The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1894-01-03
A Marrow lEscape.

in our missionary work with alacrity
and good will. BILL ARP.
A Marrow Escape.
FREDERICKSBURG, TEXAS, Dec. 29.
The bite Of tarantula is almost as
] dangerous or as fatal as that Of rat
tiesnake, and without prompt atten-
tion the sufferer dies in an hour or
two.
It was from one Of these creatures
that John Thrummer, Of this place,
received fright lately that nearly
turned his hair while in a few min
utes.
Putting on his outer shirt q few.
mornings ago he felt something fall
from one of the sleeves onto his
breast, and through The opening of his
| undershirt onto his naked flesh.
Looking down he saw an enormous
| spider coiled up aud seeming gly half
dead with cold. But getting warmed
up with the heat of his body, it pres
emily began to straighten out its long
limbs, covered with coarse, red bris-
ties, and, before Thrummer could
knock it out, was plainly it's old ag-
gressive self. Mr.. Thrummer did not
dare seize it with his fingers, lest it
fasten on them. nor did he dare to
make any movement 10 dislodge it for
fear that it would instantly fx its
jaws in bis flesh. He called his wife
softly, but she was still asleep. He
dared not lean over to touch her, 80
he continued to call her until at last
she opened her eyes. Then he told
her to get up and take the tongs and
remove the creature as quickly as pos
sible SO as not to give it warning Of
what she was about lest it might bite
him.
Mrs. Thrummer from her husband IS
quiet tone, thought at first that he
was jesting, and pulled open the shirt
to look for herself, when she saw the
tarantula. The creature also saw her,
and still clinging to the man s breast,
bristled all over with menace.
Therefore, getting up without more
noise than could be helped, she ran
for the tongs and approached the spot
where the insect lay.
But, as if it OWNED that she was
| about to seize it, it suddenly ran up
Mr.. Thrummer's left shoulder and
over on his back. Only able to guess
| at its exact whereabouts, Mrs.
Thrummer was at first afraid to seize
| it, for fear that she would not locate
| it right and that it would bury it's ter
rible fangs in her husband. But at
last, seeing it move slightly, she made
a sudden plunge at it, and, catching it
we'll between the prongs of the tongs,
held it firmly, squeezing it as tightly
as she casad, endeavoring to kill it, or
| at least render it so that it would not
be able to bite. Another Of the fam
lily now coming in,the shirt was cut
away. Thrummer was SO nervous
that he sobbed like child. Mrs.
Thrummer let go her hold, and the
giant spider fell to the floor.
But, though badly crushed, it was
not dead, and showed fight at once.
It ran at Mrs. Thrummer fercely. at
tempting to get at her bare foot, and
had to be. beaten of with o broom.
1t was finally captured and confined
in box with glass top, but in few
days stung itself to death. It would
fling itself upon the walls Of its prison
and endeavor to seize the wood with
it's mandibles in a sort Of fury. Mr..
Thrummer is of the belief that were
these creatures substituted for snakes
that the whole world would be prohi-
bitionists. The one that paid him SO
unwelcome a visit was one of the
largest ever seen in these parts, near
ly covering, with its legs extended,
large saucer. It had probably sought
the house for warmth at the beginning
of cold weather.