St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-09-24
HIS Lff'r. SAVED
Ky a EraCe OF ella Monsters
Which He Had Tanned,

Ivy a Erace OF ella Monsters
Which He Had Tanned.
St. Louis Globe. Democrat.
"All this talk about the viciousness of
the Gila monster and the alleged NOR
tally of its bite is nothing more than
the veriest dry rot,'' said Mai. B. r.
Lawrence. IL of Arizona's representa-
tive pioneers. of course" quickly
added the major. with one of
his confidence : restoring smiles,
ut Is not to be denied
that the emo of this horrible crea.
lures breath is alone sufficient to infict
instant death upon its unfortunate VIC
tim, but stand prepared to prove by
ullmpeachabls documentary evidence,
secured by my own personal efforts,
that this horrible representative of the
lizard species is not necessarily fero-
clous and untamable.
while | was prospecting in the ella
river country during the early eighties
l had abundant opportunities 10 observe
and study the so-called monster very
closely. II l found him to be not only
harmless when undisturbed, but when
captured and treated with kindness he
becomes tame and atfectiOnate as a pet
dog. L captured two, a male and
male, which were of medium
size, say three and a half feet
i'll length. and weighing about thirteen
pounds. | named them Joe and Jessie,
n they would answer with alato enGt
my call, aid were pleased immcrylels
when rewarded with a choice bit of
Jelly cake. OF which pastry they seemed
exceedingly fond. They went about
with me everywhere, and slept in INV
tent sometimes, causing visitors to ex-
claim III terror when their google eyes
and stubby bodies suddenly appeared
from underneath my camp bedslead.
"lhe fame OF my pets spread rapidly,
and L. was several times offered large
mounts to part with them, and l had
reason afterward. to rejoice that | did
not. One morning | regained ny tent
about 4 "a. w.. n was welcomed py nv
pets. L played with them. as usual.
caressed and tossed them about, and
finished by feeding them some crumbs
from the remains of my sup
per-, and threw myself on my
blankets to snatch a mudicum of the
necessary. Presently L was awakened
by a Embarrassing yell of terror and
despair. L leaped 10 my feet and be-
held, writhing in the commissions of the
ueatp agony. my Zoe and rival, Jean
Stiletto. Fastened to his neck with a
vlse-like grip was my trusty' Joe, while
Jessie was curled up in a ball around
his right arm. in the hand OF which was
grasped a lOng.bladed, Notwithstanding
knife. meant undoubtedly for my heart.
1.-The official report of the c~Oroner's
inquest acqultting my brave defenders
of hOmicldal intent was soon after pub
lished in the Tombstone Epitaph, which,
being reprinted in the territorial press,
thrust much unpleasant notoriety upon
myself and my heroic peis; in fact. l
have never succeeded in fully living
down the story. l struck it rich the
following spring. and removed to
Tucson, where ! prepared to set
tie down to a quiet life amid
more civilized surroundings. But, un-
willing to part with my faithful little
friends, l had them securely muzzled.
and applied to the municipal authorities
for a brace of dog licenses. which l pro-
posed to fasten to their si~lver-plated
steel chain collars. To my astonish.
ment and intense grief the licenses
were refused, and the dear little beasts
confiscated and destroyed. l claimed
their bodies. however. and, after having
them nicely stuffed and mounted, ac-
corded them the place of honor on my
parlor mantel."