The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-12-22
TREE DEVOURS WOMEN.
Remarkable Story of a CarniVorous
Specimen in India.
Paris Cor. New York Press)

paris Cor. New York Press.)
Writing from Marseilles. a correspon-
dent of the Weekly Nos Loisirs sends
to his journal the following amazing
story Of a ''carnivorous tree" in the
depths of the Indian jungle, which he
states was related TO him by Mile Mar
guerite Lecomte. This lady has Just
reached France after a lengthy jour
ney through India and other Asiatic
countries, and, if her other adventures
are on a par with this one, Nos Loisirs
probably is correct in describing her as
one of the most remarkable heroines
| that exist. 1t is stated, by the way.
that a previous reference to the car
nivorous tree" described by Mile. Lee
comte, was made recently by an Eng
fish major in report to his govern
ment.
According to her story, Mile. Lee
comte who was travelling with her
cousin, war correspondent, was asleep
one night in a tent on the outskirts of
forest. They had lit huge fires in a
circle round the camp to keep off wild
beasts. and two natives were set to
keep watch and to give the alarm if
anything untoward happened.
Ia spite of these precautions. how
ever, whether for want of proper
watching or on account of completely
On the part of the natives. Mile. Lee
comte awoke in the middle of the night
10 hnd on her face wet mask which
stihed her cries and caused her tn
rant. When she came to herself she
found herself in the midst of troop
of fanatic Indians, who were yelling
and brandishing their arms about her.
She was stretched on her back. her
llinos bound with cords. and she dis
t!ngulshed near her another white girl
similarly bound and unconscious.
The dawn broke. The Indians ranged
themselves in group, seized the two
eTls ana carried them, chanting the
Wnlle monotonOus sort of funeral
cIlaIt' 10 the foot of a giant tree with
ouI IGaVes and whose foTbidding aspect
struck sterror into the heart of Mic
Lecomte. 1t had only two branches
ike outstretched arms. and it's SIM
NIT was finished in the form of q LARGO
nO"I' from which dripped a white san
Mile Lecomte says that she saw
theIn seize her companion and nIunea
her INTO this bowl up to her neck ana
suddenly just as the first rays of tbe
sun IeH on the tree, a horrible tbine
happened. 'iiiIs
The tree seemed endowed with s,d-
ueh ne Inc edges of the bowl drew
together, strangling the girl. whose fac
renected the agonies of a frigbtfui
death. There were some terrible cracI--
ing noises. the whole body seemed
pounded up under the effort of the sides
OF the tree. and a pinkish LIQUID. made
OF olood and sap, began to glide down
the carnivorous tree. w" II
Ihen with maniacal cries the Indians
approached and, catching this borri-
Die liquid in wooden cups. drank =
thelr eyes shining with ecstacv.
Mile. Lecomte, perceiving tbe fa+a
Which awaited her. thought she would
80 s''ui tnad every moment. Fortunately the
hngishmen well arm dispersed the
e or fanatics. Many were killed on
tl spot the tree was cut down, and. if
threw up a spout of pinkisb water
with the force of a water snou+ IT.
wretched victim had lost all human |
form. This horrible adventure dacidaI |