The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-02-02
A Remarkable Duel.


One afternoon last week there Was large
and interested crowd OF Amusement seek
ers in and in front OF the large side win
dows Of Knox & Van Haren's drug store.
The cause Of the gathering was one of
rather unusual nature. Several days BE-
fore two centipedes. one large and the
other small. were brought into the store,
and also . tarantula. They were left in
separate reccptacles al alive.
On this particular afternoon it was de-
termined TO see how the animals woul act,
placed together. A layer Of sand about
an inch thick was spread over the bottom
OF glass globe, and first the two cent?
pedes were dropped in and with them
horned toad. His majesty with the horns
took no part in the trouble which disturbed
the other two. He seemed TO be acting
simply IS the referee OF the fight The two
centipedes crawled over him and rolled over
him, but hardly awakened his sleepy ma
ture. Not SO the others; they circied two
or three times around the globe and finally
came in each Others way. Each desired
TO crawl over the other and the battle be-
gan 1t was short but it was exciting. No
two pugiiists ever went after each other
with more vim or more apparent determi-
nation TO do each other harm than did
these two cenepedes. Their cat-like claws
wefe repeatedly imbedded 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 cent?
pede dropped out of the struggle. dead.
The body was taken out of the globe and
soon after the tarantula was dropped in.
The eentipede had not had time 70 recover
any strength after bis battle with his fellow
and his sting had lost its death-dealing
qualities. so that this battle was also short.
The two animals closed only twice, when
the forceps of the tarantuia crushed through
the head OF the larger centipede and he
died quickly. The tarantnis had appar-
entity received no injury and looked mad
enough to have fought . whole regiment of
centipedes.
One OF the company who had watched
the two battles and was impressed with the
way the oentipede fought in the iirss battle.
ventured the assertion that the centipede
was the better fighter. He knew where
meanwhile the crowd waited. When he
returned he brought centipede nearly
four and half inches long. Ii was i'm
medistely dropped into the globe and the
tight, which was then begun. lasted fully
three-qaariers of an hour. and was exceed
ingiy savage while it lasted. The tarantula
did most OF the fighting. but. after the FIRST
attack. invariably got the worst Of the
round.
The taransuia fights with q pair OF
pinchers, which are thrust out just below
or from the lower part of the head. These
are very hard and strong enough 10 leave
marks upon . lead pencil. The centspede
fights with q double line OF ea,-like claws,
which are ranged In rows along the side of
the body. In fighting. the tarantula
spreads himself out, and after backing
away after the manner of crawiish until
he can get no further. springs upon the
enemy. thrusti1g out the pinchers and
grasping whatever portion of the body Of
the enemy comes within reach.
In the battle in the globe the two came
together for q dozen or more rounds.
breaking away and returning 10 the op-
rosste side Of the giobe at the close OF each.
Finally the two came together and the
eentipeds seemed to get the hold he had
been looking for. and tie taransaiass body
Was quickly wrapped up in the fold OF the
armed body OF It's opponent. Meanwhile
the hundred claws OF the centipe.e we're
working rapidly and with srcs effect that
the lie OF the tarsntula was soon over The
victorious centpeis did not come ont an-
scathed. a. the forceps Of the taransEls
had pierced his body in I'VE places. from
which the black n2ttery life fusd was ran
ming. He survived the battle oniy . fex
hours.
Aslnnsse ocean 1rAvel.