The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-03-19
y arIIcAroR Hrsr.-Messrs. w. s. Dana

and George Whittier on Saturday, March 9Th,
| killed. after hard battle, one of the largest
aleators ever seen on the St. Johns river,
Florida. When first discovered he was "suu-
| nngn on sunken log, some five miles up the
creek. Approaching him as near as was con-
sidered safe, Mr.: Whittier put a rifle-ball into
his side. Mr.. Dana followed with a well-aim-
| ed shot in the head. The "gator" at once,
with rush, furiously plunged into the river
in the direction of their boat, and his course
directly under it could be traced by the bub-
| bles OF air rising to the surface. A couple of
shot fastened his speed somewhat, along the
bottom. Nothing being seen Of him, the gen.
tlemen moved away, and in an hours time re-
turned to the scene of action Carefully pull
ing up to the bank, he was seen just visible in
shallow water. A volley from both rifles, fol-
lowed by couple of buck shot finished hlm.
What to do with the monster was no"
the question. A rope was attached 10 MS 'ore-
leg and after hard work he was towed across
the creek to sandy beach, and by aid OF tim
bers and rollers the gentlemen and their
guide rolled him out of water.
It was out of the question to attempt to get
him to the hotel many miles distant and Mr..
| Whittier, after an hours work, with small
| pocket knife, succeeded in cutting off his head,
which they brought in triumph to the hotel.
1t is estimated that this "King of Allgators"
weighed over ZOO pounds.
The gentlemen have packed the head in
| great cask, which by the way was a tight fit
for it, and have made arrangements to forward
| it to the "Natural History Society, where it
| 10 bx,o oifi in faxu DAVIS and
| will prove we'll worthy visit. The monster
was as large around his body as a COW, and his
teeth gave evidence of his great age. The fol-
lowing are some of the Dimensions taken by
| Mr. Dana, and they are accurate though nec-
| essarily incomplete: Whole length II feet
| inches; length of jaw 2 feet; length of head
| feet 10 inches; circumference, feet inches;
weight of head, 100 pounds; distance from
Jaw to Jaw when opened, foot, 10 inches; cir
conference of body, feet, 8 inches
Twenty-four alligators were seen on this ex-
cursion but none of the size Of the one killed.
MAsQUERADE.-Surelyt the masquerade has
established itself firmly in the Forest Clay, for
during the past winter hardly night has passed
| without witnessing one or more. And jolly
parties many of them have been, too, from our
own personal knowledge; for whatever stiffness
may attach itself to public bal naasque, there
| is no trouble of that kind in the private par
| ties. Then again the dresses have been appro-
| pirate and neat, and in many cases elegant
even when evidently of home manufacture.
One of the prettiest masquerade parties took
place last evening at the new Ward Room in
Ward 2, which is peculiarly adapted for social
gatherings. The room is just the right size,
nicely lighted by two pretty bronze chande-
liers, and the floor waxed smooth and slippery.
Highland lasses, Evening and Morning Star,
Flower Girls, White Lady, and many other
handsome and tasteful dresses were assumed
| by the ladies, the names of the characters they
represented being unknown to US; while Me-
| phlstophiles leered upon the assembled throug,
| and gay courtiers and martial uniforms min
gled in strange but pleasing confusion. Tie
music consisted of three pieces, which were
amply sufficient for the size of the apartment,
and the winged hours flew by, as waltz, contra,
cotillon ana polka followed each other in rapid
succession. We present our thanks to the lady
who so kindly sent us an invitation to be pres
emit, and can only regret that we were COM
PEELED to make our visit brief one.
PORTLAND TURNvEREIN = The Portland
Turnverein held their annual meeting last
evening at Turnverein Hall. The following
officers were elected for the ensuing year,
VIM. Ross, Jr., Speaker; Granville Batchel-
der, Leader; John G. Dennis. Treas; v. V.
Twitchell, Sec. John L. Shaw, Director;
Josephus Hudson, Armorer.
The progress which this institution has made
since its organization, eleven years ago, at
which time the half dozen converts to mus
cular Christianity assembled at Howes gall
lery to frame constitution and wonder where
to find proselytes to the new faith, was shown
last evening in the exhibit of membership and
means. From the meagre few who climbed
the long flights to the dingy hall on Exchange
street if the days of Stocpel, two hundred and
thirty six members now have the privilege of
rounding up their muscles in their spacious
rooms in Morton block.
The apparatus is of the newest aud rnI-
proved patterns, and from its use the Turn
verein boasts of not few accomplished gym
nasts.
We regret that the usual annual exhibition
was omitted the past winter. 1t was expected,
as much so as Christmas; but not feeling SO
proud of their skill as many professionals of
more pretensions and less display, the Turner's
are at present content with the worthily won
bays of the past. We shall expect another
season to witness more wonderful achieve
ments than ever.
THAT CASE ON MAYO STREET.-Mr. and
Mrs. Campbell are very worthy and esteemed
members of the Bethel church, of which am
pastor. Better acquainted, perhaps, than any
one else who is at the same time conversant
with the suffering poor, permit me word.
Mrs. Monroe, deceased, doubtless erred from
overfondness of her husband and admiration
OF his genius and prospects, and cheerfully
sacrificed for him. Her ideas of housekeeping
were low. Both her cupboard and her grocer's
bill, $11 81, contracted during the last five
weeks at Mr.. Soule s, testify to no want of food.
That silk dress and others are in possession
of that sister, and were at the time she put her
statement in the paper eliminating Mrs
Campbell Mrs. C.'s letter to Mr. Monroe,
echo hired the rent, was not to take that thing,
his wife, but the things, out of the house.
Mrs. G. did her duty as we'll, nnder the circnm
stances, as could be expected. She did not
extort the rent. Took 81 as business tran
saction Monday morning when deceased was
well; and also received $1.25 more from Mrs. |
M. with the request to buy one foot of wood at |
Mr.. Merrilps yard, which Mrs. G. did, and had |
some of ready dried to build Mrs M. s fire with
at night when she returned. Sudden excite |
ment and mistake exasperated state of feel |
ing which has done injustice to all parties. |
This is not a case of extreme restitution. Sys-
tematic use of soap and water would have
saved this painful waste of priLters' ink.
f. SoUTHwoRTH.
Mr.. WILLIAM H. BURNHAM has been ap-
pointed to succeed Mr.. William II. Kalor as
Janitor of Citv Ruildinp Mr. Rurnham filed