Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1890-05-01
THE GILA MONSTER.
Facts Concerning This Mysterious
and Dreadful Lizard.
Ms a sluggish Reptile But When Sudden
ly Attacked or Cornered spits Dead-
ly Poison = studying Captive
by Submitting II to Tests.


by Submitting IL to Tests.
The ella Monster tHeodsrmd horI1-
dunn, which lives in the valleys and
sandy plains Of Arizona and Sonora,
is called by the native Mexicans Eseup-
ion, which means splitter derived
from the Spanish verb escaPicr, to spit
1t has at all times given rise TO many
seemingly improbable stories, and OK
cited considerable curiosity; so ii may
not be amiss to take a closer look
at the mysterious object in the light OF
recently facts, and an expe-
rience OF many years spent in the regions
OF this animals habitat The lizard
for such it evidently is r varies in
length from fifteen to thirty inches, and
has heavy rounded body, which touches
the ground when the animal creeps
along, unless enraged, when IL assumes
a more erect posture, moves quicker
and begins TO spit Its coloring is like
that of the rattlesnalSe. black figuring
on yellow, the entire body being APP
parently scaly, though in reality the
whole skin is composed of small parti-
cles closely joined together like an
acknowledgements of beads 1t is the
only one OF the lizard family that is ex-
tremely venomous.
Mr.. Paul c. Brown, in most interest
ing recent article, says that the long
debated question as TO the yenomous
nature of the Gila Monster was brought
np at a late meeting" OF tho College'cf
Physicians at Philadelphia. Drs. Mitch
ell and Reichart had on hand live, Wig
oront specimens of the lizard. DR..
Mitchell caused one to attack the edge
of a dish, and some of the saliva was
caught in a 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
minutes. Other experiments were tried
which demonstrated the dangerous char
acter Of the poison. According to these
learned doctors, ''rattlesnake poison is a
bagatel,e in comparison"
The writer's personal experience with
this saurian, which covers a period OF
over twenty-five years, may be con
densed into the following facts In
1867, while in the employ of the United
States Quartermaster Department !
was stationed at Fort Wallen-s since
abandoned-in the Territory of Arizona,
on the upper San Pedro river, and hav-
ing considerable leisure time, | occu-
pied myself frequently in collecting
tarantulas. centipedes, snakes, campa-
,..I 81 Atrtf o. "A Z
One day during the summer, our mail
rider from Tucson reported TO me that
he had 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 ouieted the horse. which, although
trembling in every limb, came TO q
stand. Before the rider had time e
pull his revolver and take aim, the
strange animal disappeared among the
rocks which line both sides of the roae
at that place. He described the anima
as about four feet long, and not unlike
a young caiman or crocodile (the ride
was a native of Louisianal. We had a
the fort several Mexicans, employed a
brick-makers and herders; and upoi
their hearing his imperfect description
they came unanimously to the conclu
sion that he had seen an escUpton; onl.
they shook their heads at the alleges
size OF the animal, all stating that the
had never seen one exceeding a rdr
(hirty-three inches) in length.
In the evening called these men I
the Office, and offered them five dollar
for a live specimen. and half that amour
for a dead one, not mutilated to an
great extent On the following Sunda
two of them started out, and toward
evening brought in a ella Monste
twenty-eight inches in length, whic
they mad lassoed while it was asleep, {
apparently so, on the sunny surface {
A large rock, which allowed them
crawl up from behind unperceived an
TO throw the moose over its head. The
were carrying it between them, hangin
from a Cereus pole, the ends Of whic
rested on their shoulders, leaving b
tween the dangling animal and its ca
riers a distance of at least six fee
still they appeared TO me to be uncon
Portable, and as soon as | approached
in nv ignorance and eagerness-som
what close to the reptile. they hoi
burst out with: "Por Dios, seno
cuidadol" (For Gods sake. sir, tai
careD
There being an empty grain-roo
about the place. lodged the saurian
il. attached to a raw-hide rope fasteni
10 an iron picket pin, giving him abo
four feet play-room. This / did wi
the help Of my two Mexican friend
armed with long blacksmith's tong
while they continually cautioned me
look out for my fingers and keep out
reach Of the animals spittle. Aft
having the men. sent for somethii
from the sutler 10 compose their nerve
in order to ascertain from them Z
cause Of their abject fear. Their stori
mainly coincided with those Of {
other Mexicans and Indians whom
have interrogated upon the subie
since. and though but hearsay evident
/ would state that these reports may
accenfed as facts, the narrators bel
men of unquestionable veracity. and I
later experiments bearing them out
their assertions.
A WOod-cutter VINO Haa Aa4~ ec"'a
complete health TO sleep, wrapped up
his blanket, failed TO arise In the mo-
ing when his co-laborers called HI
Upon uncovering him they found h
stone dead. and near his body 9
Monster. which. in the hustle and G
fusion Of the moment, made good
escape. The body Of the man bore
mark Of bite OF other wound
Near Magdalena, sonora, q man ,
hunting rabbits with a dog. The lat
inserted his snout into raooit noie
Immediately retreated, uttering tear