The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-02-28
CHA MONSTERS BITE
Most Dreaded Reptile on the Whole
American Continent
ITS JAWS WILL NEVER RELAX
Only a Few Authentic Cases OF Re-
covery From It's Elite, and Those
Most Become Paralyzed-The
Hualipi Indians Have Cure.


naturalist from Chicago university. II
Arizona in the last few weeks from
the bite of the ella monster of the al
kali plains and the hot, dry monster
has renewed discussion in this region
concerning the terrible venomous ma
ture of the reptile. Without doubt the
ella monster of the allxali plains. and
the hot, dry mountain canyons OF Ari
zona and the state of Sonora, i'm Mex
leo. is the deadliest venomous creature
known TO the natural history of North
America. The Pima, Apache, Mari
copah and Yuma Indians of the south
west, who have little fear of the bite
Of a Mexican centipede or rattlesnake.
will hunt a ella monster cautiously 10
it's death, and will even go many miles
to rid the country of one of these rep
tiles. which they regard as the most
TO be dreaded of anything that crawls.
Among the Cocopahs Of Lower Cali
fornia the tribal belief is that the most
fearful vengeance that may come to
the spirit bodies of bad Indians after
his life is to be bitten by a red ella
monster that roams unseen by mortal
eyes over the adobe plains, waiting to
snap at the red-skinned savages mimi
cal to the great spirit chief.
ella monster is a ridiculous misno-
mer. The reptile is a combination of
the basilisk of India and Java and the
common rattlesnake of this country
1t has a counterpart in a reptile found
in the lava beds of the Hawaiian ISL
ands, but is much the deadier Of the
two. 1t is about 20 inches in length,
and I'm girth about the size of a boys
arm. Its tail is one-third of the body
and il has a notified or striped skin i'm
reddish yellow and dark brown. It's
mouth is similar in shape to that of an
alligator. and its little black eyes have
the sleepy appearance of those of the
alligator family. A true saurian, II
has four stubby legs. shaped and
placed like those OF a lizard, but IL
has none of the rapidity Of motion of
the lizard. 1t is never found in damp,
cool spots. but in the hottest sand or
on the dryest sun-baked soil. Rattle
snakes do not stay in the heat with
that the ella monster enjoys, and il is
doubtful If even a salamander could
stand a daily temperature of 1876 de-
grees for hours which the Arizona ella
monster grows fat on during midsum-
mer weeks.
The head Of the ella monster is
much like that of the boa constructor,
and the teeth are in double rows, thick
and very. sharp. When the reptile
victim, but just simply bites-it means
business. for the grasp OF the jaws is
something marvellous. Anything once
caught between those two double rows
of teeth is held as IL in a wise like steel
trap. The Indians have n saying that
a genuine ella monster will not re-
lease a piece of flesh between it's jaws
until the big spirit in the mountains
causes a thunder, even II IL takes all
cttrf, q &c r,.r hot
and savages on the deserts of the ter
ritory that IL is worse than useless to
attempt to force the ella monster to
release its hold upon any person or
animal. for that only increases the
wound. and the reptile. i'm a rage, man
ufactures fresh venom in its poison
sacks i'm the roof of the mouth and in
jects II into the cut and torn flesh.
The ella monster is always killed first
when IL has bitten a human being, and
then the jaws are cut and pulled away
from the wound. A small ella monster
with a head not over two inches long
and jaws an inch and one-half in
length has been known to bite a mans
leg near the ankle through the flesh
an into the very bone. The Maricopah
Indians do not attempt to release "A
member of their tribe who has been
bitten by a ella monster from the
dreadful little jaws, and IL is generally
believed that they end the suffcrings
of any helpless victim among them
selves by a deadly blow on the head
They say they know no cure for the
poison of the reptiles.
one of the few authentic cases OF
recovery from the bite of ella mon
ster is that OF Walter II. Vail of Phoe-
nix. Arizona, who is one Of the best
known and wealthiest cattlemen I'm the
territory. While Mr. Vail was engaged
in supervising a roundup Of his cattle
in the ella river region of Arizona in
1890 he took luncheon one day i'm a
chapperal He went to resaddle his
horse. after the meal, and while pick
ing up a saddle cloth from the hot
earth his hand was bitten by a ella
monster that had crawled there a mo-
ment before. OF course Mr.. Vail knew
instantly that he was probably a
doomed man. His ranchmen came TO
his aid at once. The reptile was killed |
and the jaws We're cut away from Mr. |
Wallis hand, Quicker than Il takes TO
pen these words the mans arm was
bound tight TO the elbow. 20 check the
How OF blood, the wound was cut open
and strong ammonia was poured in, |
while very copious draughts of whis- |
key were poured down Mr.. Wallis
throat. He was put on a horse and. |
accompanied by his cowboys rode like |
mad for 10 miles TO the home of a ply |
stefan In Tucson. Several brief stopa
were made to force more LIQUOR down |
Mr.. Wallis throat and TO pour ammonia |
on the wound on the hand. For three |
weeks Mr.. Vail lay almost between life !
and death at the home Of a physician |
in Tucson. Physicians were summoned |
for consultation from Phoenix and /
even from Los Angeles. Everything |
that money could buy or science sug-
gest was done for the patient lie had 1
a strong, vigorous constitution and in 1
the course Of few months he was a : /
wei as ever. He is still in the cattle /
business in the territory. Everyone in 1
the southwest has heard Of the Won /
oeriul recovery Of Walter Vail from
the bite Of ella monster.
Among the Yuma Indians is a squaw
who was bitten by one Of these reptiles
over ~ years ago. What decoction was
given 10 the woman 10 save her life. or
what the army physician at the United
states garrison there did for the poor