Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-02-03
TARANTULA AGAINST CENTIPEDE.
Some Interesting Battles Between
VenemOus and FerOciOus Creatures.

From the San Diego Union
One afternoon last week there was a large
and interested crowd of amusement seekers in
and in front of the large side windows of Knox
d Van Haren's drug store. Several days be-
fore two centipedes, one large and the other
small, were brought into the store, and also q
tarantula. They we're left in separate recep-
tacles and all alive.
On this particular afternoon it was deter
mined TO see how the animals would act when
placed together. A layer of sand about an
inch thick, was spread over the bottom of a
glass globe and first the two centipedes we're
dropped in and with them a horned toad His
majesty with the horns took no part in the
trouble which disturbed the other two He
seemed to be acting simply as the referee Of
the fight. The two centipedes crawled over
him and rolled over him, but hardly awakened
his sleepy nature.
Not so the others, They circled two or three
times around the globe and finally came In each
others way Each desired to crawl over the
other and the battle began. 1t was short, but
1t was exciting. No two pugllists ever went after
each other with more vim or more apparent de-
termination to d0each other harm than did these
two centipedes. Their catlike claws were re-
peatedly Embedded in each others bodies, but
the smaller one could not stand the strain and
when they came together for the third time
about two minutes after they were first put in
they clinched and wound about each other
keeping their claws going IN scissor fashion
upon each others bodies until the smaller
centipede dropped out dead.
The body was taken out of the globe and soon
after the tarantua was dropped in. The cent?
pede had not had time to recover any strength
after his battle with his fellow, and his sting
had lost its death-dealng qualities, so that this
battle was also short The two animals closed
only twice when the forceps of the tarantula
crtIcb had oil fbo haa1 OY he Iar
pede. and he died quickly. The tarantula had
apparently received no injury and looked mad
enough to have fought a whole regiment of
centipedes.
One Of the company who had watched the
two battles. impressed with the way the cent?
pede fought in the first battle, ventured the
assertion that the centipede was the better
fighter. He knew where one could be obtained
and he went after it; mean while the crowd
waited. When he returned he brought cent?
pede nearly four and a half inches long. 1t
was Immediately dropped into the globe and
the fight, which was then begun, lasted for
fully three-quarters of an hour and was ex-
ceedingly savage while it lasted. The taran-
lula did most of the fighting, but after the first
attack invariably got the worst of the round.
The tarantula fights with pair of pincers
which are thrust out just below or from the
lower part of the head These are very hard
and strong enough to leave marks upon a lead
pencil The centipede fights with the double
I
along the side of the body. In fighting the
tarantula spreads himself out and after back
| ing away after the manner Of a crawish until
he can get no further, springs upon the enemy,
thrusting out the pincers spd grasping what
ever portion Of the body Of the enemy comes
| within reach.
In the battle in the globe the two came to-
| gether for a dozen or more rounds, breaking
| away and returning to the opposite side of the
| globe at the close Of each. Finally the two
Tor thn~ nd tbao 10 Sol a.
the hold he had been looking for and the tar
antula's body was quickly wrapped up in the
| fold of the armed body of its opponent. Mean
| while the hundred claws of the centipede were
working rapidly and with such effect that the
| life Of the tarantula was soon over. The vic
torious centipede did not come ont unscathed,
| as the forceps Of the tarantula had pierced his
body in five places, from which the black life
fluid was running. He survived the battle
only Q few hours.
Claassen and Pell, arrested for the wrecking
| OF the New York banks, spent Sunday comfort
ably in Ludlow street Jail, being shown all the
consideration Of distinguished guests. They
were visited by their counsel and many SYM
pathizing friends, who arranged to give bail
today.
Propositions are pending before the Balti-
more city council to expend about s20, 0OO. 900
| IN improving and developing the city's street
| railway and railroad facilities.
The Italian citizens Of New Orleans complain
that when they appear ON the streets they are
greeted by peculiarly annoying whistle. The
police board has been requested to protect
them from this insult.
fire at Danbury, Conn, yesterday destroyed
property worth $500, 900.
Ben Gardner, publicly cowhided e. J. Norris
in the streets Of EdgeAeld, SC, because Norris
broke OF his engagement to marry GARDENERS
sister.
Rev. Albert H. Studebaker preached in the
First English Lutheran church Of Baltimore
Yesterday on 1.-THE Newspaper" He declared
press 10 found the pulpit's most valuable ad-
junct
Gsorgiana DELANEY, who has been masquerad-
ing ~ boy for six years and who has travelled
eve! the country, has been arrested by the
Philadelphia police.
The Parneh branch Of the Irish National
league yesterday passed resolutions commend
ing the appointment Of Charles Emory smith
- minister 10 Russia.