Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-01-05
From the Mobile Tribune, December 20.
Desperate and Fatal Combat between an
Alligator and a Gar.

In Clarke county, near Choctaw Bluff on the
Alabama river, there Is beautiful and quiet little
lake of clear water, which has been the theme OF
praise since the first settlement Of the country II
is fed by two creeks euptying into it, equally pei.
lucid and at all times IL presents scene Of lowell.
ness that poet OF painter would dwell upon with
rapture. In length Il Is about a mile and half,
hcmmed in on ono side by high aud gracefully.
curving banks, and on tho other fringcd by the
dropping foliage of ovcrlianging trees Upon the
whole, II is most beautiful aud picturesque sheet
Of water small as Il Is and In tho spring and sum.
mer, is place Of great resort from miles around
for fshing-perch, trout, cat, and other fresh Wa
ter fish existing there in great abundance. Il u,
too, favontc haunt OF alligators. Many has been
the "Rsh fry there, whole families frequently 60.
ing to make pleasant day oft
On ono occasion two or three negroes were quiet.
ly angling there, relishing the sport AZ kcenly as
old Izask Walton could have done had he been
present, when, all Of sudden, great conlmoton
was observed in the middle Of the lake. Upon
closer observation il observed that an alligator
and gar, both oflargc size, engaged in deadly
conflict AT times they would rise TO the surface
and by their fearful strife produce great noise and
violently agitate large portion Of the surface Of
the lake. Then the conbatants would suddenly
sink, and for moment all was tranquil But this
was only for brief space: for they would again
rise, the gar East hold of the fore leg Of bis adycr.
sary, chewing and "monickngp equal 10 the feat
OF areal biting and gouging bully The alligator
tried the same game, but the skin Of the gar was
too hard and smooth for his blunt teeth TO hold on
He then rcsortcd 10 his tail, and the way he
slashcd his garship was caution and fairly made
the lake boil Tho contest became more aud more
exciting---thc darkcys dropped their fishing-rod5
and looked on in wrapped wonder fs
Looky dar Sambo fore God all dc fish and
gar and alligator arc dar barring witness TO dis aw.
ful hght'--and sure enough the surface for awidc
space around was covered with every species of
fish and \ number OF nlligators, all seemingly at
tracted by the noise made by the combatants and
spcllbound In contemplating the conflict Sudden
ly the bcllgerents plunged beneath the surface,
and within few moments the late scene Of strife
was hnshed and quiet--they and the vast coucoursc
Of the hnny tribe having sunk from observation,
and night rapidly closed over the dreadful strife.
Early next morning party OF gentlemen, &C.
companicd by the negroes, visited the lake to a..
certain the result Of the battle. Mr. Gar was no
where TO be found, but after little dragging with
hooks, the alligator was brought up from the bot
tom, Hdesd as mackereln--his throat completely
cut, and the fore foct terribly "chawcd.r These
facts are vouched for BY some Of the most respect
able gentlemen in Clarke. Those who have scen
the aligstorgar can readily understand how, with
liz long jaws and sharp teeth, II could cut the
throat Of an alligator, and with other pecnliarties
make tia very ugly customer for the most powerful
alligator.