Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1855-01-25

CoMBAT BETWEEN AN ALLIGATOR AND 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 sincs the first settlement of tho
country. Ii is fed by two creeks emptyiRg into
it, equally pellucid, and at all times it presents
a scene of loveiness that poet or painter would
dwell on with rapture. In length it is about
mile and half, hemmed in on one side by high
and gracefully y-curvng banks, and on the other
fringed by the dropping foliage of over-hanging
trees. Upon the whole, it is a most beautiful
and picturesque sheet of water, small As it is,
and in espring and summer is place Of great
resort from miles around for fshing-perch, cat,
trout and other fresh water fish existing there
in great abundance tits, too, q favorite haunt
Of alligators Many has been the /" fish fry
there, whole families frequently going to make
a pleasant day of it.
On one occasion two or three negroes were
quietly angling there, relishihg the sport as
keenly as old Izaak Walton could have done had
he been present, when all of q sudden, great
commotion was observed in the middle of the
lake. Upon closer observation it was observed
that an alligator and gar, both Of large size,
were engaged in deadly conflict At times they
ross to the surface and by their fearful strife
produced great noise and violently agitated the
surface of the lake Then the combntants would
suddenly sink, and for n moment all was tran
quill But this was only for u brief space for
they would again rise, the gar fast hold of the
fore leg Of his adversary, chewing and d" mOm-
!, licking equal to the feat of real biting and
gouging bully. The alligator tried the came
smooth for his blunt teeth to hold on.
IIo then resorted to his tail, and the way he
alashed his garship was u caution and fairly
y made the lake boil The contest became nor
. and more exciting the darkies dropped the
fishing rods and looked on in wrapped wonder
= Looky dar, Sambo, fore God all Go fish an(
y gar and alligator arc dar barring witness to di
awful fight and sure enough the surface fol
a wide space around was covered with every
species Of fish and number of alligators, al
seemingly attracted by the noise made by the
combatants and spell-bound in contemplating
y the conflict. Suddency the oeiligererents plung.
ed beneath the surface, and within few mo-
. ments the late scene was hushed and quiet
" they and the vast concourse of the fnny tribe
Il having sunk from observation, and night rapid
- ly closed over the dreadful STRIFE
Early the next morning party Of gentlemen,
accompanied by the negroes visited the lake to
y ascertain the result of the battle Mr. Gar was
= nowhere to be found hut after little dragging
the alligator was brought up from the bottom
'' dead as a mackerel his throat completely
cut. and the fore feet terribly chawed. -
These facts are vouched for by some of the mos
o respectable gentlemen in Clarke Those who
! ! have seen the alligator-gar can readily under
stand how, with its long jaws and sharp teeth
it could cut the throat of an alligator, and with
ether peculiarites make very ugly customer
2 for the most powerful alligator.-MOb'le Trib
unc.