The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1870-11-30
Ye Alligator.

Noticing paragraph going the rounds OF tie pa
pers, conveying the curious story that planter near
Midway, South Carolina has cultivated his entire farm
this year-so far least blowing is concerned, for
We do not suppose he success as hoe band
with an alligator, reminds US, as the late lamented
would say of an incident that occurred in the days of
aud. lang-syne.
Our readers may RpssibIy kindly remember that we
not many moons since. made mention of one Peter
MeLeisb the who got rather the best of DR. Ben
nett, touching the yield of per the land
across the river from this place.
CHANGING, upon time to be sauntering down
Canal street, New Orleans, we stumbled upon Peter.
who after the usual Situations informed that he
had come down from Shreveport on business; had
been in the city but a couple of days; had the day
before met with Valentine, Mexican, who down
with large alligator for exhibition which he had cap
tured with lariat while summing himself the river
bank just above Shreveport; that the pecunary ven
ture threatening to prove failure he had taken the
matter in hand and formed commercial eopartner
ship between the alligator and South American mare
and Mexican dog, neither Of which had any hair on
the places where hair ought to grow, and had adver
tised the combined show in flaming posters. He was
then on his way the small canvas eoneealing these
wonders from the vulgar gaze, to witness the result,
and asked us to accompany him. We went. The
crowd within the tent distressngly small Peters
feelings became wrought up to the highest state of
sympathy and excitement Says he to us, says he,
something mast be done. No sooner said than done.
Taking position the box containing the alligator,
and raising his bat from his head and waving
full and ri, u 10
entered upon brief and feeling biographical sketch
of the subject beneath him
"Ths alligator, ladies and gentlemen the ladies
entirely in the speakers Imagination" will be
hundred years old next birth day. He was captured
in early infancy by the chief of the Caddo tribe of In
dams and brought up Of the family. He was
for many years utilized by the chief bounteousy sup
plying his table with fish, waterfowl and sch Time
wore on. The Red man was driven before the rapidly
advancing tide of civilization westward no, into the
boundess praries of Texas Praries, ladies and gen.
slemen not good for algators for though carni-
yerous, omnverous herbiverous and dogiverous they
are principally aquatic The chief forced to leave
his caterer, his almost child behind, shedding many
tears not crocodile tears, ladies and gentlemen the
separation. After many vicssitudes of fortune, the
animal which you baskng before you in this
ere long box came into the possession of man who
owned ferry boat plying the vast expanse of fresh
water stretching far TO the northward of Shreveport
He also utilized him, but in more in keeping
with the advanced state of civilization He attached
him by lariat to the ferry boat sixty feet long if it
was an inch which vessel he easily towed from shore
to Shore distance of eight miles, conveying passen-
gers at the rate of dollar per head He followed
the useful and ornamental career of ferryman for FIVE
and twenty years. when his died interstate, is
usually the case in Louisiana. At the succession sale
he fell into the hands of my intellectual Mexican
friend there before you, plainly visible with the naked
eve, who from philanthropc desire, ladies and gen.
tlenen to improve your knowledge of natural history
has brought him here to your beautiful city and now
exhibits him to the gaze of admirng world for the
pitiful sum of two bits head-children and servants
half price, ministers of the gospel and professors
and students Of scientific institutions free.n
1t is scarcely necessary to add that the combined
show had successful run of mig to ninety days
and ninety nights, owing mainly to the alligator.