The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1894-09-21
THE CHA MONSTER.
Tragic Experiences with the
Strange Animal in Arizona.
Its Bite Always Fatal-IIow Young Man
Who Went Into an Abandoned
Mine to Escape the Law
Met His Death.

More deadly than the rattlesnake,
more dreaded than the mountain lion,
the ella monster has at least this merit
he never seeks man out. and is quite
content to keep within his own lair,
but when this is intrudcd on none
knows better than he how to resent in
vasion, and in manner that usually
leaves no tongue to repeat the story
The very appearance of this strange
creature inspires horror which the
most venomous serpent is incapable of
xrousing, and to stand and gaze into
the lidless, unblinking eyes. even when
iron bars interpOse, is to experience an
uncOmfOrta bic sensation along the Te-
Eion Of ones back bone. and set one
wondering if it was not just such
creature that originated with the an
clients the belief in an animal whose
very gaze was death. The MeXicans
and Indians of Arizona will tell you
that the monster kills by its breath
everything approaching near enough
to inhale the sickening etfiuvium. this
belief arising from the horror with
which they regard it. and from the fact
that it is usually found only at the bot
tom Of some old mine shaft or noun
tain cavern. where the heavy. mcphitic
air serves to overcome the luckless be-
ing who ventures in, and who falls the
reader victim to the monsters bite.
1t is popular fallacy that this crea-
ture is of the lizard family, an over
grown chameleon, but it's small, snake
like head. its Shiny body of hideous
brownish gray, with smooth white
belly, suggests rather the serpent, but
the tail is short and stumpy.
Ny first introduction to the ella mon
ster was tragic one. was spending
some months in Phoenix, A. H., and
had in my employ a young Mexican
named Leanuer, VINO served me as
body servant, groom and cook in the
modest menage l had set up, prefer
ring to dictate my own table fare to
eating the peppery messea which are
the sole diet of the Mexican popula-
ton, and which are gradually adopted
by Americans dwelling any length of
time in this climate. To such an ex-
treme is this love of red-hot pepper
carried by the foreign element that it
Is said with truth that even the car
rion eaters of the region will not touch
. dead Mexican.
This boy Leander was timid, affec-
tionate lad, whose only vice seemed to
DO that of gambling. At this he spent
all his spare time and his entire wages,
often playing all night, though per-
forming his duties next day as usual
] reasoned with him in vain, and he
would promise me again and again
that he would cease the uneasy life
his propensities caused him to lead,
but ne had always an evil angel at his
side in the shape of a big pocl1-marked
hAlf-breed named Francesca. This
man, taking advantage of the boys
weakness, was always at hand to
tempt him to the small gambling hell
frequented by men of his class, and
though forbade him hanging about
my premises, he would waylay Lean
der and work on his love of sport un-
til the boy would fall again.
From inquiries 1 made, l learned
that Francesca made a practice of
regularly cheating him out of his
wages. but Leander could not be
brought to see this. but played on,
hoping to regain some of his losses
But one night he saw an unmistak-
able false play on the part of his en-
envy. and with the quick fury of his
race, had leaped across the table and
had driven his knife into the breast
OF francesca. The big half breed
dropped like log, and thinking him
dead, the boy broke out of the shanty
and ran for the mountains. Next
morning was told of the occurrence,
and while | deprecated what he had
done. | could not but think the bov
had some excuse for his anger, and
after ascertaining from the surgeon
Fr2nciscO's wound would not prove
serious. resolved to protect Leander
from the law. This was easily done
In those early days. and fearing lest
the boy would perish in the mountains
or hunger and exposure, l engaged
small party to go with me in search
Of him.
After some trouble we learned from
herdsman that Leander prevailed on
him to promise that he would bring
him food every day to the mouth of a
shaft which had been the entrance Of
AZ cid silver mine. Here Leander pro-
posed 20 hide himself until the conse-
4aences of his deed had blown over.
Inc herdsman had kept his promise,
ana the day after meeting the boy on
ais way to this place of concealment
mad carried some provisions to the
shat. and had called to the fugitive.
But he had heard nothing in reply,
ana SO had gone away, thinking that
"iter all Leander had Abandoned his
plan. 1 proceeded at once to the spot
pointed out by the Mexican, and with
one OF my men entered the shaft which
had been sunk at sharp angle into
the mountain. Our torches burned
badly in the foul air of the place. and
not seeing it stumbled presently
ever an object that lay across the path.
leaned forv ard to see what it was,
sad had just recognized with a thrill
81 horror that it was the body OF a
nan most sickeningly swollen and
eiscoirrcd. when the man with me
Suddenly jerlsed me to one side and
eischsryed his pistol at dark, gliding
shape that was making at me. lack.
oac.. senor!" he cried, dragging at ne.
IT is the black DEATH implied nv
ealn. though not understanding 1.,s.
sanger backed out of the place. and
was snen tAld that had narrowly cs-