The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

CENTIPEDES ARE POISONOUS

I WAS GOING THROUGH TEXAS AND I SAW A MASS OF LITTLE BROWN THINGS
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THEY WERE, BUT THEY
LOOKED A LITTLE LIKE CHOCOLATE BARS WITH LEGS. I DIDN'T KNOW
THEY WERE POISONOUS THEN, SO I PICKED UP ONE AND HELD IT IN MY
HAND FOR A FEW SECONDS, BUT IT DIDN'T DO ANYTHING TO ME.
THEN WHEN I GOT A LITTLE FARTHER ON DOWN THE ROAD AT THE NEXT
GAS STATION, I ASKED THE ATTENDANT WHAT THE LITTLE CREATURES WERE,
BECAUSE I KNEW THEY WEREN'T CHOCOLATE BARS. THE ATTENDANT TOLD ME
THEY WERE POISONOUS, SO AFTER THAT I DIDN'T PICK UP ANY MORE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT HIGH SCHOOL ; HISTORY

Date learned: 09-00-1968

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RATTLESNAKE ON A TEXAS PLATEAU

A FEW YEARS AGO, I WAS DRIVING A GROUP OF BOYS ON A TRIP DOWN TO
MEXICO CITY, AND ONE DAY I HAD DRIVEN ABOUT TWO HUNDRED MILES

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT HIGH SCHOOL ; HISTORY

Date learned: 09-00-1968

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TALE

WHILE IN HIGH SCHOOL I HEARD THIS SAME STORY SEVERAL TIMES. THE
MOST DISTINCT VERSION I CAN REMEMBER IS ONE THAT CONCERNED A
YOUNG MAN AND A NEW THUNDERBIRD. HE HAD GONE HUNTING UP NORTH,
HAD FALLEN ASLEEP, WENT OFF THE ROAD AND WAS KILLED. IT WAS
SEVERAL WEEKS BEFORE THEY FOUND THE CAR WITH THE BODY IN IT, AND
BY THAT TIME THE SMELL WAS UNBEARABLE. THIS ALMOST BRAND NEW
CAR WAS FOR SALE FOR $25 BECAUSE NOTHING COULD REMOVE THE UNBEAR-
ABLE SMELL. OTHER PEOPLE HAD BOUGHT SIMILAR CARS AND EVEN THOUGH
THEY REUPHOLSTER AND FUMIGATE, THE SMELL WAS RIGHT IN THE METAL
AND NOTHING COULD GET IT OUT.

Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT AND DATE ARE UNKNOWN WITH MUCH ACCURACY BUT IT WAS
AT THE UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT HIGH SCHOOL AND IT WAS IN 1959.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT HIGH SCHOOL

Date learned: 00-00-1959

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