The Sully County watchman. (Clifton, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1894, 1892-10-22
SANDY LOVED COCKTAILS.
He Was a Horned Toad and Lived at tho
Palace Hotel.

Sandy Mojave is dead, announces
the San Francisco Chronicle. Many
persons were not acquainted with
Sandy in his lifetime, but not few
Palace Hotel guests mourn his loss, as
well as Master George Neal, his owner,
for Sandy was undoubtedly one of the
b.st trained horned toads in America.
He departed this life the other morn
ing, and possibly is now reveling in
the delights afforded in the horned
toad heaven, if there is such place.
A few months since Master George
was the recipient of the funny little
reptile and at once proceeded to train
tied remarkable degree of intelli-
gence and attained considerable pro-
tciency in performing feats that many
animals occupyinga much higher scale
in the animal kingdom would not be
expected to attempt. The lizard was
caught on the hot, sandy Mojave
desert, and was named accordingly.
Sandy had all the privileges afforded
IN the apartments of his master,
whether crawling over the carpeted
floor or climbing up the lace window
curtains, and in two or three days had
his bearings.
When not being put through his
tricks, the horned toad liked nothing
better than to lie on the window sill in
the sun until some silly fly alighted
near him to be gobbled up. Later he
would run to his trainer at his call and
would eat crippled flies from his hands,
but he would take them from no one
else. He would also haul a little
wagon around the room, and climb
ladder at command.
One day Sandy disappeared, and
after careful search he was given up
for lost or dead. But two days later
he appeared again, to the great sur
prise of all. The horned toad was
cold and stiff. He was placed in the
sun, but as this had no apparent effect
On him few drops of brandy were
administered from teaspoon, and he
was then replaced in the sun
For five minutes he lay with closed
eyes, and was about to be subjected to
another dose when his eyelids sud-
denly opened and the little pet glared
around him with evident ferocity.
Suddenly he made flying leap to the
floor and scurried around the room
with such rapidity that the ladies
scarcely had time to seek places of
refuge on chairs. Sandy had the floor
all to himself, and the antics he cut
were not believed to belong to the
category of acrobatic feats usually in
dulged in by horned toads, for he stood
on his head and danced stiif-legged
Waltzes about the room to the editica-
ton OF his somewhat frightened on
lockers.
After the performance Sandy lapsed
again into a lethargic state, and in the
morning he acted so stupidity that it
was evident he was suffering from an
enlarged head TO restore him to his
normal condition tiny cocktail COM
posed OF about ten drops of whisky,
lemon juice, water and bitters was
given the patient.
The horned toad picked up wonder
tully under the treatment, and in
aulged IN hearty breakfast of flies.
But that was not the end of Sandy's
blbulous habits, for every morning
thereafter he played possum" in order
" get his regular morning cocktail
until he could have been classed as q
steady drinker.
his convivial habits shortened his
days, for the taxidermist who per-
formed an autopsy on Sandy yester-
DAY declares that death was due to-
chronlc alcoholism. Sandy is still in
the taxidermist's hands, but the richly
market gold and brown reptile will
soon ornament his owners room in a.
glass case.