Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1896-11-26
HIS NERVE WAS THERE.
This Sort of Centiped Was Harmless, but
He Didn't Know It.

This Sort OF Centtped was Harmless, but
He Didn't Know It.
The Hawaiian Islands are almost as
we'll off as Ireland. st. Patrick drove
all the venomous insects and reptiles
out of the Green Isle, bat the Hawaiians
claim that the reptiles and insects left
on Mr.. Dole's domain are in no sense of
the word poisonous.
People who have particular dealings
with venomous insects imported from
the islands make the same claim. A To-
cal fruit importer said:
"Very frequently we receive consign-
ments of bananas and pineapples pack
ed in dried grass and leaves. In taking
the fruit from the boxes it is not uncom-
mon to find big centiped crawling
along the stalk between the bananas,
doing his best to get used to the Cali
fornia climate.
Zone afternoon was opening a box
of bananas and pushed my hand through
the straw to get at the stalk. I felt
around for few seconds and thought
could feel something moving around on
the back of my hand. I had often heard
of the presence of centipeds in fruit
shipments, so I carefully withdrew my
hand, so as to make as little commotion
as possible. Imagine my surprise and
alarm to see five inch centiped slow
ly crawling up my arm. I was about to
strike it when fruit packer standing
near by warned me to make no attempt
to get rid Of it, but to let it crawl off at
its leisure I had forgotten the fact
that they were not poisonous, and I know
1 got as white as sheet, believing every
moment that it would sink its claws
into me and send its powerful poison
through my blood.
81 looked at it with fear and trem-
bling, but did not dare to move mus
Gle. 1t lifted its head and seemed per-
fectly satisfied to remain where it was.
I could hardly restrain myself from
making quick motion and shaking il
off, but my companion warned me again
and again to keep quiet All Icould
feel was tickling sensation. The tic
king increased, and was almost ready
to faint with suppressed excitement.
Finally the centiped looked up at my
sleeve and slowly made for it, moving
all the legs in unison. The sensation
by this time was unbearable, and fear
ed would be unable to remain calm
until the thing got entirely off.
"My flesh seemed to shrink away as
the horrible creature proceeded, but in
few more seconds, every one of which
seemed an hour, it had settled itself COM
fortably on the fabric of my clothing,
and with a motion quicker than was
ever known to make before I routed il
with stick and sat down, perspirina
from head to foot. It was the most
thrilling experience ever figured in.
and it made me sick the rest of the day.
"My companion began to laugh al
though he would die of merriment, bua
/ saw nothing particularly humorous in
the situation.
"'You are crazy he said, TO ged
frightened .over little thing like that.
Do you know that Hawaiian Island cen.
tipeds are mot poisonous? told you te
keep quiet just to see how long your
nerve would last If the thing had sunk
every claw it had into your flesh, il
would have only caused little swell.
ing and nothing more. I have had sew.
eral of them strike me, and apply a
little ammonia or salt water and cure
it up in half an hour. 's'-San Fran
cicoo Hol1 ~