The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-02-26

Encounter with q Youthful
Alligator.
RESCUE OF A NEGRO.
Discovery Of Group of Islands Hitherto
Unknown.
THE STONE IDOL.

SINK o. PIynooKs, Fla, Feb H. 1877.
Tho stories OF Stanisand and Maynor made such an
impression upon me, despite their papabe exaggcra-
ton and possible invention that an indefinite antic!
patton had been formed of discovering in the
large hummock or island such as they had described.
was surprised therefore, when the "Jndgc, after
returning from the ''line" much utigued reported in
hopeful tone Dallas had, late in the day. after
climbing lofty cypress seen, not far in advance. a
tract OF pine and lveoak timber, elevated above the
surrounding country Our enthusiasm had been tagging
for tho past sixty hours, but this discovery revived 1t
into heat quite extraordinary as that which fired
the sailors OF Columbus when the cry Of "Land" was
heard from his masthead Tho evening session by the
camp fire was consumed conjecturcs and imaginngs
concerning the existence OF high and dry ground In
such a region, and the wonder was especially great
when 1t was remembered that the hunters of the woods
had never by chance the ardor of tho chase been
led In that direction, had stumbled upon possible
discoveries there awaiting the enterprise Of the
HERALD.
wArERY DEN OF REPTILES
Noon onnd US at the terminus OF the cline" which
we eager to extend. But tho reader must not
suppose that easy going there 1t is to walk
down Broadway the soppcst day OF the
thawing season. found that the 'Judge'' had pcne-
lrated a Tar region than that previously
piored. Tho tall, thick growth of Expresses cast
their feet--a gloom heavy. contagious, that it
seemed to fill the soul Of the adventurous explorer
pnd to warn him in inexplicablc way worthy to be
studied by the psychologists to dcs,s from the ruth
less curiosity which would lead him still turthor into
this sombre wild. 1t seemed vcritaby desert, for of
the vegetation there was nothing apparently
which could render subsistence TO living being.
chill pervadcd the atmosphere which crept INTO
marrow and the sothful breeze reminded one OF the
cold sepulchral air which SAID to accompany
ghosts when they walk on earth Certain 1t seemed
that Of tho higher species OF vcrtcbrates
haunted this strange solitudo not even warbler
there present to tighten the ponderous
silence with It's CHEEKY chrpings; but on looking
down into the tawny water in which feet and legs
were submerged startled and Mortified by
Hpparitions, TO which depressed and timd mag
nations gave the most loathsome and dreadful
aspects grecnish, slippery vegetable substance,
half slime and half moss, carpetcd the bottom OF the
lagoon, and against 1t were revealed the crawling
shapes OF huge moccasins, called because OF their
deadly luminosity to man ''watcr rattIcs They, how
ever have rattlcs and give no warning OF their
proximity. They pass through tho water with rapid
rush when they angered, coming down upon their
prey like
rABLED SEA SERPENT
which sailors yarns. AS we stood, doubtful
what do, these noxous things ceased to glide,
and their scaly folds seemed to tnicken around u.s.
Evidently had entered very den of tho Evil One,
perhaps the corridor Of hell, piared by the CHASTITY
emblems OF dcath--tho misty Expresses Luckily
there several little mounds banked up about the
bases OF large trees close to us, and on these ~e
sprang, and, hastily jumping from ono to tho other,
fed FROM the reptiles. Ii some time before
venturcd again into tho water, and not before
reached broad and rapid current We
made our way to 1t best could by
Jumping from mound to mound, or from
fallen to another To the main channel
Of the stream, however, 1t necessary again go
Into the water. We wadcd in cautiously, and tho
"Judge, " who in the van, insured safety by
feeling his ground he advanced with his faithful
s'Jacob's staff. -
WATER MONSTER.
In the middle the water was nearly as high ae our
chns and the current swept against us with alarming
strength. 1t was while nearing the shallow
margin that cspicd huge water reptile
moccasin, ploughing along tho surface of the water
with great rapdlty toward our little party Jake de-
raed him to be the largest Of the species that he
had SEEM The Judge" who was nearest the
danger. struck at him with desperate vgor with
his only weapon, the Jacobs s,airn The blow fell
short, and the monster paused in his course,
but rolled the nipples about him angriiy Ono of
tho then dashed the water with sappling which
nc bore in his hand but trcpidaton had unnamed
him that he could not reach the enemy. The snake
then stopped and lay the surface looking at u.s. with
his forked tongue darling mcnacingiy We could now
observe HIM. His size almost stupendous, and at
o short distance he might have been mistaken for
young alligator icvccd my gun and fine
shot through hts brain. Ill turned half wrig-
gled and twisted himself into all sorts OF knotty
shapes. lie had not disappeared when reached tho
Expresses, having passed very near him. With
forked pole slipped over his head and hc
was dragged into shallow water where the remaining
vitality in him was speedily despatched. He was as
large around as a womans arm and his form showed
its immense muscular development, quality which
makes this species terrible, since they swim so
rapidly and strike with the swftncss of thunderbolt
FERocIous ALLGAToEs
Our adventures we're not ended with this conquest.
Be II known that the algators Of this region
Ircmcy ferocious and fearless In their relations
with man. They have not yet had sufficient
intercourse with that monarch OF living
creatures to respect tho resources of his
over It is different along the streams frequcnted
by tourists There they mutely acknowledge tho
powers of gunpowdcr and lead and dive TO avoid OBJ
scfvaton Here their scIfrospcct is not yet enough
impaired to permit the sauran aristocracy to submit
TO foreign domination. And that too, pronercd by
that upstart genus Of the drir period called homms
Were not the alligators descended from those noble
creatures who adorned the earth in tho dim anterior
ages. tho plocenc, tho mioccnc and the coccneS
wby then. should man object to their choice OF him
ss an occasionn! morse for their delicate s.omachs2
The alligator of the morasses tcrocodus iuciu at
tocks man without hesitation, and when once be sue
cceds IN coming to close combat with him is nearly
certain of the victory.
ADVENTURE WITH YOUNG sAURrAS.
We were crossing stream after stream They seemed
close 10 another, and We became con-
WINGED for that reason that were nearing tho main
course Of the wacssa and that they were tho numer
Dus deta Of larger tributaries seeking an entrance to
The grand highway to the In one OF these 'runs