Evening journal., 1896-11-03
HIS NERVE WAS THERE.
This Sort Of Centiped Was Rarmless, but
lie Didn't Know It.

This Sort Of Centiped Was Rarinless, but
He Didn't Know It.
Tho Hawaiian Islands are almost as
we'll off as Ireland. ST. Patrick drove
all the yenomoUs insects aud reptiles
out of the Green Isle, but tho Hawaiians
claim that the reptiles and insects left
On Ar. Dole's domain ar no sense of
me word poisonous
People who have particular dealings
with venCmous insects imported from
the islands make the same claim. A To-
cal fruit importer said;
Very frequently we receive consign-
ments Of bananas and pineapplos pack
cd in dried grass and leaves In taking
tho fruit from the boxes it is not uncom-
incn 70 find a big centiped crawling
along the stalk between the bananas,
doing his best to get used to the Cali
fornia climate.
"Ous afternoon was opening a box
of bananas and pushed my hand through
tho straw to get at the stalk. felt
around for a few seconds and thought ]
could feel something moving around on
the back of my hand. had often heard
Of tho 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 a five inch centiped slow
ly crawling up my arm. ! 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 IL crawl off at
its leisure. had forgotten the fact
/ that they were not poisonous, and know
get as white asa sheet, believing every
nOnont that it would sink its claws
into me and send its powerful poison
through my blood.
al looked at it with fear and trem-
bling bat did lot dane to move mus
Gle. 10 lifted its head and seemed per-
fectly satisfied TO remain whore il was.
] could hardly restrain myself from
making a quick motion and shaking il
off, but my companion warned mo again
and again to keep quiet All I could
feel was a tickling sensation. The tic
king increased and l was almost ready
to faint with suppressed excitement
Finally the contipod looked up at my
sleeve ana slowly made for it, moving
all the legs IN unison. Tho sensation
/ by this time was unbearable, and / fear
cd l 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
q few more seconds, every one Of which
seemed an hour, i5 had settled itself com
fortaply ON the fabric Of my clothing,
and with a motion quicker than ] wa;
ever known to make before / routed il
| with a stick and sat down, perspirina
from head to foot. 1t was the most
thrilling experience | ever figured in.
and itmade me sick tho rost of the day.
"My companion began TO laugh as
I though he would die of merriment bat
/ saw nothing particularly humorous in
the situation.
" You are crazy, he said, to get
frightened over a little thing like that.
Do you know that Hawaiian Island cen
tipeds arc not poisonous? I told you tC
keep quiet just to sec how long your
nerve would last. If tho thing had sunk
every claw it had into your flesh, II
would have only caused "a little swell
ing and nothing more. have had sew
eral of them strike me, and l apply n
little ammonia or salt water and cure
it up in half an hour San Fran.
aieco Call