The Forrest City times., 1891-02-06
A AMONSTROuS TOAD.
Cnsucoessfui Attempt of Swiss OElcer
 to Kill It.

NJ Charles OHredns. lieutenant in the Swiss army. gives the following account of A gigantic toad encountered by him on the coast of Italy:
 After having seen Rome. Naples and other principal cities of Italy returned through Venice l had just left Aqnapeuddente. \ town situated upon an emineuce, and passed down the mountain afoot to go to an inn that lies out of the town. NJ. Bus chins, the companion of my journey. was 4 good ways before me. having loitered by the way 10 examine some peculiar plants indigenous to those parts. l had not penetrated far when l heard rustling in the thicket upon which l had my eyes fixed. l looked down and saw at my feet an enormous toad so prodigious that. without ex- aggeration, it seemed to he more than foot and half across the back. The ugly monster was so near me that 1t touched my lett foot. Seized with hor- TOT, quickly drew back my foot having only strength enough left to run away as tist as l could. Recover ing my wits when had reached safe distance from the horrid creature l stopped awhile and ai last made up my mind to return to the spot where 1 had seen the horrible beast Seeing it in the same spot came to the conclu- sion that l could eas ly dispatch 1t with my sword. Uncertain, however. what weapon l should use in making the attack. and judging that distance would be more prudent than close engagement. l laid hold of large sione which l could scarce lift with both hands. and with my naked sword under my arm presented myself be- fore the animal. His mouth was wide open. and his little, black. wicked looking eyes were sparkling. his whole aspect betraying not the least sign of fear at sight of danger; on the con trary. he appeared anxious for the fray. Having raised the stone as high as my strength would permit. meas ured well it's fall. covering the toad entirely, crushing 1t, so thought, in- to a shapeless mass. Horrible beast.' l said to myself that is the last time ever you will frighten tired soldier out of his wi,s; and here shall be your grave. l again said, AS piled uuiUttt VI SWatti sioucA upou titO large one that had first crushed the monster. had great desire to ex- anime the thing more closely and. if possible. to dissect it. but had not the courage to touch even the stones un- der which it lay buried. Standing. gazing intentiy at the little rock mound which had intended as tomb for the uu>ightly creature. l noticed that the small, stones had commenced to move. Soon the whole mcund ton pled over and the beast walked out alive, seemingly none tho worse off for his lats experience Seeing that the creaturs had neither wound ou his ugly sL in nor broken hone in his body. l shat .hed my cloak and sword and passed out of the thicket. declaring that l would no longer make war against such n monster. Arriving at the inn 1 called for glass of wine. hut no sooner had l drank it than felt feyerish symptoms which turned into chill. lasting nearly two weeks. :"
 During the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries some of the Italian and east German prisons were provided with tine monstrous poison toads of tine Mediterranean coast. In very short time the air became contaminated by the exAalations of the venomous creat- ures to such m extent as to cause the death of many prisoners kcrr. within the buildings.