The weekly Shasta courier., 1873-02-08
An Alligator Hunt.

An Alligator Hunt.
1t was bright, pleasant day in the spring
OF 1917, that party of ladies' and gentle
men were assembled on the veranda of the
cheerful hotel at Green Cove Springs, a
beautiful resort on the st. Johns River.
Florida, looking out upon the sparkling sur
face OF the water, and chatting with that
exuberance of spirits, which everybody seems
to lnhale with the balmy air of the :" land
of flowers"
This company was composed of MANY
different elements but as they were brought
together by the same motive, rest and re
cuperation, you could hardly discover that
they were not OF equally happy dispositions.
The invalid was happy. because he knew it
was necessary to a renewal of his health !;
the pleasure-seeker was happy, for he had
nothing to make him otherwise.
There were twelve Of us; an equal num-
Der OF ladies and gentleman, yonng and old
While we were thus lounging and chat
ting, Mr.. b., the eldest of the group, though
the youngest in vivacity, stepped forward
and said :" don't know as my proposition
will suit; but ! was reminded by the heat of
the sun, on the east side of the piazza, that
this is just the day to slay allgators. That
Indian River hunter, who was here yes
terday, said that the time to hunt gators,
was on right smart hot day, along any of
the creeks in Florida and learned from
him that the little steamer we see moored
on the other side of the wharf there, can be
chartered for shooting excursions up the
creeks in this vicinity Now | vote that
we secure her for to-day take our present
number, which is as good a company as we
can get together, and go for sail and a
shot at the reptiles. The ladies'. am sure,
would be well entertained the scenery up
those creeks is exquisite; there is not the
least danger sailing such day as this, and
even the most disposed to sea-sickness could
not possibly get up a sick on such calm wa
ter. And. ladies'" he continued, when
you behold the natural beauties of the place,
you will be amply repaid for any timidity
you may experience, embarking on the little
craft. There's the mouth of the creek over
yonder, right between those two large pal
mettos, that we see directly across the river.
Now is the accepted time; everything
propitious; just the day for alligators what
say you, shall we go?''
"Oh yes, that will be gorgeous! Let's
60 alligator shooting said the sprightly
Miss $, as she rose from her seat with a
jump. ...-e-s-. ..
None for me, | thank you," remarked
the mother OF the young lady. II shall not
risk what's left of Inc Mrs. S. was not
corpulent-"i in an egg-shell like that, among
a whole family OF those 'horrid creatures. /"
Some approved, others disapproved the
project; but goodly number were for 60
ing, and accordingly we began making prep
arations. The gentlemen hurried for their
guns, the ladies for their broad -brimmed
hats and lunch baskets, while Mr.. B. and
myself engaged the services of the captain
of the little steamer. Through our eager
ness for the little fray," we were verv ex-
peditious, and it was hardly an hour before
we were embarked on the Curew," and
casting of. The Curlew was a cosy little
boat about so feet in length, and drew two
feet of water. She had but two rooms, a
cabin and an engine room, the wheel being
entirely unhoused. She was a propeller,
and could make about six miles an hour.
The deck was quite low. She seemed pc
culiarly adapted for hunting. The Cap"
a genial native, and two stalwart darkeys I"
composed the crew. -
After a delightful sail Of an hour, over
the rippling waters of that beautiful river,
we arrived at the mouth off, Gator Creek
The inevitable, "Oh how lovely " came
from the ladies as we plowed through the
tall reeds at the entrance, and came sudden
ly on view of fairy-like grandeur. A calm
stretch Of water environed by tall oaks, that
" bearded with moss. and in garments gray,
overhung and were mirrored in the CLASSY
surface, and studded with the peepng heads
of" bonnets," among which, basking in the
sun, 6oated several Of the objects of our Wis
it; their dark heads presenting the appear
ance of water-soaked logs. Our enchant-
ment was broken by the sharp crack of a
rifle, loud splash, and the quiet remark of
the Cap. in his native dialect: /" reckon
he's done fur" We were quickly awakened
to a realization of what we were there for,
and were now on the alert with cooked guns
and straining eyes, to "let drive at any
thing that looked like an alligator.
Jake said the {" Cap" to one of his
men, " cast off the punt and fetch the crit
ter aboard, thet is, ef the ladies and gents
would like to see him.
es. was the unanimous response !;
"bring him on board we want to take all
we shoot back to the hotel, and make a
show"
Jake accordingly launched the skiff and
pushed off in the direction of the troubled
water, which had been lashed into foam
by the reptiles muscular tail, taking with
him long sharp boat-hook and a piece of
stout rope. When he arrived at that place
where he supposed the "varmint " to have
sunk, he commenced feeling about on the
bottom on the creek. After a few moments
sounding. he indicated by his manuevers
that he had found him. The pole was
raised and plunged into the water, muscu-
lar effort of the strong back of the negro a
hand over hand movement on the pole. and
a black mass appeared above the surface
The dai key then bent over the gunwale, ar
fixed a moose around the the body, and ty-
ing it to the stern of the boat towed it to
the steamer. We were watching and wait