Virginia free press & farmers' repository. [volume] (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1827-1832, 1831-09-22
FROM skinn-r's Turf Register.
The HARDEST FEND OFF. on THE BEAR
AND THE ALLIGATOR
81. MdrfinsriIie. DIov a IesI

IN the middle Of June, 1880. whilst I
was seated under Q venerable live oak,
on the ever green banks Of the Teche.
waiting for the fish to bite. was star
tied by the roaring Of some animal in
the cane brake, a short distance be-
low me, apparently getting ready for
seton. These notes of preparation
were quickly succeeded by the sound
OF feet trampling down the cane, and
scattering the shells. A. Aoon as
recovered from my surprise, 1 resolved
TO take view. Of what I supposed to
be tw" prairie bulls mixing impetuous-
~ in battle, an occurrence so common
IN this country apG season, when, a.
Thompson says,
Through all his Iusty veins
The bull. dcep-seorched the raging passion feels, :"
When ] reached the scene Of action,
how great was nv as,onishment, in
s,esd Of bulls, to behpld q large black
bear reared up on hi. hind legs, with
his fore paws raised alof,. as If 10 make
n lunge. His face was bssmeared
with white foam sprinkled with red,
which dropping from his mouth. rolled
down his shaggy breast. Frantic from
the smarting Of his wounds, he stood
gnashing his teeth and growing q, his
enemy. A few PAGES in his rear was
the cane brake from which he had en-.
tered. On bank Of snow white shells.
spotted with blood. in battle array.
stood bruins foe. IN shape an aMga-
for. fifteen feet long. lie looked as
If he had just been dipped in the Teche,
and had emerged like Achilles from
the Styx. with an invulnerable coat Of
mail. Standing on tiptce, his back
curved upwards. and his tongueless
mouth thrown open, displayed in his
wide jaws. two large tusks. and rows
OF teeth. His tail six feet long raised
from the ground, was constantly wAiv.
ing like boxers arm. to gather force.
Ills big eyes starting from his head,
g!ared upon bruin, whilst sometimes
utteriug Kissing cries, then roaring like
bull.
The CONTESTANTS were q few psees
apart, when ! stole upon them, the
'first round" being ever. They re-
manned in the attitude described about
4 minute, swelling themselves n large
rs possible. but marking the slightest
motions with attention, and great eau
ton, as IL each felt confident he had
met his match. During this pause ]
was concealed behind a tree, watching
their manGuvres in silence. ! cosld
scarcely believe my eyesight. What,
Thought Lean these two beasts have to
fight about Some readers may doubt
the tale on this account. but If it had
been bull light no one would have
doubted il, because every enc knows
what they are Sighting for.
4 "wben the fair heifer, b.lmy bre.ihins, near
Stands kindling up their rage"
The same reasoning will not always
apply to man fight. Men frequent.
" fight when they are sober. for nc
J purpose, except 90 ascertain which is
the better man. We must then be.
lieve tha. beasts will do the same. un
less we admit that the instinct oil
beasts Is Superior 10 the boosted reAsor
Of man. Whether they did tight upoE
the present occasion without cause,
cannot say, as I VAS not present wber
the ARRAY began. A boar and . ran
have BEEN known 10 fight, aud so did
tAe bear and the alligator. whilst
prudently kept IN the back ground
preserving the strictest neutrality be
twixt the beiligersnts. And now, il
the reader is satisfied that such bat
tie IS this might have taken place, Ia
the absence Of any known cause, viii
90 on to tell what | saw Of il, ss Z
witness should.
Bruin. though evidently bafIleJ. hat
q firm look, which showed he had mol
lost confidence IN himself IF tho dit
hcully Of the undertaking had once de
ceived him, he was preparing to e al
Il again. Accordingly, letting himself
down upon all fours. he ran furiousl ,
~ the alligator. The alligator Vas
READY for him, and throwing his hesd
and body partly srounsl TO svoid The
onset. met bsuin half way, with bios
Of his tail. that rolled him back on the
shells. Old bruin vas not 70 BE- pOi
OF BY one bits three times ~ rspid
succession he rushed 1t the alligator,
and was as often repsIssd IN the same
nnnner, being knocked back by each
blow jpst fer enoDgh tn give the alliga'
tor tune 20 recover the sving Of his
iail before he returned. The tsil ot
the sl'igator sousded ike = fail sgains'
= the 'hlck coat II hair On bruins head
sni shoulders. bu, be bore u HIthOei
lHibching. still poshing on Go come "a
close holts with his scaly foe. W.
made he fourth charEe wiIh = dsgrs'
% dextsri,y. which 'hose Who have ne
l,er s~sn this rismsy docking ANNA
eTere'slag. wouid suppose h'a, lncsps
! bic u. THIS time he got 80 close Il