Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1890-05-01

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sandy plains Of Arizona and Sonora.
is called By the native Mexicans Esrgp-
isz. which means Splitter derived
from the Spanish vera esrEpier, 70 spit
Il has 81 All times given rise 10 many
seemingly improbable stories. and ex-
cited considerable curiosity; 50 il may
not be amiss 70 take = closer look
st the mysterious object in the hght Of
recently-deFeloped facts. and an exDe-
rience of many years spent in the regions
Of this animals habitat The lizard
for such il evidently is varies in
length from fifteen 10 thirty inches. and
has a heavy rounded body, which touches
the ground when the animal creeps
along. unless enrzged, when IL assumes
q more erect posture, moves quicker
and begins 70 spit Its coloring is like
that Of the rzfflesnake. black figuring
on yellow, the entire body being ap-
pzrensIy scalys though in reality the
whole skin is composed Of small parti-
clss closely joined together. like an
embroidery-work Of beads It is the
only one OF the lizard family that is ex-
tremely venonouS
M Paul c Brown. in most interest
ing recent article. says that the long
debated question IS TO the venomous
nature Of the ella Monster was brought
up at late nesting Of the College Of
Physicians a. Philadelphiz- Drs- Mitrh-
ell spd Reichzrt had on hand live. Wig
oroat specimens of the lizard Dr.
Mitctell cznsed one 70 attack the edge
Of dish. and some Of the saliva was
caught in q watch-glass. This WAS first
tested The venom Of poisonous reptiles
is acid but this Was alkaline A minute
quantity Was then injected into live
pigeon. which died IN less than nine
E.Eutes- Other experiments were tried
which demonstrated thedangeroas char
acfer of the poison According 10 these
learned doctors. sratflesnalre poison is a
bzgsteI.e in comparison
The writer's personal experience with
this ssurian, which covers . period Of
over twenty-five years. may be con
densed into the following facts. In
1861. while in the employ Of the United
States Qnartsrmasser Department. !
Was stationed At Fort WaIlen-since
sbzndoned-in the Territory Of Arizona.
On the upper San Pedro river. and hzv-
ing considerable leisure time, I occu-
pied myself frequently in collecting
tarzntuizs- cenfipedes. snakes. czmpa-
mochas. etc. and studying their habits
One day during the summer. our mall
rider from Tucson reported 70 me that
he hnd met on his home-trip-in fact
that very morning-with = horrible ami
NAL, at sight Of which his horse SHE'D
precipitately. almost unseating him.
He quieted the horse. which. although
trembling in every limb. came to =
stand Before the rider had time 70
pull his revolver snd take aim, the
strange animal disappeared among the
rocks which line both sides Of the road
It thst place He described the animal
IS about four feet long. and not unlike
. young caimsn or crocodile (shs rider
was \ native OF louisiana. We had at
the for9 several Mexicans, employed rs
brick-makers and herders; and upon
their hearing his imperfect description.
they came unanimously to The c0nclu-
eisn that he bad seen IN eac1pioa. only
fhey shook their heads At the alleged
size Of the animal. ali stating that they
had never seen one exceeding = rara
(thirty-three inehesl in length
In the evening called these men 70
the Office. and offered them 1--WE dollars
for live specimen and half that amount
for dead one. not mufilzted to any
great extent On the following Sunday
two Of them started out, and towards |
evening brought in = ella Monster
fEenty-eight inches In length, which /
they bad lassosd while il was asleep, or
IpDzrently 80. On the sunny surface Of
8 large rock. which allowed them 10 /
crawl Er from behind uaperceiTed and |
20 throw the moose over its head. They
were carrying IL between them. hanging /
from Ceneus pole. the ends Of which |
rested on their shoulders. leaving be-
tween the dangling animal and its car
riers a distance Of a. least six feet
StiIl they appeared to me 10 be uncom-
Portable. and as sooa As I approached-l
in my ignorance and eagerness-some-
what close 20 the reptile. they both
burst out with: s.Por Dios, senior.
cuidado.- (For Gods sake. sir, take
care9
There being sR empty grain-room
about the place. lodged the saurian in
IL attached to raw-hide rope fastened
70 an iron picket pin. giving him about
four feet play-roOm- This I did with
the help Of my two Mexican friends
armed with long blscksmith's tongs.
while they continually cautioned me to
look cut for my fingers aud keep out Of
reach Of the animals spittle- After
paying the men. ! sent for something
from the sutler 70 compose their nerves.
In order TO ascertain from them the
cause of their abject fear. Their stories
mainly coiDcided with those of the
other Mexicans and Indians whom
have interrogated upon the subject
since, and th0ngh but hesrsay evidence,
] would state that these reports may be
accepted as facts. the narrators being
men Of unquestiOnable veracify. and my
later experiments basring them out IN
their assertions
A wood-cutter who had laid down in
rou1plete health to sleep. wrappe1 mp in
bis blanket failed 20 arise in the morn
ing when his cO-lab0rers called him.
UpOn unc0vering him they found him
stone dead and near his body Gila
Monster which. in the hustle and con-
fnsi0n Of tho morzent, made good his
sscape The body Of the man bore no
mark Of blte or other wound
Near Magdzlena, Sonora, a man Eas
hunting rabbits with dog. The latter
Inserted bis snout into q rabbit hole but
rs.reated. utterins fearful ]