The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-05-23
THE GILA MONSTER.
Facts Concerning This Mysterious
and Dreadful Lizard.
1t Is Sluggish Reptile But When Sudden
ly Attacked or Cornered Splits a Dead
ly Poison - Studying a Captive
by Submitting 1t to Tests.

~ AeodChcO VI OOrneFeO SpfCS a DEAD
ly Poison Studying a Captive
| by Submitting 1t to Tests.
The ella Monster (HelOde,'ma horrj
dunn, which lives in the valleys ant
sandy plains Of Arizona and Sonora
is called by the native Mexicans Escup
ion, which means Splitter" derived
from the Spanish verb escupser, to spit
1t has at all times given rise to many
seemingly improbable stories, and ex
cited considerable curiosity; so it may
not be amiss to take a closer look
at the mysterious object in the light Of
recently-developed facts, and an expe.
rience of many years spent in the regions
of this animals habitat. The lizard
for such it evidently is - 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 it assumes
a more erect posture, moves quicker
and begins to spit. Its coloring is like
that of the rattlesnake, black figuring
on yellow, the entire body being ap-
parently scaly. though in reality the
whole skin is composed of small parti-
cles, closely joined together. like an
embroidery-work 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 venomous
nature of the ella Monster was brought
up at a late meeting of the College of
Physicians at Philadelphia. Drs. Mitch
ell and Reichart had on hand live, Wig
orous specimens of the lizard. DR..
Mitchell caused one to attack the edge
of dish, and some of the saliva was
caught in 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
bagatelie 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, I
was stationed at Fort Wallen-since
abandoned-in the Territory of Arizona.
on the upper San Pedro river, and hav-
ing considerable leisure time, 1 occu-
pied myself frequently in collecting
tarantulas, centipedes, snakes, campa-
mochas, ETC., and studying their habits.
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 a horrible ami
NAL, at sight of which his horse SHE'D
precipitately, almost unseating him.
He quoted the horse, which, although
trembling in every limb, came to
stand. Before the rider had time to
pull his revolver and take aim, the
strange animal disappeared among the
rocks which line both sides of the road
at that place. He described the animal
as about four feet long, and not unlike
young caiman or crocodile 1.-THE rider
was native of Louisiana). We had at
the fort several Mexicans, EMPLOYED "a
brick-makers and herders; and upon
their hearing his imperfect description,
they came unanimously to the conclu-
sion that he had seen an escupiom: only
they shook their heads at the alleged
size OF the animal, all stating that thew
had never seen one exceeding cara
(thirty-three inches) in length.
In the evening called these men to
the office, and offered them five dollars
for live specimen. and half that amount
for dead one, not muti1ated to any
great extent. On the following Sunday
two of them started out, and towards
evening brought in a ella Monster
twenty-eight inches in length, which
they had lassOed while it was asleep, or
apparently so, on the sunny surface of
a large rock, which allowed them to
crawl up from behind unperceived and
to throw the moose over it's head. Thew
were carrying it between them, hanging
from Cereus pole, the ends of which
rested on their sh' ulders, leaving be-
tween the dangling animal and it's car
riers distance of at least six feet.
Still they appeared to me to be uncom-
Portable, and as soon as I approached
In my ignorance and eagerness-some-
what close to the reptile, they both
burst out with: ''Por Dios, senior,
cuidadol" (For Gods sake, sir, take
careD
There being an empty grain-room
about the place, / lodged the saurian in
It, attached to raw-hide rope fastened
to an iron picket pin, giving him about
four feet play-room. This 1 did with
the help of my two Mexican friends,
armed with long blacksmith's tongs,
while they continually cautioned me to
look out for my fingers and keep out of
reach of the animals spittle. After
paying the men, | sent for something
from the sutler to compose their nerves,
In order to ascertain from them the
cause of their abject fear. Their stories
mainly conceded with those of the |
other Mexicans and Indians whom |
nave Intercepted upon the subject |
since, and though but hearsay evidence,
would state that these reports may be |
accepted as facts, the narrators being