The globe-independent. (Hagerstown, Md.) 1943-19??, 1944-12-07

story concerns the mode OF capture
of the snakes by Wilmer. On one
occasion he took with him George
Garnand and Dwight Dutrow on
snake hunting expedition to Calico
Rock. Mr. Garnand tells it this
way: Wilmer, after peering around
into the crevaces of the rocks, said
There's fine one" No sooner
said than Wilmer had it looped
around with a string. There's an
other one" he said and soon had the
other one Topped up. As Wilmer
caught one snake he handed it to
Garnand to hold. The same process
was followed with Dutrow. Gar
mand, in speaking of the experience,
said Wilmer surely had put spell
on us fellows holding the snakes, as
we were not one bit afraid until we
were relieved of the snakes by Wit
mer. Then we went to pieces and
shook with fear. They were big
rattlers.
A man told us that when he was
a boy his mother had flock of fine
chickens, which were excellent lay
ers, and they got number of eggs
each day. A woman in the neibh-
borhood wanted one of the hens, but
the owner did not want to sell any
such good layers, so the sale was re-
fused. But here's the crux of the
story: The hens all stopped laying
completely. Of course the method
of procedure was to consult witch
doctor. The owner of the chickens
was told that someone had bewitch-
ed the chickens and given directions
what to do, lie. kill one and hang it
up over fire. When this was done
it was said the guilty party would
come and ask for something, which
should not be given. Soon the wo-
man came who had wanted to buy
one of the chickens and wanted to
borrow some salt. This was refus-
ed. Then she asked for some yeast.
Everything the woman wanted was
denied, according to instruction, and
the hens began to lay again as usual.
A farmer living west of Smiths
burg was going out into the field
with his horses to pillow. The horses
got half way across the bars and
wouldn't bulge Well, bewitched!
was the conclusion. At once the
farmer fastened to Smithsburg to
consult a witch doctor living there.
He was told to burn something Gre
cords do not say WHAT and the
witch would come and want some
thing. Pretty soon an old woman
living across the field from the
farm came running and pleading for
a drink of water, when she had
plenty at home. Also in this case
any request was to be refused to
break the SPELL
One day beef was to be shot. A
marksman was detailed for the Job
He fired. The beef simply bawled
and ran about. Another shot and
then third with the same effect
Nothing availing, the gun was hand
ed to another man present who
brought the beef down with one
shot When the beef was skinned
and prepared, the first three bullets
were found imbedded in the steers
skull, in close proximity to the brain
but the bullets never faxed it.
What is the explanation? Why, we
are told the man who fired the shots
which were ineffective had been be-
witched by some one who did not
like him. So there!
Here's something more about Ra-
ven Rock Hollow: On top of the big
rock, says Smithsburg resident,
there used to be, and probably still
is, spring of fine water gushing
out of the summit. emptying itself
into crevaces of the rock and disap-
pearing through a subterranean
channel to the creek below. Years
ago this was a favorite picnic place
for young people, especially on East
er where they would stage a party
and eat Easter eggs. Water from
the Raven ROCK Hollow finds it's
way into the water supply for Ha-
gerstown.
There was spring on the Towson
place, near the town, from which
water was piped to the square in
Smithsburg for fountain. By the
way, Smithsburg today has fine
supply of pure mountain water.
In years gone by the ''bellsnickle"
was favorite sport on New Years
day. It meant that certain young
people would dress up ina fantastic
manner and frequent the streets of
the town for the amusement of peo-
pie who would come to witness the
demonstration. The practice how