Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1907-12-27
Story Of Carniverous
Women Devouring Tree.

Wome Devouring Tree.
Writing from Marseilles, a correspOn-
dent pf the Weedly Nos Loisira sends to
his journal the following amazing story
Of a "c%arnivorous tres" III the depths Of
the Indian jungle, which he states was
related to him by Mile, Marguerite
Lecomte. This lady has jast reached
France after a lengthy journey through
India and Asiatic countries, and, il her
othe. adventures are on on Il par with
this one, Nos LoIsirs probably is correct
III describing her as one OF the most re-
markabie heroiDes that exist. II is
stated, by the way, that Il previous
reference to the @carnivorous tree" de-
scribed by Mile, Lecomte, vas made
recently by an English major in II report
~ ms government.
According to her story, Mile. Lccomte
who was travelling with her cousin, a war
correspondent, was asleep one night in
I tent ON the outskirts OF a forest. They
had lit huge fires in n circle round the
camp IL keep off wild beasts, and two
natives were set to keep watch and to
give the alarn il anything untoward
happened.
10 spite Of these precautions, how
ever, whether for want OF proper watch.
"R or on account OF completely on the
part ~ the natives, Mile. Lecomte
invoke id the middle Of the night to find
on her face Il wet mask which stifed
her cries and caused her 10 faint.
When she came to herself che found
herself IN the midst Of a troop Of fanatic
Indians, who were yelling and brandish-
ing their arms about her. She was
stretched on her back, her limbs bound
with cords. and she distinguished near
her another white girl similarly bound
and uncOnsciOu-.
The dawn broke. Tho Indians ranged
themselves in "A group, seized the two
girls and carried them, chanting the
While Il monotonous sort OF funeral
chant, to the loot Of "a giant tree with
out leaves and whose Tor biddrng aspect
stru Il terror into the heart OF Mile.
Lecomte. 1t had only two branches,
like ou,streichPd arms, and It's summit
was iinlshed i'll the form Of II large bowl,
from which dripped u white sap like
milk.
Mile. Lec0nte SAYS that she saw them
seize her companion and plunge her
into this bowl up 20 her neck, and sud-
denly, III the first rays Of the sun fell
on the tree, "A horrible thing happened.
Tho tree seemed endowed with sud.
den lie. The edges OF tine bowl
drew together, %stranglIng the girl,
whose face reflected the ngonics Of
Il frighiful death. There was come
terrible cracking noises, the whole
seemed pounded up under the effort Of
the sides OF the tree, and a piDkish
liquid, made o. blood and zap, began to
glide down the "carnIyorous trro
Then with maniacBl cries the Indians
approached and, catching this horrible
liquid in wood cups, drank it, their
eyes shining with ccstasy.
Mile. Lccomtc, pcrceiving the fate
which awaited her, thought che wonld
90 mad every moment. Fortunately
tho arrival OF her cousin mud n troop Of
EuglisbmeD well armed Dispersed the
criminal fanatics. Many wore killed ON
tho spot, the tree was cut down, mud it
throw up a ppout Of pinkish water with
the force o n water-spoui. The
wretcbed victim had Iost all human
form. This horrible adventure decided
Mile. Lccomte to leave India, and shc
has just arrived ut Marseillce. She
says she will marry the cousin who
saved her liio.-Paris cnr res pondcncc
Of New York Press.