The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1876-05-17
THE SPIDER AND THE MOUSE.

THE SPIDER AND THE MOUSE.
A COMPANION STORY FOR THE SPIDER AMI
THF FLY.
Those who have read the seductive story
of the spider and the fly will find the fol-
lowing, from the New Orleans Picsyune,
interesting: The wonderful little spider
which captured the mouse, and is elevat-
ing it into its psrlor at Mr.. Michae
Gross's carpenter shop on Gr6atmen, be-
tween Elysisn Fields and Msrigny streets,
OF which we gave an account yesterday
morning, Is still busilY engaged in its
herculesn task, and filing ID
numerous persons who visit 1t with
smszement. This astonishing little
insect IL OF the black species, and
very small, fact that renders the feat
which IL now performs the more marvel
Gus. The mouse was accustomed, when
on predatory excursion, to emerge from
4 hole under the bench where the spider
dwells, and pass into the carpenter shop,
where the bench stands. The enterprisiDg
spider, which had no doubt watched for
long time the movements, laid trap
for the unsuspecting young mouse, and
Monday morning, when 1t started out on
its daily rounds, the little spider, who
was on the look out, frightened the threads
which she had prepared for her victim,
whose hind legs had been entsngled in
them as it passed out of its hole, and soon
secured 1t. Immediately after
THE LEGS HAD BEEN CAUGHT,
the spider fastened another thread to thu
mouse's tail, and after several hours co.,
slant work, succeeded in raising her prey's
headquarters, end continued so doing TIL
the tip of the Inouse's nose only touched
the floor. Having thus rendered it help
less, the little spider industriously set &c
work multiplying its ssleniDgs. After q
few more hours labor, the mouse was
raised one inch from the floor, the spider
working as if with pulley. In its terri
Die contortion TO release itself, the
mouse managed to sever the fss-
Jennings around its hind legs, bui
so strong were the threads whict
suspended il in the air, and so securely
were they attached 10 its tail, that al
efforts to break them proved ruthless
Mr.. Gross, taking great interest in the
proceedings, left the spider undisturbed
and during almost the whole OF Monday
night, with several friends, watched lis
workings sttentively. The little insecr
sfi or taking her position on her victims
tail, commenced manipulating the threads
and working. Gradually could the aston,
ished witnesses of this wonderful feat SO,
the mouse creep mp, and the threads,
DESCENDING FROM THEIR FAsTENINGs
under the corner of the bench TO thu
mouse's tail, increased in number, and
during the twenty -four hours ending yes
terday evening the threads had so in
creased that it became impossible tn couDi
them, and the mouse, which was still alive
though quite weakened, had been raised
from one to three and a half inches from
the floor. The spider, during the who,
time of Its work, sat on the mouse's tail
only leaving its position at long intervals
when he would cautiously creep dowr
the tail to it's roots and there feed upoi
the blood of the mouse. Then, resuminS
is position on the end of the tail, i
would again begin its work. This IN
heard-of capture OF a mouse by so small al
insect, and its ingenious manner of elevst
ing it, has excited the wonder and sdmira
| ton OF thousands of visitors, among when
may be mentioned several scientific mel
and physicians, who assembled in lare,
crowds at Mr.. Gross's carpenter shop T.
witness the progress OF the gigantic tasl
which the little spider has undertaken
and is successfully bringing to an issue
Mr.. Gross will leave them undisturbet
and carefully watch the result, as ever
one Is anxious to see what the spider will
do with his captive after it dies, and hoV
far it will elevate 1t.