Kenosha tribune and telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1855-1855, 1855-03-08
Con3at Between al Alligator aid a
..s5 5a rse Gar,

-aa .fI t#ees - H.i"f Oaf. a
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. 1t is fed by
two creeks emptying into it, equally pelu-
cid, and at all timas it presents a scene of
lovllness that poet-or IA painter would
dwell upon with rapture. In length it is
about mile and half, hemmed in on one
sile by high AMI gracefully curvns banks
and on the other friuged by the dropping
foliage of overhanging trees. Upon the
whole, it is a most beautiful and picturesque
sheet Of water, small as it is, and, in the
spring and summer, is a great resort from
miles around for fishing perch, trout, cat,
and other fresh water fish, existing there
in great abundance. 1t is, too, a iavorite
haunt of alligators. Many has been the
"fsh fry there whole families frequently
going to make pleasant day of it..
On one occasion two or three negroes
were quietly angling there, relishing the
sport as keenly as old Izaak Walton could
have done had he been present, when all
OF sudden, great commosion Was 0U-
served 10 the mi-dlo Of the lake. Upon
close observation, it was observed that an
alllgatorand a gar, both OF large size, were
engaged in deadly conflict. AT times they
would rise to the surface and BY their fear
full strife produce a great noise and violent
ly agitate large portion Of the surface of
the lake then the combatants would sud
denly sink, and for moment all was tran
gull. But this was only for brief space;
for they would again rise, the gar fast hold
of the foreleg of his adversary, chewing and
momcking equal to the feat Of a real eoup
ing 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 resorted to his tail, aul the wav
he slashed his garship was cau'ion and
fairly made the lake boil The contest be-
came more and more excitng-the darkeys
dropped their fishing rods and looked upon
the scene with wrapped won1cr.
Looky dar Sambo, fore God all the fish
and gar and alligator are dar barring wit
ness to dis awful fight. and sure enough
the surface for wide space arounl was
covered with every species of fish and
number of alhgators, all seemingly attract
ed by the noise m .de by the combatants
and spell-bound liz contemplating the con
hict.a Suddenly the beligerents plunged
beneath the surface. andwithin few mo-
ments thelate scene of strife was hushed
qaiet---they AMI the vast concourse of the
hnny tribe haying sunk from observation,
and night rapidly closed over the dreadful
strife. e.-t. I'D
Early next morning party ofgentlemen
accompanied by the negroes visited the
lake to ascertain the result of the battle
Nj Gar was nowhere to be found but
after little dragging with hooks, the al
lisator was brought up from the bottom,
dead as a mackerel'--his throat complete
lv cut, and the fore feet terribly chewed.
These facts are voached for by some Of the
most respectable gentlemen in Clarke
Those who have seen the alligator-gar can
readily understand how, with its long Jaws
and sharp teeth, it could cut the throat Of
an alligator, and with other pcculiarities
make il very ugly. customer fo-the most
powerful alligator.