Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1895-04-05
AN ASP AND VERY DEADLY.


G. Z. Lummia in New York Sun.
The Southwest is more literally
piled with venomous things than any
other area in the Union. In the burn
ing deserts, in the inhabited but arid
expanses of New Mexico and Arizona,
the rattlesnake abounds, and in sew
eral varieties, including the. strange
and deadly sidewindef, "crotUlus ce-
rastes." The so called tarantula-
really only 4 gigantic bush spider, but
mono the less dangerous because Of the
misnOmer-is decidedly common. Scor-
plons are none too rare in the southern
portions Of The Territories, and in all
parts centipcdes of seven to eight
inches long are frequent and neigh
borly. But the chiefdistinction of the
region ia ths respect is the presence
of the pichu.cuate, the deadliest
snake in North America.
The pichu-cuatc matches the worst
serpent Of India. Not only the most
highly venomous, but the tiniest and
most treacherOus, he would also be
the most dangerous-but luckily he is
the rarest. He is the only true asp on
this continent; and in the United
States is never found outside OF New
Mexico and Arizona. That he was
also known to the ancient MeF!taus is
apparent from his name-pichu-coatl,
an Aztec word, which was brought
up to our territory by the Spanish
conquerors
My first meeting with one was in
Valencia county, N. NJ. in June, 1890,
ON the sandy TANKS OF the Cerre del
Airc. / was out hunting iackrabbits,
in company with some Indian friends,
and had dismounted to stalk, leading
my pet horse by the bride. My eyes
were on small chapparo bush adead,
when suddenly Alazan snorted, and
reared backward 50 violently as almost
IL unhinge my arm. / looked about
IN surprise, for Alazan was too good a
horse to mind trifles. AS there was
nothing TO be seen, started to pull
him forward. Again he protested and
with evident terror, and, CHANGING to
look at my very feet, understood MS
fear, and felt grateful that his senses
were better than minc for in another
step l should have walked upon my
death.
The only thing visib'8 was a tiny
object, not nearly so large as a good
stag beetle-mercly head and per-
haps an inch of neck. But it was the
most frlghLfuI object in It's kind that
l had ever seen. The head, certainly
neither so broad nor SO long as my
thumbnail, had shape and an air Of
condensed malignity impossible to
describe. 1t seemed the very essence
of wickedness and haze, fairly bulging
with deadly spite, and growing upon
one until ii looked several tunes its
actual size. The ugly triangle (Which
J Is the distinguishing mark of all ven
onous snakes, being formed by the
poison gland hack of the each eye) told
INC at once that AlazaI was keeping
up his reputation-never did he shy at
a harmless snake-and the tiny horns,
which added peculiar and gr0teSque
hideousness, left no doubt that this
was Il pichu-cuate. He had buried
himself almost 10 the head in the gray
sand, against which his upper skin
was barely disLiuguishable, and thus
ia ambush was waiting for something
to turn up.
Turning Alazan loose, l knelt at the
safe distance OF yard to study the
little creature, which fairly swelled
with murderOus rage. 1t not only
struck madly at the chapparo switch
l thrust out to it, but last, evidently
discerning that the blame lay back Of
the switch, actually followed it up,
and with such agility that | had to
Jump up and back without loss of
time. The idea of retreat never
seemed 10 enter that flat head. Some
times he would lie dnd puff out with
impotent rage, throwing his mouth so
wide open that IL seemed the venom
must start, and sometimes he glided
toward me, his head an inch above the
ground, with an attitude which
seemed to say: Stand still there and
we'll see who laughsp'
At last killed him. He was neither
larger round nor longer than an ordln-
airy lead pencil; cold, leaden gray on
the back, but underneath rosy as the
mouth of a conch shell. The fangs
were tiny, not much more than an
eighth of an inch long, and as delicate
as the tiniest needle. A wonderful
mechanism, this mouth, with its two
automatic needles, SO inhnitesimal yet
so perfectly competent l opened the
BucISlen's Arniea saIve.
The best salve in the world for cuts,
bruises, sores, ulcers, salt heum, few
er sores, letter. chapped bands, chill.