Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1852-05-19

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moved on the bottom towards the nets, which
he no sooner touched than he quietly turned
back and proceeded up the stream. This move
ment was several times repeated, till, having no
rest in the inclosure he attempted to climb up
the bank. On receiving ball in his body, he
uttered growl like that of an angry dog, and
plunging into the water crossed to the other side
where he was received with similar salutation,
discharged directly into his mouth. Finding him.
self attacked on every side, he renewed his at
tempts to ascend the banks; but whatever part
of him appeared was bored with bullets, and
] finding that he was hunted, he forgot his own
| formidable means of attack, and sought only
safety from the troubles which surrounded him.
| A low spot which separated the river from the
lake, a little above the nets was unguarded, and
we feared, that he would succeed in escaping
over it. II was here very necessary to stand
firmly against him, and in several attempts
which he made to cross it, we turned him back
with spears bamboos, or whatever first came to
hand. He once seemed determined to force his
way, and foaming with rage, he rushed with open
jaws and gnashing his teeth with a sound too
omnous to be despised, appeared to have his
full energies aroused, when his career was stop
ped by large bamboo thrust violently into his
mouth, which he ground to pieces, and the fin
gers of the holder were so paralyzed that for
some minutes he was incapable of resuming his
gun.
The natives had now become so excited as to
forget all prudence, and the women and children
of the little hamlet had come down 10 the shore
to share in the general enthusiasm. They
crowded to the opening, and were so unmindful
of their danger; that it was necessary to drive
them back with some violence. Had the mon
L. o,,1 f< has,
used it, he would have gone over that spot with
force which no human power could have with
stood, and would have crushed or carried with
him into the lake, about the whole population
of the place. 1t was not strange that personal
safety was forgotten in the excitement of the
scene. The tremendous brute, CALLED with
wounds and repeated defeat tore his way thro'
the foaming water, gancing from side to side, in
the vain attempt to avoid his foes; then rapidly
blowing up the stream he grounded on the shall
lows, and turned back frantic and bewildered at
his crcumscrbed position. At length, madden
ed from suffering and desperate from continued
persecution, he rushed furiously to the mouth
of the stream, burst through two of the nets,
and threw down my gun in despair, for it look
ed as though his way at last was clear to the
wide lake; but the third net stopped him, and
his teeth and legs had got entangled in all
This gave us chance of closer warfare with
lances, such as are used against the wild buffalo
We had sent for this weapon at the commence
ment of the attack, and found it much more eff
fectual than guns. Entering the canoe, we plum
ged lance after lance into the alligator, as he
was struggling under the water, till wood
seemed growing from him. which moved violent
above while his body was concealed below. His
endeavors to extricate himself ashed the waters
into foam mingled with blood, and there SEEM
ed to be no end to his vitality, or decrease to
his resistance till lance struck him directly
through the middle of the back, which an Indian
with heavy piece Of wood hammered into him
as he could catch an opportunity. My compan-
ion on the other side, now tried to haul him to
the shore by the nets to which he had fastened
himself, but had not sufficient assistance with
him. AS had more force with me, | managed
with the assistance Of the women and children,
to drag his head and part of his body on to the
little beach, and giving him the coup de grace,
left him to gasp out the remainder of his life.
This monster was nearly thirty feet in length,
and thirteen feet in circumference and the head
alone weighed three hundred pounds. On OPEN
ing him there we found, with other parts of the
horse, three legs entire, torn off at the haunch
and shoulder besides large quantity of stones
some of them of several pounds weight
Iarper's Magazine.