Morning journal and courier., 1888-01-13
The Horrible cha Monster.


 G. W. Dunn, the queer old white-haired naturalist, whose rooms at the American Exchange Hotel form the oldest museum of animal life perhaps on the continent, leaves in day or two for Cape St. Lacas to gather together line of animal life hitherto un- known to scientists. Hundreds of people have in the last few weeks called and peeped into the old naturalist's strange collection There the most horrible reptiles, tarantulas, poisonous scorpions and tho most deadly in- seets from the burning climes of the South are to be found.
 s'Since the world began" said the gray haired enthusiast last night, 'there hasn't been but one naturalist at Cape St. Lucas and that was thirty years ago. It is a new land, but know there are some strange things to be got down there that will startle even the scientists. For twenty years have been travelling up and down the country. across the deserts and in the mountains, get ting these strangest specimens of animal life. And among the oldest in all my experience is the Gila monster. Now in this day some people think there is no such thing as Gila monster. And yet throughout the Colorado desert, especially along the Gila river, you may encounter thousands. On the contrary too, you may scarcely see one. The Gila monster (Heloderna horidium) is almost as thick as your leg and about eighteen or twen- ty inches long. It has head which is pret- ty near all mouth, and open clear back to it's ears. The head is about as big as half of 8 cigar-bo set with little, vicious eyes, and the mouth is powerfully muscled and set with four sharp fangs and lot of grinders. The color of the monster is reddish, with brown spots. It has a blunt tail, as nearly all poisonous lizards have. I found these monsters living in the hot sand They are not good to fool with, and @ man who is in the Gila monster business must know what he is about. One day last June pulled up from the hot desert to little ranck on the Colorado river. The man who owned the place had pct Gila monster, which he kept in barrel. He stopped down to get him ont to show him to me and some friends of his who were there, and the monster shut down on his thumb. He gripped it so tight in his awful mouth, which was like vise that his jaws had to be pried open with an iron bar. The man only lived few hours and died in terrible spasms. Another man bitten while 1 was dowu there has ever since been para lyzed in the side. Hardly anybody ever gets over 8 bite from this terrible animal, Now tarantula makes a bad sore, but 1t doesn't kill a man. have got awake frequently in the morning, while camping out, and found tarantalas curled up on the edge of my blan- ket. They do that to keep warm, but if you are careful about disturbing them they won't bite you.
 'sThe horrible reptile called the vinagroom by the Mexicans, and meaning smelling like vinegar, :" ranks next to tAe Gila monster in vicious and poisonous characteristics. The Vinagroom (the elepholus excubiter) is found in the Organ Mountains. There is nothing like it but itself. It is kind of compound of scorpion, lobster and three or four kin dred animals. It is four or five inches long, with long, stout claws, and is of 8 mottled brown color"