The Hawk-eye and Iowa patriot. (Burlington, Iowa) 1839-1843, 1840-05-14
A MONSTER.

.tFar
Capture and Death of Mammoth
.AMgafor.-The subjoined is the account,
from Silliman's Journal, of the destruc-
ton Of a huge alligator.
In the course Of the year 1881, the
proprietor Of Halahala informed me that
he frequently lost horses and cows on
remote part of his plantation, and that
the natives assured him they were taken
by an enormous alligator, who frequented
one of the streams which ran into the
lake. Their descriptions were so highly
wrought that they were attributed to the
loneliness for exaggeration, to which the
/ inhabitants of that country are peculiarly
! addicted, and very little credit was given
to their repeated relations.
All doubts as to the existence of the
animal were at last dispelled by the des.
truction of an Indian, who attempted to
ford the river on horseback, although en-
treated to desist by his companions, who
crossed at shallow place, higher up.
He reached the centre of the stream, and
was laughing at the others for their pru-
dence, when the alligator came upon him.
His teeth encountered the saddle, which
he tore from the horse, while the rider
tumbled on the other side into the water
and made for the shore. The horse, too
terrified TO move, stood trembling where
the attack was made. The alligator dis.
regarding him, pursued the man, who
safely reached the bank, which he could
easily have assembled, but rendered fool.
hardy by his escape, he placed himself
behind tree, which had fallen partly in
to the water, and drawing his heavy
knife, leaned over the tree, and on the
approach of his enemy, struck him on the
nose. The animal repeated his assault
and the Indian his blows, until the form.
er, exasperated at the resistance, rushed
on the man, and Selling him by the mid
die of the body, which was at once en-
closed and crushed in his capacious jaws,
swan into the lake. His friends hast
ened to the rescue; but the alligator
slowly left the shore, while the poor
!. wretch, writhing and shrieking in his
, agony, with his knife uplifted in his
clasped hands, seemed, as the others ex-
pressed it, :. held out as man would
carry torch" His sufferings were not
long continued, for the monster sunk to
the bottom, and soon after re-appearing
alone on the surface, and calmly bask-
ing in the sun, gave to the horror-stricken
spectators the fullest confirmation of the
death and burial of their comrade.
A short time after this event, made
visit to Halahala and expressing strong
desire to capture or destroy the alligator,
my host readily offered his assistance.
The animal had been seen, few days
before, with his head and one of his fore
feet resting on the bank, and his eyes fol-
lowing the motion of some cows which
were grazing near. Our informer liken-
ed disappearance to that of cat watch
ing mouse, and in the attitude to spring
upon his prey when it should come with.
in his reach.
Hearing that the alligator had killed a
horse, we proceeded to the place, about
five miles from the house. 1t was
tranquil spot, and one OF singular beauty,
!, even in that land. The stream, which
few hundred feet from the lake narrowed
to brook, with its green banks fringed
with the graceful bamboo, and the alter
nate glory of glade and forest, spreading
far and wide, seemed fitted for other pur-
j poses than the familiar haunt Of the huge
creature that had appropriated it to him
self. A few cane huts were situated
short distance from the river, and we pro-
cured from them what men they contain
ed, who were ready to assist in freeing
themselves from their dangerous neigh
Dor. The terror which he had inspired,
especially since the death of their COM
panion, had hitherto prevented them from
making an effort to get rid of him but
they gladly availed themselves of our pre-
parations, and with the usual dependence
of their character, were willing to do
whatever example should dictate to them.
Having reason to believe that the alliga-
tor was in the river, we commenced op-
erations by sinking nets, upright. across
its mouth, three deep, at intervals of seve-
raj feet. The nets, which were of great
strength, and intended for the capture of
the wild buffalo, were fastened to trees
on the banks, making complete fence to
the communication with the lake.
My companion and myself placed our
selves with our guns on either side of
the stream, while the Indians, with long
bamboos, felt for the animal. For some
time he refused to be disturbed and we
began to fear that he was not within our
limits, when spiral motion of the water,
under the spot where l was standing,
led me to direct the natives to it; and the
creature slowly moved on the bottom to-
wards the nets, which he no sooner touch
/ ed, than he quietly turned back and pro-
ceeded up the stream. This movement
was several times repeated, till, having
no rest in the enclosure, he attempted to
climb up the bank. On receiving ball
in the body, he uttered growl like that
of an angry dog, and plnnging into the
water crossed to the other side, where
he was received with similar salutation,
discharged directly into his mouth. Find
ing himself attacked on every side, he re-