Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1896-09-12
HIS NERVE WAS THERE.

This Sort of Centiped Was Harmless but
He Didn't Know It
The Hawaiian Islands are almost rs
well off as Ireland. ST. Patrick drove
all the venomous insects and reptiles
out Of the Green Isle. but the Hawaiians
claim that the reptiles and insects left
ON Mr. Doles 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.
lone afternoon 1 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. had often heard
of the presence of oentipeds in fruit
shipments, so carefully withdrew my
hand, so as to make as little commotiOn
as possible. Imagine my surprise and
alarm to see q five inch centiped slow
ly crawling up my arm. / was about to
J strike it when a 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. / had forgotten the fact
that they were not poisonous, and know
} | I got as white as a 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 "a mus
3 Gle. 1t lifted its head and seemed per
3 fectly satisfied TO remain where it was
4 l could hardly restrain myself from
D making a quick motion and shaking j
d off, but my companion warned me again
i and again to keep quiet All / coul'
o feel was tickling sensation. The tic
a king increased, and was almost read
d to faint with suppressed excitement
N Finally the centiped looked up at m
sleeve and slowly made for it, movin
I all the legs in unison. The sensatio
g by this time was unbearable, and fear
~ ed would be unable to remain CALI
I'd until the thing got entirely off.
Of my flesh seemed 10 shrink away q
Of the horrible creature proceeded, but
b. a few more seconds, every one of whic
X seemed an hour, it had settled itself con
ht fortably ON the fabric Of my clothing
%, and with motion quicker than WI
ever known to make before l routed
of with a stick and sat down. perspirir
he from head to foot 1t was the mo
-er thrilling experience / ever figured il
les and it made me sick the rest of the da
to my companion began to laugh
though he would die of merriment, b
rm saw nothing particularly humorous
to the situation.
nd ." 'Tou are crazy. he said, TO 6
IN. frightened over little thing like tn;
ne. Do you know that Hawaiian Island &C
Out tipeds are not poisonous? j told you
tile keep quiet just to see how long 20
ind nerve would last If the thing had su
ass every claw it had into your flesh.
n a would have only caused a little swe
/ OF ing and nothing more. have had 81
liy- eral of them strike me, and l appl,
the little ammonia or salt water and CT
ury it up in half an hour. San Fr;
hey DISCO Call