Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1896-09-19
nAo me NERVE WITH INN.


The csntipedc was Harmless, but the
Stranger Didn't Know IL
The Hawaiian islands are almost %
well OF as ireland. ct. Patrick drove
oil the venomous insects and reptiles
out OF the green Isle, but 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 dealing with venomous
Insects imported from the islands make
the same claim. A local fruit importer
sad yesterday:
VERY frequently we receive consign.
ments OF bananas and pineapples pack.
ed In dried grass and leaves. In tax.
Ing the fruit from the boxes It Is not
uncommon to ind a big centipede
crawling along the stalk between the
bananas, doing his best to get used ia
the California climate.
Tuesday afternoon was opening a
box Of bananas and pushed my hand
through the straw to get at the stalk
felt around for q few seconds and
thought ! could feel something moving
around on the back Of my hand. I had
often heard Of the presence Of cent?
pedes In fruit shipments, 20 I carefully
withdrew my hand 80 as to make as lit
tie cOmmotiOn as possible. Imagine my
surprise and alarm to see q five-incl
centipede slowly crawling up my arm
l was about to strike 1t when a fruit
packer. standing near by. warned me
to make no attempt to get rid of It
but to let It crawl up at its leisure.
had forgotten the fact that they were
not poisonous, and I know got q.
white as sheet, believing every mo
ment that It would sink its claws Into
me and send its powerful poisor
through my blood.
IL looked at 1t with fear and trem
bling. but did not dare to move a mus
Gle. It lifted lts head and seemed per
fectly satisfied to remain where L was
/ could hardly restrain myself from
shaking It Oh. hut my companion warn
Cd ne again and again TO keen quiet
All ! could feel was Q tickliag sensa
ton. The tickling increAsed, and
was almost ready to faint WITH sup
pressed excitement. Finally the cent?
pede looked up at my sleeve and slowlJ
made for II, moving oil the legs In uni
con. The sensation by this time Wal
unbearablc, and feared would b,
unable to remain calm until the thlni
got entirely Of. My flesh seemed h
shrink away as the horrible creatur,
proceeded, but in few more seconds
every one Of which seemed ap hour. 4
had settled itself comfortably on thu
fabric Of my clothing, and with mo
ton quicker than was ever known (,
make before I routed II with q sticl
and eat down. pespirins from head I,
4 foot. Il WAS the most thrilling expert
ence ever figured In and Il made mi
SICK the rest Of tho day. ~ companioi
began to laugh - thoush ~ would al
OF msrrimeut but saw nothing pa1
ticulasiy humorous In the situation.
"'You are Grassy hs aid, TO 20
frightened over little thing like that
|.Do you not know that Hawaiian islam
ceutipedes are not poisonousi I toll
you to keep quiet just to sec how Ion
your nerve would last. II the thin
had sunk every claw he had into you
; nesh It would have only caused littl
swelling and nothing more. hav
had several Of them strike me, and
apply n little ammonia or salt waite
!. and cure It up In half an hour.'"-sa
Francisco Call. - . ~