Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1831-08-10
from the .2msrican 7uJf Register
rHE HARDEST FEND OFF, OR THE
BEAR AND THE ALLIGATOR.
ST. M1yfsnsriUe,

On a scorching day in the middle Of June, 1880
whilst I was seated under venerable live oak,
ON the ever green banks Of the Teche, waiting
for the fish to bite, | was startled by the r~oarings
Of some animal, in the cane brake, a short dis
lance below me. apparently getting ready for &C
tiOn. These notes Of pre- paratiUn were quickly
succeeded BY the sound of feet. trampfing down
the cane and scattering the shells. As soon as
/ recovered from my surprise, | resolved TO take
a view, of what | supposed to be two prairie bulls
mixing ippetuosly IN battle, an occurrence so
common in this country and season, when, as
Thompson says,
- Through all his lusty veins
The bull. deep scorched, the raging passion feels.
When | reached the scene OF action, how great
was my astonishment, instead of bulls, to behold
large black bear reared up oil his hind legs,
with his fore paws raised aloit as if to make a
a lunge. His face was besmeared with white foam
sprinkled with red, which dropping from his mouth,
rolled down his shaggy breast. Frantic from the
smar,ing of his wounds, he stood crashing his
teeth and growing at his enemy. A few PAGES
in his rear was the cane brake from which he had
issued. On 4 bank of snow white shells, spot
ted with blood, in battle array, stood bruins Zoe,
IN shape an alligator. fifteen feet long. He look
INC as if he had just been dipped in the Teche.
AIN NbANh XVI INV LaiiiN hOAh 'iC , y : " ltli
All invulnerable coat ct mail. He was standing
on tiptoe, his back curved upwards, aud his
tongueless Mouth thrown open, displayed in his
wide Jaws, two large tusks, and rows Of tecth.-
His tail six feet long raised from the ground was
constantly waving, like a boxers arm, tn gather
force. His big eyes starting from his head. glar-
"a upUn hrIj2, whilst sometimes altering Kissing
cries, thea roaringlise 4 bull.
The combatanis were a few PAGES apart when
I stole upon them, the - first rOund'' being over.
They remained in the attitudes described about
a minute, swelling themselves as large as possible,
but marking the slightest motions with a,ten-
ton, and great caution, as if each felt confident
be had met his match. Daring this pause / was
concealed behind a tree, watching their maneu-
vre in silence. | could scarcely believe my eye.
sight. What, thought |, can these two beasts
have 10 hight about! .Some readers may doubt
the tale ON this account, but if 1t had been a bull
fight, no one would have doubted it, because eve
~ one knows what they are fighting for.
The same reasoning will not always apply to a
man fight. Men frequently fight when they are
sober, for no purpose, except to ascertain which
is the better man. We must then believe that
beasts will do the same, unless we admit that the
instinct of beasts is superior to the Boosted rea-
son Of man. Whether they did fight upon the
present occasion without cause, | canR0t say, as
was not present when the ARRAY began. A bear
and a ram have been known to fight, and so did
the bear and the alligator, whilst prudently kept
IN the back ground, preserving the ~strictest neu-
trality betwixt the belligerents. And now. if the
reader is satisfied that such a battle as this might
have taken place, in the absence Of any known
cause, | will 90 on to tell what | saw Of il, as a
witness.
Bruiu, though evidently bafled, had a firm
look, which showed he had not lost confidence in
himself. IL the difficulty of the undertaking had
once deceived him, he was preparing to go at ii
again. Accordingly, letting himself down upon
all lQurs, he ran furiously at The alligator. The
alligator was ready for him, and throwing his
head and body partly around to avoid tie onset,
met bruin half way, with blow of his tail, that
rolled him on,the shells. Old bruin was not TO be
put of BY one hint; three times, in rapid success
sion. he rushed at the alligator, and was as often
repulsed in the anne manner, being Knocked back
by each blow Just far enough to give the aliiga-
tor time to recover the swing Of his tail before he
returned. The tail of the alligator sounded like
a fail against the thick coat of hair on bruins
head and shoulders, but he bore it without finch
ing. still pushing on to come to close hollis with
his scaly foe. He made his fourth charge with a
degree of dexterity, which those who have never
1en thus clumsy annual exercising, would sup
pose hin incapable Of. This time he got SO close
to the alligator before his tail struck him, that the
blow came with half its usual effect. The alliga-
tor was upset BY the charge, and before ne could
recover bis feet, bruiE srasped him round the
body before the fore LEGS, and holding him down
on his back. seized onessf his legs IN his mouth.
The alligator was now in a desperate situation.
Notwithstanding his coat Of mail, which is softer
on his belly than his back, from which
" rhe darted steel with idle shiver flies"
a Kentuck would say, /" he was getting used
M fast" Here, if | had dared to speak, and
supposed he could understand English. I
have uttered the encouraging exhortation
,f the poet:
Now, gallant knight, now hold thy own,
sNo maiden's arms are round thee thrown"
The alligator attempted in vain to bite: pres
down as be was. he could not open his mouth,
he upper jaw of which only moves, and his neck
vas so stifhe could not turn his head short round.
The amphibiOus beast fetched a scream in de-