Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1886-03-25
THE ''MOSCA."

HAonS eho SuCSto az IctioW Wueu
our reporter entered the bar-room at
night was young Englishman. not
month from the capital of all cre-
alton. He was dressed in check
suit Of the most distressing pattern and
shape-the former very broad and the
latter very narrow-and was crowned
with tall. white silk hat.
He was in quest of information and
didn't disdain to absorb it, even from
"mule-whacker." That was probab-
ly the reason he had put up at Herlow's
instead Of one of the "first-class" hotels.
The boys were filling him brimful of
the wonders and terrors of the far
Southwest. Coyotes, cinnamon bears.
rattlesnakes, centipedes. tsrantulas and
scorpions had all been paraded before
him. in spirit. but their bodily presence
was wanting to complete the effect. or
course. coyotes, cinnamon bears and
rattlesnakes couldn't be expected 10 be
strolling about in we'll regulated hotel,
even in Santa Fe. Scorpions, cent?
pedes and tarantulas there may have
been within those hospitable walls. but
they were retiring creatures at the best
and could hardly be induced to come
forth and entertain distinguished Wis
itors at short notice, in the glare and
noise OF the barroom. Then some from
tier genius invented the "mosca." On
the spur OF the moment he informed
the Englishman that the mosca was a
fly of large size. whose bite WAS fatal.
1t was of terrible appearance when
seen, but it generally flew so rapidly as
to be invisible. 1t was liable to be
found Tor to find a person) in any room
in the city at any time. 1t always bit
a person in the neck. In a few min
utes one Of the stage-drivers made a
sudden slap NJ his neck and terrified
dodge.
What was it?'' asked another.
"Mosca." laconically replied the stage
driver, with the air of brave man who
had narrowly escaped sudden death.
In another moment government
ambulance-driver went through the
same startling performance and ejacu-
lated tho same terrible word.
In short time a s'mule- whackcr,"
who had procured rubber string. went
behind the bold Briton and gave him
sharp, singing snap on the neck with
the rubber. The victim fell to the floor
as if shot and the tall white hat rolled
away in eccentric curves to the
other side Of the room. "Mosca," he
gasped. As the teamsters raised him
from the floor, they proceeded with
"reminiscences OF former comrades who
had been sent "over the range" by the
demoniac mosca; but the convulsive
movements Of the stranger were of such
a character that even the teamsters be-
gan to look upon it rs serious matter,
and one Of them Immediately invented
q certain remedy. 1t was gin and cay
enpe pepper. In less than a minute
the stranger was nearly strangled with
the pepper, and in less than an hour he
was quite drunk with the gin, and was
put to bed in that condition.
The next morning when he came to
his senses, he hardly took time to make
his toilet and eat his breakfast before
making arrangements to leave for the
north on the next train; and during the
short remainder Of his stay in the terri
tory, he wrapped his neck in thick
WOODEN scarf, and kept his eyes and
ears alert for the approach Of the hid
eous mosca. By the way, mosca is the
Spanish word for house-fy.