When the long-legged native, however,
spoke of a colored Gnake-charmer, this
was something worth looking into.
Not having any acquaintance with the
blacks of Mississippi could not ques-
ton his word, but tkat any negro would
handle a snake seenied 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 a snake unexpectedly. There
will be one wild whoop, eyes will bulge
out in terror, jaws will fall like trap
door, there will be u vision of vanishing
male legs and more than female ankles
then the expermenter 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. lie 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 sun
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 Unborn horror of
snakes-if there be such one-his fl
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, a mottlcd-green
serpent nearly as large, and snake
known here MS the water-rattlesnakc. OF
dark-brown color and perhaps eighteen
inches in length. This snake is said by
the blacks to be very poisonous. How
ever that may be, it was enough for all
purposes. When the lid was raised
there were exposed no stupid, half
awake, inert serpents. Five heads shot
into view, five forked tongues dartcd
out, and there was falling back of the
crowd. Slowly one of the blacksnakes
raised himself out of the box and GID
ed gracefully away on the ground.
"Heah vol" spoke the charmer.
"War you goin'P 'Yo' done git back
yer to dis chile"
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 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 twined about his