The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1896-08-19
HAD Pts NERvE, WITH HIM.
The Centipede Was Harmless, but the
Stranger Didn't Know 1t.

The Centipede Was Harmless, but the
Stranger Didn't Know 1t.
The Hawaiian islands are almost as well
OF as Ireland st. Patrick drove all the
venomous insects and reptiles out of the
green isle. but the Hawaiian claim that
the reptiles and insects left on Mr.. Dole 3
domain are In no sense of the word poison
Gus. says the San Francisco Call People
who have particular dealing with venomous
insects imported from the islands make
the same claim. A local fruit importer
said. yesterday:
Very frequently we receive consign-
ments Of bananas and pineapples packed
in dried grass and leaves. In taking the
fruit from the boxes it is not uncommon
to find big centipede crawling along the
stalk between the bananas, doing his best to
get used to the California climate.
Tuesday afternoon 1 was opening box
of bananas and pushed my hand through
the straw to get at the stalk. l felt
around for few seconds and thought I
could feel something moving around on the
back of my hand. I had often heard of
the presence of centipedes In fruit ship
ments so 1 carefully withdrew my hand
so as to make as little commotion as pos
sble Imagine my surprise and alarm to
see a f1ve-inch centipede slowly crawling
up my arm. was about to strike 1t when
a fruit packer. standing near by. warned
but to let it crawl up at Its leisure. l
had forgotten the fact that they were not
poisonous and I know l got as white as
a sheet. believing every moment that 1t
would sink it's claws into me and SEND Its
powerful poison through my blood.
II looked at it with fear ana tremDuns
but did not dare to move q muscle. 1t lifted
its head and seemed perfectly satisfied 10
remain where it was. I could hardly re-
strain myself from making a quick motlon
and shaking it off, but my companion warn
ed me again and again to keep quiet. All
could feel was a tickling sensation. Inc
tickling increased, and 1 was almost ready
to faint with suppressed excitement Flnal-
" the centipede looked at my sleeve and
SLOWLY made for it, moving all the legs IN
unison The sensation by this tlme was
unbarable. and 1 feared would De unaDie
to remain calm until the thing got ehtlrely
of. NV flesh seemed to shrink away as the
horrible creature proceeded. but In a Few
more seconds, every one OF which seemed
an hour 1t had settled itself comfortably
on the fabric of my clothing, and with
motion quicker than I was ever known 70
make before I routed 1t with SUCK anu !.
sat down, prespiring from head to foot 1t
was the most thrilling experience l ever
figured in and it made me sick the rest OF
the dav. NV companion began to laugh as
though he would die ofImerriment, but l
saw nothing particulasly humorous IN the
situation. j1sq
".You are crazy he said, to get frighten-
ed over a little thinsslike that Do you
not know that Hawaiian1 island centipedes
are not poisonous? 1 told you to keep quiet
lust to see how long your nerve would last.
If the thing had SUNNY every claw ne mad
into your flesh 1t would only have caused
little swelling and nothing more. I have
had several Of them strike me, and apply
a little ammonia or salt water and cure 1t
I'D in half an hour" II j.