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

iron rod The dog. upon being released
began 20 act very strangely, and showed
something like the same symptoms as 4
horse does when suffering from the
blind staggers.- but soon began tuning
around itself in circle with the head
for its center. and in about twenty min
utes fell down dead The same actions
before death were observed IN a mule.
only this animal was bitten in a hind
leg and lived for severaldayS.
A young miner while prospecting was
bitten just above the shoe Although
previously in the best health, he at
once began 20 lose flesh. became melsn-
choly. and died sfte- 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 il 20 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 IaQui Indians hunt
the ella Monster for the sake Of its
flesh, which is indeed appetising enough
to look At; but several Yaq uis to whom
spoke about the matter have denied
the assertion
After this depression. let us return 10
NY prisoner in the grzin-roOm. The
reader may imagine that. after the re
peated cautions had received from its
captors. personally gave the animal
wide berth. although I tried 70 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 q 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 were now only
few feet apart; the dog began 70 whine
and bark alternately. advancing 8 few
inches aad retrea.ing again, shO~ing
UAAAnlN Nu1A nC NO4AA 44AE " ~ N anu
shake his adversary, who by this time
had straizhtened his legs and was spit
ting furioasly. shooting out his forked
black tongue. while his little black eyes
exhibited the .-uncanny" fire Of an
angry snake. The dog could not be
induced TO 20 any nearer. and the fight
was abandoned The lizard was then
given the corner Of a wooden blankets
into this il bit furiously, holding on
with such tenacity that We had 70 pro-
cure crO~bar to pry its jaws open
Cats placed in the same rOom-which
mad no doOr-with the suarian would.
upon Perceiving the animal. bristle up
ike the ''fretful porcGpiRe- and make
a very speedy exit placed some
chopped meat and bowl Of water with
in the reach OF my captive and left him
to himself On the following morning
ne 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 experimented with
many specimens; in fact. I buy a fe "
every summer. either for that purpose
or for stuffing. One I kept for over
three months Il appeared to be quite
old. and used TO place in its prison.
large dry-g0ads box-rzts. mice. lizards
and birds with clipped wings IL re-
mained entirely inoffersive. but the an
imals thus introduced into the box
would at once retire into the farthest
corner and remain there with evident
signs Of abject fear.
Finally ] resolved to stuff il. and nov
became acquainted with a n>w feature
Of this animals nature, a feature so ex-
50 altogether incredible.
that almost hesitate 70 relate 1t. al |
though I can produce several eye-wit-
nesses 10 the performance. In order 70 |
preserve the skin without the least
mutilzti0n. thought that the best WAY
10 kill the animal with the least posi- |
bic suffering would be to drown it.
therefore attached heavy stone 10 the |
wire which held the animal fast around |
the shoulders and immersed il in bar-
rel full of water. keeping the lizard /
under its surface. anchored.
IS it were But when / found. after |
twelve hours Of continuous immersion.
that the saurian was as alive as ever,
then, with the help Of another man.
iried 70 strzngle the animal. but did not /
succeed Al this stage friend arrived /
u the house, and I related to him my
Derplexity. and he-a native Of Sonora
killed the animal in a second by Civ
ng it = moderate short dry knock Eith
he poker on the back part Of the skull
Ehere the latter joins the backbone.
elling me that the ella Monster had
oft spot there. which found 70 be the
'zse while stufiing the animals
In direct contrast with the last-men-
ioned peacefully-inclined specimen
we're several which kept at different
lines They would pOunce upon any
hing that came in an aggressive
manner near them: and do not remem-
,er any small animal or bird that
lived longer than from ten to thirty
minutes after being bitten. with one
INCEPTION Small creatures. like mice
nd little pullets, would die almost i'm
A goOd-sizcd three-ycar-old
oOster. however. which had a fight
nth him one day and was bitten in the
~, survived the battle for several
ears although remaining lame. The
lizard had one eye put out and was
pretty badly used, so tnat
iilled him in order to make a new ex-
eriment ! boiled him for about two
ours in a weli-cleansed kerosene can.
nd then gave street cur about one
int Of the liquid substance He Tapped
eagerly. as il it were beef-tea, ap-
cared to enjoy il greatly, and mani
estly looked about for more. Although
kept him locked up for several days in
~ courtyard. failed to discover in
i'm the least Inconvenience resulting
rom the unsccustOmed diet This ex-
erimeDt I repeated at different times.
Thenever / received a specimen whose
iutilsted carcass did not admit of
tufhng. and always with the sane
- n - /