The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1874-09-10
EEow RAT whipped an alligator.
From the New Orleans Times

From the New Orleans Times
A wholesale drug store on Magazine
street IS the happy possessor OF a Young
and domesticated alligator. This little
crocodile mas become quite the pet and
plaything Of the establishment. He is
OF an amiable disposition, fond of music
and dinner, quite submissive. shed
ding tears and showing repentance
whenever it is found necessary to cor
| rect him.
1t was resolved by the clerks in the
establishment that, as the alligator had
reached his third birthday, and increas-
ed to three feet in length, to utilize him
to put him IN some other employ
ment than that of mere pet. AT first
it was thought he might be turned loose
to reduce the Republican vote of this
State, by picking up stray picaninnies,
tor whom he is commonly supposed to
have great love; but this was thoughq
chimerical and dangerous enterprise.
| and, therefore given up.
Ii was finally concluded to make use
OF Crociy, the alligator, as a cat. The
store teemed with rats and mice. who
made daily inroads on the Quinine and
lplcac, and it is well known that alliga-
tors have q special and inestimadle Ia
tired towards rats.
4 rat, to practice on, was caught the
other day and imprisoned in barrel of
calomel. There he had spent at least
q week on this meager, insufficient and
injurious diet; he was thin, weak, and
melancholy; his health was broken, his
constitution gone.
Rat and alligator were put together
III box, and a numerous audience
crowded around to get front place.
The two enemies soon awoke to an APP
precursor Of the case The rat safely
and snugly ensconces himself in cor
ner. The alligator hesitated 8 second,
scratched his head tmetaphoricalIy) and
having made up his mind as to the mode
OF attack, advanced slowly toward the
rat with wide open jaws. The rat tren-
bled, there was no escape. nothing but
the wide open mouth of the alligator be-
fore him. Without hesitation, like
gulf, and getting a good hold of the low
er lip of the alligator, swung himself to
the ground.
The ''Suraian" gave a squeak and
swung himself around, the rat finally
leItIHg 60, YlcbOI III the ufS5 TOuuU. Lne
alligator, however, was not daunted,
and advanced with the same tactics
The ra5 by this time, by q most agile
movement, leaped entirely over the ALI
gator. Getting behind him he now pro-
ceeded to chaw and gnaw away The
unwielGy animal could not get around
to protect his hind legs.
By a good use Of his tail the alligator
again got free, and advanced desperate
ly, though with tagging courage, at
the daring rodent. With equal success,
the rat sprang into the air and alighted
on the aligator's back. The fight was
over then. The alligator could not
shake his enemy off, could not dislodge
hiln; and finally gave up the light lay
ing himself down on his belly in sub
missive attitude.
The rat was set at liberty, and given
TIC ,,1l12 of FL tie 32,l ar3 2cGl1iiceii-.Ic;,
while the poor alligator was doomed to
disgrace and ridicale. His master no
longer feels proud Of his rough pet, and
offers to go in bathing among 1000 full
grown crocodiles. without the least
danger.