Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1866-09-08
An Alligator Story,

A friend sends the following good ALI
gator story for incorporation among our
Facts and fancies:
had occasion, short time ago. to
visit st. tames and Livingston parishes,
Louisiana, for the purpose of acquiring
knowledge Of the country, preparatory
to engaging i'll business in that locality.
To obtain the necessary information l
was compelled, in the al snce of any 9TH
er means of travel, to make my mvesti-
cations IN dug out. Our party, CON
slsting oftwo friends and myself, all from
the city, occupied one boat, while our
guides, three in number, natives and to
the mauor born, occupied second. In
making our observations, coming down
Bayou Chene Blanc, we amused ourselves
byesshooting alligators, in which the coun-
try abounds. Quite anamusing, although
not Il pleasant incident, occurred in connec-
ton with this sport, in which my friends
and myself were more particularly inter
ested. After having killed, as we sup
posed, young alligator, some six feet
long, we concluded to place him in ouf.
dug out, when we started again on our
journey Of exploration, congratuIatino
ourselves on the peaceful mannerin which
we had secured our prize. We had not
proceeded more than half mile, W hen
was startled by horrible scream from
my friend, who sat in the stern of the
boat. sprung to nay feet in an instant,
and to my horror there was the alligator
whom we had all supposed dead, in the
tull Vigor of life, with jaws distended.
moving cautiously lii straight line for
my pedel extremities.
1t was no time for ceremony. Jroised
my paddle and dealt him such vigorous
blows as caused him to turn in the dirac-)
ton OF my friend who so uueeremosious-
ly awoke me to my first sense of danger.
lou can readily picture the feelinps of
our little party in this predicament. To
avoid the attack my friend performed the
dexterous feat of running on the gunwale
to the other extreme of the boat with
out causing it to upset. But ours was
still no pleasant prospect as the animal
was more than match for our combined
party as 1t was, and in the water our
chances would have been slim indeed -,
Oar common enemy held ,ndisputedi
possession OF the greater part Ofthe boat.
Mlllch we mad e.c HeeeSs5tette relinquished
MN. VI course, We were more willing
TO make terms ''ali we asked was to be
let alone" but tl;@ rascal haflus eornered
and he turued upon US. Wemade a vig-
ofoAs aud determined fight, in which1
broke my oar over his head, after Whichmy
friends held, the animal at BAY, by di-
rectiEg their oars at arms length in the
direction of the extended jaws. The sit
uatlon was peculiarly unpleasant. had
a talnt recollection Of wishing at one time
that was IN Halifax but II was ofno
use there we were ina dug cut in the Ba-
you Chene Blanc, alligator and all would
that 1t We're not so!
The crisis arrived. The animal was
evidently bent ON renewing the attack
and forcing us ignominously from the boat
into the water! The mere idea of BEING
immersed in that sluggish stream to keen
company with the numerous reptiles that
abound IN that vicinity, was horrible to
contemplate. iia @ i7es
My friends, with keen sense Of the
danger TO which we were exposed, called
Justify for help; fortunately for us, our
companions, who were but short dis
tance off, discovered our uncomfortable
situation, and rushed TO our assistance. e
With dexterity unsurpassed, they nloy-
ed their "dug out cautiously tothat part
of our boat in which the alligator held
undisputed sway. The planiDf operations
was decided upon in an instant = Our re- 4
inforcements resolved to take the enemy y
in the rear, while we engaeed his, attelI- I,
tion in front, and more quickly than I can
write 1t, the animal was. seized by the I,
tail, and with one pow3faf effort whirled
into the bayou, from Which he had been
so innocently removed into our sdue out.p
Thus ended the episode in our days ad-
venture. When next am alligator is lifted
into "dug out" hope shall not bo
there with him-Ne,o O,lea,.s Cresco.f. :
Adyices from yalpara;so state tbat