Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1889-06-01
A BLOOD SUCKING TREE
Like . Gigantic Tarautula, and Feeds
ON Birds.

Lake Gigantic IofoWtulo, ana reeds
ON Birds.
John H. Betterman. an American and
| whilom resident Of Chihuahua, Mexico, writes
| as follows to the St. Louis Gio6<-D<moeraf
about singular discovery which he recently
| made;
have taken much interest in the study o.
botany during my sojourn in this country,
The fora Of which presents one Of the riches
fields for the scientist in the world, and kave
wandered sons di..spea tom ,sYu on.sever
al4occ.sieos inmy 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 examined
1t carefully through my field glass. This re
v-aled that the object was tree or shrab Of
such an unusual appearance that l resolved
to visit the spot.
rode to the mountain, the sides OF which
sloped sufficiently for me to make my way on
horseback TO within few rods Of the sum.
nit. Blu, here vas stopped by an abrup,
rise 90, steep that de.paired Of reaching il,
even On foot.
Invent around it several times seeking some
way 10 climbAp. but the jagged bee,ling
rocks Afforded not the sligh,es, foo, hold. o.
| the top Of this knob stands the tree hal
| seen. o.. -E:.ra.ea .s7'
From the spot on which now stood could
| see that il somewhat reseRbled in form the
weeping willow, but the long. ro,,ping whip
like limbs were ot dark and apparenll,
slimp appearance, AID seemed poss7 ssed Of a
horrible life-llke power Of coiling ami un.
coil,ng. Occasionally The whole tree woulu
seem wIi,hing. squirmiug mass.
My desire 10 investigate this strange vege
table prosiuc, increased on the many exped,.
ton, l made To the spot, and Al last saw q
sight one day which made me believe | hao
GER ainly discovered an unhraid of thing.
A bird, which | had watched circlns
about for some time, finally settled on the
Top Of the Tree, when the branches began 4.
awaken, as it were, and 10 curl upward
| They iwined and twisted like snakes abou,
| the bird. which b-gan 20 scream, and drew
il down in their fearful embrace until 10 .
| sight of it. Horror stricken, seized III,
nearest rock in an attempt TO climb the knob.
l had SO often tried in vain to do this that !
was not surprised when fell back, but The
rock wa. loosened aud fell also. II narrow
y missed me. but sprang up unhurt, and
saw that the fallen rock had left consider.
able cavity. put my face 10 it and looked
in.
| Something like cavern. the floor Of which
had sn upward tendency. met my sight, AMI
felt current OF fresh air blowing on IN.
with dry earthly smell. Evidently there
was another opening somewhere, undoub.ed
ly a, the summit. Using my rowel. which
1 always carried on my bOtan,z ng expedi
tons. | enla'geL the hole, and then pushed
my way up though the passage. When I
had nearly reached the top, 10 ,ked out
cautiously to see il l should emerge within
reach Of the diabolical tree. But found il
nowhere near the aperture, SOD sprang out.
was just in time to see the hatlened car
esss Of the bird drop to the ground, which
was COVERED with bones and feathers. ap
preached ~ closely Is l dared and examined
the tree. Ii was low in size, not mere than
twenty fee, high. but covering . great area.
Its trunk was Of prodig,ous thickness, knot
ted and scAly. Fsom the top Of hi. trunk
few ieet from the ground, its Shiny branche.
curved upward ami downward, nearly touch
ing the ground with their tapering tips. Its
appearance vas that VI . gigantic tarantula
awaiting rs prey.
On my ven,ur'pg to lightly touch one Of
the limbs, il closed upon my hand with such
force that When tore it loose the SKIN canr
with it. descenied then and closing the
passage returned home. [ went back mex,
day carrying half q dozen chickens with
which 10 feed The tree. The moment tosse,l
in the fowls, . violent agitation sh'.ok il,
branches, which swAyed 10 and iro with a
sinuons, snaky motion. After devouring the
fowls. these branches. fully gorged. droope'i
to their former position, and the tree giving
no sign Of animation, dared approach il
and take the limb. in my hand.
They were covered with suckers resembling
the tentacles Of an octopus. The blood o.
the fowls had been absorbed by these suckers,
leaving crimson stains on the dark surface.
There Vas no f'lisge. of course. Of any kind.
Without speaking Of my discovery TO amy one
about, wrole an accovn, OF tito The world
fAmou. botanist, Professor Wordenhaupt, ol
the University Of Heidelberg. M
HIS reply states that my tree is the Arbor
D,abola, only Two specimens Of which have
ever been known--one on peak Of the Him
.alsyas and the Other on the island OF SamA.
ira. Mine is the .hird.
Professor Wordenhaupt sayA that the Ar.