The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1892-05-20
UGLY BEDFELlOWS.
Thirteen Tarantulas In the Couch Of q
Prospector In Nevada.


Prospector In Nevada.
Joseph Grandelmyer. well-lSnown
mining man of Nevada, has passed
through many startling experiences
during a residence of twenty-eight
years in the far west, but is, perhaps,
the only man who can boast of having
a round bakers dozen of deadly taran-
tulas for bedfellows and surviving the
terrible experience without material in
jury. 1t happened number of years
ago. but even now it causes cold shivers
to chase up Mr.. Grandelmyer's spinal
column when his mind reverts TO that
particular event. However, he was in
duced to relate the incident
I'm 1864 | came to San Francisco"
said the gentleman, land with the
hopefulness of youth determined to
make my fortune. | had a little money
saved up, but was raw tenderfoot, and
whatever | put my money into failed to
pan out. Finally concluded to strike
out for Nevada. 1t was a new section
of country then, that had been explored
to very limited extent, and when |
made known my intention many and
urgent were the requests for me to re-
| frain from being so foolish as to en-
counter dangers in such wild and al
most unknown country Nothing
| daunted, however, and not allowing
myself to be dissuaded from my pur
pose, one day in the summer of 1854,
after inducing three acquaintances to
join me, set out for the land of sage
] brush. My particular object in going
was to better my fortune by any method
could. Two of the party were pros
pectors and the fourth, a DR. Heath,
went along to spy out a good location
! for hog ranch.
swell, it would be wearisome to eX =
plain all the Incidents connected with
the trip, including the streams we
forded, the mountains we climbed, and
the many obstacles we surmountcd, but
after crossing the Sierra at Walkers
Pass we found ourselves in Owens val
ley, which is now in Invo county. Dusk
was approaching, and when, after rid
| ing distance in the teeth of a cold
wind, we found ourselves at q deserted
adobe hut by the roadside, we halted,
unpacl1ed and unsaddled our animals,
and prepared to camp for the night.
| There was feed for the horses in abun
dance, and while one stalSed them out
the others began preparations for sup
per and made the beds ready. My
friends preferred sleeping under large
oak tree near, but | chose spot adj
joining the old adobe house, where
spread my blankets close to the wall,
where the wind world not reach me.
After hasty meal we all retired to our
respective beds on the ground, and
readily dropped off to sleep.
81 presume it was within an hour of
daybreak when awol>e with sudden
start A peculiarly dreadful feeling,
worse than any nightmare, took pos
session of me. felt paralyzed, and was
afraid to stir There was something
moving over my face. 1t was not a large
object, but as it moved about the trail
left seemed to scorch my face. felt
the thing traverse my face from the left
eye down over my nose and mouth.
Then it crossed to the other side and ex-
plored in the region of my ear. Then it
was gone.
81 knew it was not a snake gliding
over my face, but some animal much
smaller though what it was was ut
terly able to conjecture. | was wide
awake, of course, but such an uncom-
Portable horror held me fast that | was
unable to move a muscle, and gazed
helplessly up at the stars that twinkled
so merrily in the dark vault above as if
in mocllery at my situation. Once
tried to call out to my companions, but
not a sound could | muster. lay there
rigid as a log, maybe for one minute,
maybe for five, when again knew that
the same thing or something like it was
on my hand, which rested outside the
blanket, and a cold chill ran up my arm
and through nv whole body. Still
was absolutely powerless to move a
limb, and involuntarily closed my eyes,
almost expecting to feel them closed in
death, so dreadful and indescribable
was the sensation. Next knew it was
climbing up over my throat. then to my
chin and about my nose. An irresisti-
Bile impulse caused me to open my right
eye and saw by the dim light the fiery
ewes of big tarantula looking into
mine, with his hairy body resting on
my face. not two inches away
knowing that death or at least pain
full injury, might result if ] moved my
body, Immediately dropped the eyelid
and had the satisfaction of feeling the
crawling spider crawl over that eye to
my forehead and into my hair. where it
prepared nest and finally settled down,
no doubt as snugly and comfortably as
a bug in rug. You may think you
can imagine my feelings, but you can
not. For "A full half hour, ! should
Judge, | endured all the suspense and
torments that come to most mortals in
lifetime, and allowed another spider
to crawl up my leg, not knowing at
what time | would feel these black
fangs sink into my flesh.
But, thank God, that did not hap
pen, or | should probably not now be
alive. Ages after that, 50 it seemed,
DR.. Heath arose. and. after dressing,
came to see if was awake. ] whis-
pcrcd to him the particulars Of my
plight, and in my hair, which had been
standing on end for don't know how
long. he discovered and at once killed
one Of the tarantulas. an immense fell
low, fully three inches long. Carefully
turning back the blankets and cxanin-
ing me he found twelve others that h ad
undoubtedly sought my quarters for
warmth. These he quickly bnt quietly
dispatched in manner not To alarm
the others. When the strain was over
tainted. and was dclirious with brain
fever for many days. Since then You
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