Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1943-05-16

II
! given the OF their lives by the ten-yearold
daughter Of one 0 their tribesmen
Some Of the villagers climbed trees while others ran
wild panic down jungle paths 20 safety. Mothers
gasped babies scaled the sides Of huts and perohed on M
matched roof tops with their bavlng infants
Most Of the Of Cupaz were either fishing down
the river or hunting deem IN the hush
manned just fast the women when they first
spotted caefree little Mario Guros returning HON" FROM
the banks OF the Chuquenaque
The story Mario frightened everyone N ho'
village Of their wits told the American Club 81
recently by Captain FREDERICK Orlro, Of the Pana
manan Constabulary, who makes semi-fna ch"ck-dp
of conditions the remote settlements for his government
NO" he told his hosts in the club Maria didn't hav"
leprosy any other contagious disease She carried
bombs and had magic It was her pet which caused
all the pandemonum
Maria was a big girl for her age almost ready for
marriage fact and nshervoman of parts She spent
her days the waters of the Chuquenaque casting
the banks,
mo could match her catches Many jealous
All envous Some bitter that mere wsp Of
girl could Guido fulgrown in the chief industry Of
the tribe.
Her male rivals whispered that Maria had he
hypnotic eye that she whsted TO the fish
song which they could not resist All lot Of nonsense
course, but nevertheless her haus incredible
Now here she coming up the Jungle path leading
a crocodile a l4footer OF the meanest-looang
most vicious creatures ever saw but IT followed Mara
with complete dociuy like lamb IN fact and the CIR
showed absolutely fear Of the monster but rcbuked
il stingingy from time 10 time IL waddled its awkward
way its short legs behind her Maria in hurry
to exhibit her prize The crocodile too slow for her
she ht its with her fist
some the who had taken TO screamed
imprecations AZ the girl but many the mothers who
chung to their babes roof tops family amused Il
that the village proud
the prccoclous Maria represented something
emancipation from their age-old seTvilv 10 man
Put now here she came with a killer crocodile What
wouldn't Maria do next %"
OrIro SAID Maria finally convinced the frightened VII
layers that her crocodile vas harmless pet She hcsough
dnAA their perohes and stro,eA the
monster lovingly long 10 show tame
The refugees down from their loty places by
and those who had plunged wildly INTO the
back home but for weeks they sred Maria and her
pet gingery
The fearsome creature said slept the
the girls bed like faithful dog and followed her wherever
she went Maria regularly took the big izardie creature
for swims the river and both plunged into the water
together.
Marie would hold onto the crocodles tail Oruio
be great speed for hundreds Of yards up and
down the channel. These seemed to be the hapPiest
moments Marias day he declared, but the Cholo
Indians just couldn't get used to this queer stuff They
mumbng when left"
What are they going 10 do his friends asked
zone two things" the officer answered promptly
They viii either kill her witch make her queen of
the tribe It's b. something drastic Choos don't
do things by halves"
Little Mara Guios is not the first person in the
TO strange fierce pets though her crocodile
undoubtedly the first Of kind history OF low
teHgeuce a brain about the size Of walnut. the
oeode long has been the most feared and hated Of
am7hibous reptiles all OF which makes the "domestcaton
Marias pet all the more remarkable.
others have collected strange animals and reptiles
t. coddle in their homes their beds Snakes
slnEs lions tigers bears and accaly every type Of
animal has been tanned by Some one in all parts Of tho
world
And if a pointe Coupcc Louisiana fisher lad is TO be-
uevod actually has pet eel. which swims TO him BY
signal bc fed by hand such morses as tumble bugs and
No one IN Poinc Coupcc viii believe young John Lakes
amazing tale but he stoutly asserts he'll show em
some day they keep laughing at him
Il been feeding that eel years. John I'm
just afraid someone will him basket before
prove my story