The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1877-06-15

oammed In. Then long rainy season fol-
lowed. The Jupiter, North, Allokehatchie
and Lake Worth rivers, which empty into
the Indian river within mile of the inlet
poured out volumes of fresh water, but the
ocean had done its work well, and the dam
remained intact. The fresh water passed
through Hope sound and forced it's way to
the sea through Indian river inlet, fifty miles
north of Jupiter.
The salt water at Jupiter became fresh.
All the oysters died. Trillons of liddlers
and hermit crabs gave up the ghost. The
mangrove trees turned II sickly yellow, and
the thousands Of lirsects that draw their
nourlshment from saline disappeared
Schools of black bass left the fresh streams,
and appeared at Jupiter. Solid acres of
fresh water fishes piled themselves into the
blight of the inlet, and fought for the sea
water that oozed through tho sand at high
tide The alligators of the Everglades got
wind of what was going on They came
down the Allokehatchie and Lake Worth
creek in scores, and attacked the fish dam
med in the blight. The slaughter was aston
ishing.
The water turned to,blood, and was car
petedwhs aesttfsh. The alligators were
fe;Snferced until their number was etsimia-
sseiaf i've hpndEsd; They gorged them
selves with hsh, ana d5zsd Way their days
on the hot sand beneath the scorching rays
OF the sun. The beach was black with their
mailed bodies. At night their muttercd
shdnder fairly shook the foundations of the
lighthouse.
One day north wind arose. 1t gathered
in strength day by day until its fury was
that of gale. 1t began to back up the
waters in the inlet Rain fell, and the
waters increased in depth. The wind shif
tod to the northwest. A high neap tide
followed. AS it began to fall, thread of
fresh water found its way over the sandy
barrier. Within twenty minutes the dam
was burst, and thepent up waters were roar
inS aud rushing into the sea. The army:
."siis-.-.s wac nnnGht in the ssr 5.
ried outside. A terrific fight te1sded. TIC
neap tide had brought hundreds of enor-
nous sharks to the coast. They scented the
fresh water and made for the inlet. Fran
tic after their enforced fasting during the
storm, they attacked the alligators. The
noise of the combat was heard above the
rear of the ocean A son of Judge Paine,
of Fort Capron, who was an eye witness of
the scene, tells mo that he saw sharks and
alligators rise on the crest of the waves and
fight like dogs.
Many of the killed foated belly upward,
and were afterward rocked ashore by the
waves. For days their bodies drifted to tho
beach. The dead alligators had lost their
legs and tails The sharks in some cases
|Esfs dearly bitten into two pieces. The
current Of the gulf stream strewed the shore
as far north as Cape Malabar with their car
casses. Clouds of .buzzards, and even the
| Bahama vultures were drawn to the beach
by the offal. Mr.. Paine fancies that the
fsharks we're too active for the alligators, but
others say that the percentage Of bodies on
lfke beach indicated that the weight of meta
was in favor Of the irou-clad reptiles
IL C-s' ~
| A GUILTLEss MAN CoNDEMNED.-In
the year 1869 FIVE men entered the residence
of clergyman named Schroeder at Wall
| villig, in the Duchy of Luxemburg, murder
ed the servant, and left the clergyman him
self for dead The latter, however, recov
cred, and declared that among the number
of his assailants he recognized young ma,
named Gillen Five men, including Gillen
! were put on trial, and all denied the crime
Gillen, even succeeded in proving that o
nine P. NJ, shortly before the commission 9
the crime, he was in his bed. However
notwithstan4a 4apg& this aud the efforts of
very ,distinf Ned counsel the case went S
strongly a. ~ him that he was condemue
Ito death, and even his father admitted tina
the evidskcs proved him guilty. The ser
tence pass65lson the five convicts was subs'
: queptly commuted to penal servitude fo
: life. and from the time he entered priso
<x.si ~ n a. "a