Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-02-19
Ga}&tt&*
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1877.


1
The visitors to the New York Aquarium yes.
tcrday afternoon witncsseda novel and extraor.
| dnary combat between several immense Florida
| alligators. The huge reptiles only arrived in
town yesterday morning, having been packed
| in big boxes. They were placed in the great
tank where the white whale was wont to dis
port, the water haviog been first drawn off,
Two OF the aigators are fourteen and a half
feet long, five are over nine feet and the other
! five range from six to seven feet The whole
dozen were remarkable group, aud, though
chilled and stiff with the cold, they we're evi.
dently troublesome customers to handle.
While Mr.. Coup and Mr. Reiche, the pro.
prietors, we're consulting on the best method
of warming sufficient quantity of water to
food the tank, the aligators roused up and be-
gan to make things very lively inside Of the
glass enclosure.
One OF the employees went in to decide
whether one Of the largest reptiles was alive,
be being so helpless when first placed In the
tauk that it was feared death had ensued. The
question had to bc decided before the flow of
warmed water was started. MIR. Blshon quietly
descended the ladder aud waking to the cen
lrc Ul inc tauh SC!acu lHC Wy dihSalol Wy tHC
tall Scarcely had be done SO when a most ex-
citiOe M sceue epsucd. Tie dormant reptile at
once raised his ugly hesd, and opening his
mouth suarIcd like au inturiatcd bulldog. The
sound had wonderful effect on the whole
group aud then eosued the battle. Mr.. Coup,
seeing tha, one of the cight.toot alIigators was
about to seize MIR. BshoD's foot, called out to
him and ordered him to leaye the tank. lie
complied rather unwll!lngiy, for 1t was evident
that trouble was ahead. The alligator who
had been deemed dead became very lively aud
lashcd his tail in vengeili mood Happening
10 strike Que Of the nlDc. foot gentlemen the
latter was cnraged, aud swinging rouDd ike
lightning aud with fierce snar he s0ug lit Issue
with his older antagonist. Both OF the reptiles
closed their Jaws inIcrarpiug, and the strug-
Gle that cusucd was Il fearful one. Two OF the
smaller ones followed sui aud began lighting
on their own hook. Bioon ipwed trom the
Jaws Of The TWO larger oDrs, aud general COM
motion was observable amons the whole lot.
The visitors gathered rrund the tank and
viewed the battle wlth deep Interest. AL four
OF the cyulDatanls were cVlicutly warmed up
10 their work, aod their cont"rlons were fright
ful. Einaliy prot. Butler decided 10 havea stream
of cold CrotOn wafer thrown on The hghtlDg
aIIigators. This acted kc charm, for he sudden
dash of ice cold water was evidently dlstaste-
flu! to the bru,es, as their jaws relaxed and they
separated. But 1t was only l'r moment, lor
scarcely had the hose bcen taken down before
the largest pair began fighting again. This
time, water had no effect, aud as one OF the al
ligators had seized lis Antagonist by the lore
foot aud vas slowly tearing II OH more despe-
rate measures were deemed necessary Ir:
Bishon accordingly rc.enter'd the tank armed
with long iron crowOar.
Cautiously pushing aside two or three OF inc
smaller ones h9 made his way to the cen esat1o 100, OF
the enclosure aod, by main lorte' pred open
the mousler JAWS. mus releasing .no "4uuuou ;Is