The Democratic Press

August 30, 1888

“A Spider and A Frog.”

A gentleman tells the Mecklinburg, Va., Democrat, that in company with another, he was walking along the banks of a stream when their attention was drawn to a noise near them in the water. It was ascertained that the noise was caused by a fight between a monster spider and a frog. Whenever the two came together the spider would seize the frog with his poisonous fangs; the frog would then by a supreme effort shake his enemy off and hop away to a peculiar looking plant which grew near, and after biting off a portion of the leaves and eating then would return to the combat with renewed energy. The two gentlemen watched the interesting combat for a long time, when one of them concluded that he would keep the frog away from the plant, which it seemed to be using as an antidote for the poison of the spider. So when the frog as usual, started for the plant after being bitten, he kept him away; the poor fellow made frantic efforts to get at it, but was prevented, and in a few minutes the poison of the spider, not being counteracted, took effect, and the poor frog expired immediately.

“Historic Oddity Headlines” showcases actual articles written about truly odd occurrences that took place and were published within United States newspapers back in the 1800s-1900s. The articles posted here are written exactly as they appeared during their original publishing date.

-The Pine Barrens Institute

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