The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-08-17
COYOTE AND CACTUS.
Malignant Barbs More Poisonous Than
Sting OF Bees.
Especial Correspondence

PHENIx, y. T, Aug. 14.-Those unac-
custOmed to outing in Arizona find the
thorny vegetation of that territory a con
tinual source of pain and annoyance dur
ing a hunting or exploring excursion.
The numerous family of the acacias, with
their acute thOrns or curved claws; the
prolific cactus tribe; with their barbed
spines, and the yuccas, with their trucu-
lent daggers, stand ever ready, singly OF
in groups, to tear the garments or lacerate
the flesh of the unwary. Urlucky indeed
is he who, having lost his trail, is compelled
10 cross mesa or foothilI after sunset.
After repeated object lessons, however,
the most careless observer learns to avoid
contact with the host of sharp claws
stretched out TO grasp him and in time is
able to advance, even rapidly. through
the bush without receiving scratch or stab.
The same is true of the domestic animals.
Horses and dogs, though suffering at first
even more than their masters soon learn
instinctively 10 beware of the dangerous
vegetation. One would suppose that the
wild animals, being to the manner born,
possessed the privilege Of passing unharm-
ed through their own thorny thickets, but
it sometimes happens that even they, in
the excitement Of the chase, forget to show
the proper respect TO the melevolent flora
and are severely punished in consequence.
4 case in point in which a wary coyote
was the victim is related by George Ed
wards, q miner in the Bradshaw noun
tains of central Arizona.
Il was looking for q deer one morning."
SAYS Edwards, and was standing on the
slOping point of mesa, overlooking few
acres of level cactus covered bottom, when
! heard hurried rush near by and turned
just in time TO see an exciting race. Not
90 yards from where I stood jack rabbit
shot by, closely pursued by a coyote. The
rabbit was stretched out to his fullest eX-
tent, with his long ears lying along his
back, and was covering ground as though
he wanted to go somewhere pretty quick
and was afraid he'd be too late. The coy
ote, lank and grizzled, with his teeth
showing and his tongue lolling out, was
not three feet behind him and going his
level best to catch up. I thought the game
was up for br'cr rabbit, but L was greatly
mistaken.
The chase had reached point fairly in
front of my position, and l noticed that
the rabbit was making directly for large
bunch of cholla cactus, as though with
the intention of impaling himself upon its
thousand thorns. The cholla is the most
spiny, offensive and poisonous Of the cac-
tus tribe, and the one most dreaded by
man and beast. 1t grows about four feet
high, many stalks together, and is liter
ally fUrred with delicate spines, long and
short, while in place of branches it is Gov
cred with loosely attached joints, about
the size and somewhat of the appearance
of chestnut burs, that detaoh themselves
from the parent stem at the slightest touch
of any foreign object, clinging firmly in
turn to the object that has disturbed them.
Nothing but metal can escape their inyis-
ible barOs, that sink deeper and deeper in
TO the flesh az every effort to dislodge
them.
The rabbit. streaking it at full speed,
swerved suddenly, when within a few
inches of the cholla. Just as the jaws of
the coyote were about 70 close on him, and
went of, as only Jack rabbit can, at right
angles to his former course. Not 50 coyote.
Following. close behind, with almost the
velocity Of a cannon ball, be could not
check himself in his mad career, but
plunged hesdlong into the bristling Gao
tus, impaliHg himself in a second of time
on thousands of malignant barbs, whose
wounds are far more painful and poison
Gus than the stinEs Of bees. With = mUf-
fed yell, for his mouth was already filed
with thorns. over and over he rolled, snap
ping and snarling with pain and rage, I'M
able 70 regain his feet, for the relentless
cactus balls were clinging TO them and 70
his entire front Soon, as he twisted
about. his body was completely enveloped,
SO that his very fur was hidden beneath a
mass Of bristiing thorTs, his swapping
mouth was filed with cruel burs and his
jaws were gagged wide apart. His suffer
inEs were terrible. and left 10 himself he
would have fingered on in torment. per
haps for days, unable 70 move or even 70
howl. as he slowly starved 70 death The
sight recalled Tho awful memory that this /.
was favorite mode with the Apaches for
tortUrlng their white prisoners. and rails /
ing my rife 7 pat an end 70 bis misery"
3 c BICRSELL