The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-04-26
HIS EXPERIENCE THRILLING.
Frisco Fruit Dealer Unnecessarily
Alarmed by Hawaiian Centipede

The Hawaiian islands are almost as
well off as Ireland ST. Patrick drove
all the venomous insects and reptiles
out Of the green ISLE but the Ha-
Waiians claim that the reptiles and in
sects left on Mr.. Dole's domain are
in no sense Of the word poisonous, saws
the San Francisco Call
People who have particular dealings
with VenomouS insects imported from
me Islands make the same claim A
local fruit importer said yesterday:
very frequently we receive consign-
ments of bananas and pineappIes
packed in dried grass and leaves. In
taking the fruit from the boxes it is
not uncommon to find a big centipede
crawling along the stalk between the
bananas, doing his best to get used to
the California climate.
Tuesday afternoon I was opening a
box of bananas and pushed my hand
through the straw to get at the stalk
L felt around for a few seconds and
thought I could feel something NOV
ing around on the back of my hand
/ had often heard Of the presence of
centipedes in fruit shipments, so l
carefully withdrew my hands, SO as
to make as little commotion as posi-
ble Imagine my surprise and alarm
to see a five-inch centipede slowly
crawling up my arm. l was about to
strike it when fruit packer stand
ing near by, warned me to make no
attempt to get rid of it, but to let it
crawl off at its leisure. l had for
gotten the fact that they were not
poisonous, and / know / got as white
as sheet. believing every moment
that 1t would sink it's claws into me
and send it's powerful poison through
my blood.
Il looked at 1t with fear and tre1n-
bling, but did not dare to move a
muscle. 1t lifted it's head and seemed
perfectly satisfied to remain where it
was. I could hardly restrain myself
from making quick motion and shak-
ing 1t off, but my companion warned
me again and again to keep quiet All
l could feel was a tickling sensation
The tickling increased, and l was all
most ready to faint with suppressed
excitement. Finally the centipede look
ed UP at my sleeve and slowly made
for it, moving all the legs in unison
The sensation by this time was un-
bearable, and 1 feared I would be I'M
able to remain calm until the thing
got entirely off. My flesh seemed to
shrink away as the horrible creature
proceeded, but in a few more seconds.
every one of which seemed an hour
it had settled itself comfortably on the
fabric of my clothing, and with mo-
ton quicker than 1 was ever known
to make before l routed it with a stick
and sat down, perspiring from head to
foot. 1t was the most thrilling expert
ence l ever figured in, and it made me
sick the rest Of the day.
My companion began to laugh as
though he would die of merriment. bur
l saw nothing particularly humorous
in the situation
You are crazy he said, to get
frightened over a little thing like that.
Do you not know that Hawaiian CEN
tipedes are not poisonous? I told you
to keep quiet just to see how long your
nerve would last. If the thing had
sunk every claw into your flesh. il
would have only caused a little swell
ing and nothing more. I have had
several Of them strike me, and 1 apply
a little ammonia or salt water, and
cure 1t UP in half an hour"