The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1889-05-09
THE DEVILS TREE.
Discovery OF Third Specimen of the Car
niyorous ArbOr Diabou.

THE DEVILS TREE.
Discovery OF Third Specimen of the Car
nlyorous ArbOr Diaboli.
CHIHUAHUA, MEX, April 22.-I, Mr..
John II. Betterman, American and viii.
lom resident of this city, beg to commun.
icate 10 the Globe Democrat q most singu-
lar discovery which | have recently
made.
[ have taken much interest in the study
of botany during my sojourn in this
country, the fora of which presents one
of the richest fields for the scientist in
the world, and have wandered some dis.
lance from town on several occasions in
my search for specimens. On one Of
these expeditions noticed a dark object
on one of the outlying spurs Of the Sierra
Madre mountains, which object excited
my curiosity so much that I examined
it carefully through my field glass. This
revealed that the object was a tree or
shrub of such an unusual appearance
that resolved to visit the spot. I rode
to the mountain, the sides of which sloped
sufficiently for me to take my way on
horseback to within 8 few rods of the
summit. But here I was stopped by an
abrupt rise 80 steep that I despaired of
reaching it even on foot. I went aroun d
it several times seeking for some way to
climb up, but the jagged, betting rocks
afforded not the slightest foothold. On
the top of this knob stands the tree I
had seen. From the spot on which I
now stood I could see that it somewhat
resembIed in form the weeping willow,
but the long, dropping whip.like limbs
were of dark and apparently Shiny ap.
pearance, and seemed possessed of
horrible life.like power of coiling and
uncoiling. Occasionally the whole tree
would seem writhing, squirming mass.
My desire to investigate this strange veg.
etable product increased on each of the
many expeditions I made to the spot,
and at last saw sight one day which
made me believe I had certainly discover.
ed an unheardof thing. A bird, which
I had watched circling about for some
time, finally settled on the top of the
tree, when the branches began to awaken,
as it were. and to curl upwards. They
twined and twisted like snakes about the
bird, which began to scream, and drew
it down in their fearful embrace until
! lost sight of it. Horror stricken, /
seized the nearest rock in an attempt to
climb the knob. had so often tried
in vain to do this that WAS not surprised
when I fell back, but the rock was loos.
ened and fell also. It narrowly missed
me, but I spraDg up unhurt, and saw that
the fallen rock had left considerable
cavity. Iput my face to it and looked
in. Something like cavern, the floor
of which had an upward tendency met
my sight, and I felt current of fresh
air blowing on me, with dry, earthly
smell. Evidently there was another
opening somewhere, undoubtedly at the
summit Using my trowel, which I
always carried on my botanizing expedi-
tions, 1 enlarged the hole, and then
pushed my way UP through the passage.
When had nearly reached the top /
looked out cautiously to see if I should
emerge within reach of that diabolical
tree But I found it nowhere near the
aperture, so I sprang out. [ was just in
time to see the fattened carcass of the
bird drop to the ground, which was COW
cred with bones and feathers. ap.
preached as closely as I dared and ex-
amined the tree. 1t was low in size, not
more than twenty feet high. but covering
great area. Its trunk was of prodigious
thickness, knotted and scaly. From the
top of this trunk, few feet from the
ground, its Shiny branches carved upward
and downward, nearly touching the
ground with their tapering tips. It's ap-
pearance was that of gigantic tarantula
awaiting its prey. On my venturing to
lightly touch one of the limbs, it closed
upon my hand with such force that when
I tore it loose the skin came with it. I
descended thsn, and closing the passage
returned home. went back next day,
carrying half a dozen chickens with
which to feed the tree. The moment [
tossed it the fowls, violent agitation
shook its branches, which swayed to and
fro with sinuous, snaky motion. After
devouriDg the fowls, these branches, fully
gorged, dropped to their former position,
and the tree, giving no sign of animation,
l dared approach it and take the limbs
in my hand. They were covered with
suckers, resembling the tentacles Of an
octopus. There was no foliage, of course,
of any kind. Without speaking of my
discovery to any one about, I wrote an
account of it to the world famous botanist,
Professor Wordenhaupt, ofthe university
of Heidelberg. His reply states that my
tree is the Arbor Diaboli, only two speci-
mems of which have ever been knoWn-
one on peak of the Himalayas and the
other on the island of Sumatra. Mine is
the third. Professor Wordenhaupt says
that the Arbor Diaholi and the plant
known as Venus fy-trap are the only
known specimens, growing on the land, of
those forms of life which partake of the
nature of both the animal and vegetable
Kingdoms, although there are instances
too numerous to mention found Of this
class in the sea. The Portuguese man.of.
war may be mentioned, however, as one,
and the sponge as the best known speci-
men of this class. Correspondence Of the
Globe Democrat