Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1846-10-01
CAPTURE OF AN ALLIGATOR

Starting early, we had Just passed all the shoals
in the nelghborhood Of Curiosity Peak, and entered
a narrow part Of the river, when the leodsman in
the bows of tho boat reported, /" a large alligator
coming dowl the stream, sir" Elatcd by the cx-
pectation OF sport, we instantly grounded the boat
on the right bank to keep her steady, and waited
anXousy for the monsters approach 1t will read
lily be believed that every eye was fixed upon
him as he slowly advanced, scarcely disturbing the
CLASSY surface Of the water, and quite unconscious
of the fate that impcnded over HIM. At length he
came abreast, and about eighty yards of, only the
fiat crown of his head and the partly serraled ridge
along his back appearing in sight, 1t was mo-
ment OF deep excitement to us ALL and every one
held his breath in suspense as pointed my gun a:
the brutes lad. | felt confident of hitting my
marks but. Judging from the little effect had pro-
duced on former occasions, scarcely dreampt of the
execution my ball actually did. 1t happened that
to-day was in excellent practice, and had Just nit
"a large wild dog, long shot, making him jump
high off the ground; but this beast is as tenacious
Of life as a cat, and instead of falling dead, he
limped off and escaped But to resume: | fred
and never heard bail strike with more satisfaction
IN my life. 1t laiu the alligator SPRAYING, feet up.
permost. There was no time to be lost in getting
him on shore; two or three strokes with the oars
brought us alongside of the monster, as he hoated
on the surface of the stream. The business was
to attach line to one Of his legs and as we knew
that he not dead, but only stunned, this was
rather nervous operation. | noticed, indeed u
Hesitation nkong the men as to who should venture,
and, fearing lest our prize should Escape | seized
the line and made it fast to one of his fore crs,
when we proceeded to the shore, dragging hun
alongside. Before reaching 1t, however, our friend
gave signs OF reviving animation, and as we could
not foresee to what extent he might retain his ac-
tivity, we dropped him astern, clear of the boat,
fearing lest in laundering about he might stave in
her broadside. In doing so, moreover, and by way
OF sedatlve, fired charge Of slot at his head the
muzzle of the gun not being yard from it, and
yet the only effect produced was Il slight stupor of
the intellectual faculties, evnced by a momentary
state of quiescerce. On reaching the shore, the
men jumped out to haul the alligator up on the dry
land and began to pull away vigorously. 1t was
Il comic scene to witness. They expected to have
some difficulty in performing their task but, sud-
denly, they found the rope slacken, and, looking
round, beheld the alligator walking up after them
OF his own accord faster than was pleasant. In
their haste, endeavorng 20 keep the rope taut, one
fellow trpped up; and it was for a momenLa ques-
ton whether he would not be snapped in,t9o. The
feeling Of alarm, however, soon gave Way to a
sense Of the ludcrous at behodng the maRner in
which he gathered himself into ball and rolled
out Of the alligaors way. | thought it now high
timeto take decisive measures and, with another
shot, altered the intentions of the monster, who en-
deavored to back towards the water. Perhaps if
he had been farther away from It, | might have
been tempted to try Watertons experiment. 1t
was not before he had received six balls IN the
head that he consented to be killed. During the
operation he exhibited something Of his sdrore
fuue by opening his mouth, that looked like gil
gantc man trap, and suddenly shutting it with a
loud snap, which made us shuddCr and lorcibly re-
called to mind the escape had few days before
fiom having my body embraced by such pair of
jaws StokeS's DiScoueries in .4usratic.