The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1894-02-28
TARANTULA ON HIS BACK.
Moments of Terrible Suspense that john
Thrummer rs Not Apt to Forget.
Erad or; n l1c burc paV ot+ar 70 Dill,

Thrummer is Not Apt to Forget.
Fredericksburg (rex.) Letter to Phila-
delphia Times.
The bite of tarantula is almost as
dangerous or as fatal as that of rattle
snake, and without prompt attention the
sufferer dies in hour or two.
1t was from one of these ere lures that
John Thrummer, of this place, received
a fright lately, that nearly turned his
hair white in few minutes.
Putting on his OUTER shirt few morn
ings ago, he felt something fall from one
If the sleeves on to his breast, and
through the opening of the undershirt
on his NAKED flesh. Looking down he
saw an enormous spider coiled up, and
seemingly half dead from cold. But
getting warmed with the heat of his
body. it presently began to straighten
its long limbs, covered with coarse, red
bristles, and before Thrummer could
knock it out, was plainly It's old aggres-
sive self. Mr. Thrummer did dot dare
seize it with his fingers lest it fasten on
them, nor did he dare to make any move
ment to dislodge it for fear that it would
instantly fix it's jaws in his flesh He
called to his wife softly, but she was still
asleep. He dared not lean over to touch
her, so he continued to call her until at
last she opened her eyes. Then he told
her to get up and take the tOngs and re-
move the creature as quickly as possible,
so as not to give it warning of what she
was about lest it might bite him.
Mrs. Thrummer, from her husbands
quiet tone, thought at first that he was
testing, and pulled open the shirt to
look for herself when she saw the tar
antula. The creature also saw her, and,
still clinging to the mans breast, bris
tied 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 to Mr..
Thrummer's left shoulder and over on
his back. Only able to guess at its ex-
lct whereabouts, Mrs. Thrummer was at
first afraid to seize it, for fear that she
would not locate it right, and that 1t
would bury It's terrible fangs in her hus-
band But at last, seeing it mole slight
ly, she made sudden plunge at it, and,
catching it well between the prongs of
the tongs, held it firmly, squeezing it as
lightly as she could, endeavoring to kill
it, or, at least render 1t so that it would
not be able to bite Another of the
family now coming in, the shirt was cut
away. Thrummer was so nervous that
he sobbed like child. Mrs. Thrummer
let 60 her hold, and the giant spider fell
to the floor.
But, though badly crushed, it was rot
dead, and showed fight at once. 1t ran
at Mrs. Thrummer fercely, attempting
to get at her bare feet, and had to be
beaten off with broom.
1t was finally captured, and confined
in box witha glass top, but in few
lays stung itself to death. 1t would
fling itself upon the walls of its prison
and endeavor to seize the wood with its
mandibles in a sort of fury. Mr.
Fhrummer is of the belief that we're
these creatures substituted for snakes
the whole world would be prohibition
lists. The one that paid him so unwel-
come visit was one of the largest ever
seen in these parts, nearly covering,
with it's legs extended, a large. saucer. 1t
had probably sought the house for
warmth at the beginning of the cold
weather.