In this year leading up to Arizona's centennial, Feb. 14, 2012, we'll reprint a story or excerpts each day from the Arizona Daily Star or Tucson Citizen archives.
May 30, 1912
DOUGLAS - A Gila monster, 25 inches in length, was captured Sunday on the Moore and Humphrey range, about 15 miles east of the city, by Arthur Brown, a well-known cowboy.
Brown in this manner sustained his reputation as one of the champion "lizard hunters" of this section.
To the uninitiated, the term of lizard hunter may convey no meaning. It is applied by cowboys, however, when for any reason a puncher passes up his herd for a short time. They then say that he was watching the ground and hunting lizards.
Sunday morning Brown lost his cattle for a time in a draw, going up one while the animals were peacefully grazing in another draw in the same neighborhood. He returned to camp and had the name of lizard hunter applied. He soon found the cattle, and no more was thought of the matter until he came in at dusk with the huge Gila monster, at the same time telling the other cowboys that if he hunted lizards he did so to some advantage.
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News of the capture of the huge reptile was brought into the city yesterday by Jack Humphrey. Brown will be in the city either today or tomorrow and will bring the skin with him. It will be placed on display in some show window of the city as a natural curiosity.
- Arizona Daily Star
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