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

tion could not be made TO lot go us
hold till II was killed, and even then
its laws had TO be forced apart with an
iron rod, The dog upon being released,
began TO act very strangely and showed
something like the same symptoms as
horse does when suffering from the
'blind staggersip but soon began turning
around itself in circle with the head
for its center, and Ia about twenty min
utes fell down dead. The same actions
before death were observed in a mule,
only this animal was bitten In hind
leg and lived for several days.
A young miner while prospecting was
bitten lust above the shoe. Although
previously In the best health, he at
once began to lose flesh, became melan-
choly, and died after few months IN
the manner OF those who succumb TO
what in Germany is called the galloping
consumption.
II space allowed, I could enumerate
many similar cases, more or less au-
thenticated; but suffice it TO say, that
among the natives the universal belief
is that the spittle or saliva, and even
the mere breath and exhalation, Of the
animal in an excited state is deadly
poison. have been told by many
Mexicans that the Yaqui Indians hunt
the Gila Monster for the sake OF its
flesh, which is indeed appetising enough
TO look at: but several Yaq uis TO whom
smoke about the matter have denied
the assertion.
After this depression, let us return to
my prisoner in the grain-room. The
reader may imagine that, after the re-
peatcd cautions had received from its
captors, personally gave the animal a
wide berth, although ! tried TO Induce
pointer, which we kept for hunting
quail, TO investigate the nature OF the
newcomers temper. When the dog
perceived the big lizard he stood per
fectly still and trembled with fear, then
turned about and fed. One OF the men
now brought a very brave and even
vicious rat-terrier, who entered boldly
enough and walked, smiling cautiously,
towards the Gila Monster, which, In its
turn, came forward to the length OF the
rope. The two animals we're now only
few feet apart; the dog began TO whine
and bark alternately, advancing . few
inches and retrea.ing again, showing
plainly that he would like to go in and
shake his adversary, who by this time
had Strengthened his legs and was spit
ting furiously, shooting out his forNed
black tongue, while his little black eyes
exhibited tho ''uncanny' fire of an
angry snake. Tho dog could not be
induced to go any nearer, and the fight
| was abandoned. The lizard was then
given the corner of woolen blanket;
into this it bit furiously, holding on
with such tenacity that we had to pro-
cure crowbar TO pry its jaws open.
Cats placed in the same room which
had no door-with the suarian would
upon perceiving the animal, bristle up
ike the 'fret full porcupine" and make
a very speedy exit. | placed some
chopped meat and bowl Of water with.
in the reach OF my captive and left him
30 himsess. O~the followiss morning
he was gone, having dexterously slipped
the moose over his head-at least there
was no visible sign of gnawing on any
part of the rope.
Since then | have experimental witt
many specimens; in fact, | buy fe "
every sumner either for that purpose
or for stufing. One | kept for ovel
three months. IL appeared to be quite
old. and used TO place in its prison;
large dry-goods box rats, mice, lizards
and birds with clipped wings 1t re
NAMED entirely inoffensive, but the an
I -. int ha hns
would at once retire into the farthesi
corner and remain there with eviden
signs Of abiect fear
Finally resolved 10 stuff il, and nov
became acquainted with new feature
OF this animals nature, a feature so ex
traordinary, so altogether incredible
that almost hesitate to relate 1t, al
though can produce several eye-wit
nesses to the performance. In order t
preserve the skin without the leas
mntilation, | thought that the best wal
to kill the animal with the least posi-
bic suffering would be to drown it,
therefore attached a heavy stone to tn
wire which held the animal fast aroun'
the shoulders and immersed it in bar
rel full CT water, keeping the lizar'
completely under its surface, anchored
as il we're. But when ! found. afte
twelve hours OF continuous immersion
! that the saurian was as alive as ever,
} then, with the help of another man
} tried TO strangle the animal, but did nc
\ succeed. At this stage a friend arrive
| at the house, and ! related TO him m
perplexity: and he-a native OF Sonor
Q killed the animal in a second by gi'
r ing IL a moderate short dry knock wit
t the poker on the back part OF the sku
S where the latter joins the backbon'
a telling me that the Gila Monster had
J, soft spot there, which found to be Il
+ case while stuffing the animals.
y In direct contrast with the last-mei
d toned peaeefully-inclined specims
y we're several which kept at differel
a times. They would pounce upon ar
thing that came in an aggressi'
o manner near them; and do not rcmer
$ Der any small animal or bird th
It lived longer than from ten TO thiri
y minutes after being bitten, with oi
Y exception. Small creatures, like mi
Is and little pullets, would die almost II
II mediately A good-sized three-year-o
h rooster however, which had a fig
IT with him one day and was bitten in q
,f leg, survived the battle for sever
% years although remaining lame. III
d lizard had one eye put out and W
y otherwise pretty badly used, so tnat
q killed him in order TO make new c
n pertinent. ] boiled him for about u
E. hours in a well-cleansed kerosene ca
r and then gave a street cur about o
t. pint of the liquid substance. He lapp
n it eagerly, as il it we're beef-tea, a
= pcared to enjoy it greatly, and mai
e. testify looked about for more. Althoul
IN ! kept him locked up for several days
II, my courtyard, l failed to discover
xe him the least inconvenience resulti
from the unaecustomed diet This G
m pertinent repeated at different tint
in whenever 1 received a specimen who
ID mutilated carcass did not admit
ut stufing. and always with the sal
th harmless result; so that ] came TO
Is, conclusion that either the process
IS, boiling or the gastric juice Of the do
to stomach neutralised the venom.