The New York herald., 1877-02-17
AN ALLIGATOR BATTLE.

CARRYING THE FLORIDA ELECTION CONTEST
srYARNs AIrIGAroR-THE MOUTH OF
HAYES ALLIGATOR PRIED oPEN-How THE
r1LpEN ALLIGATOR WITH DREW.
Tho visitors to the Now York Aquarium yesterday
afternoon witnessed novel and extraordinary combat
between several immense Florida algators. The
huge reptiles only arrived in yesterday morning,
having been packed In big boxes. They were placed
in tho great tank where the white whale was wont to
d,sport the water having been hrst drawn or Two of
tho ncaors are fourteen and half feet long, FIVE
over nine feet and the other i've range from six TO
seven feet The whole dozen remarkable
proup. and. though chilled and stiG with tho cold,
they were evidently troublesome customers to handle
While Mr.. Coup and MIR. Reiche, tho proprietors,
were consulting on the best method of warming
sufficient quantity CT water to flood the tank, the
agators reused up and began to mako things very
lively inside OF the glass enclosure.
NOT ALL DEAD.
Ono OF the employees went in to decide whether
one Of the largest reptiles was alive, no being SO
helpless when first placed IN the tank that
n was feared death had ensued The qnes
t,on had to be decided before tho flow OF warmed
water was started Mr.. Bshon quietly descended the
ladder and walking to the centre OF tho tank seized the
big alligator by the tail Scarcely had he done so than
n most exciting scene ensued, The dormant reptile
at once raised his ugly head, and opening his
mouth snarcd like an iniuria'ed bulldog
the whole group and then ensucd the battle Nr Coup
seeing that OF the eiphtioot aligators was about
to selzo Mr. Bishons foot, called out TO him and
ordered him TO leave the tank. He complied
rather unwiIngly lor ,sso. WAS evident 'ha; nat
been deemed dead became very lively and
Jashcd his tau In We engcul mood. Happening strike
one OF the gen lemen tho latter was enragcd,
and swinging round like ightniDg and with herce
snar he sought issue with his Older antagonist Both
OF tie reptiles closed, their Jaws ntcr!appIng and the
struggle that ensued was fearful one. Two OF the
smaller followed SUIT and began h2hting on their
own hook. Blood flowed IRON the jaws OF the TWO
larger ones, and general commoton was oDservaple
among the whole lot
COLD WATER oUo wARaASTo.
The visitors gathered round the tank and viewed the
battle with deep interest All four OF the combatants
were evidently warmed up TO their work, and their
contortlons frightul. Finally Professor Butler
decided have stream Of cold Croton water thrown
the lighting alligators. This acted like charm,
for the sudden dash OF ice cold water was evil
IDENTIFY distasteiu TO the brutes as their jaws re-
laxed and they separated But II was only Tor q
moment, for scarcely bad the hose been taken down
before the largest pair began lighting again THIS time
water had no effect and ono o the alleators mad
seized antagonist by the fore foot and was slowly
tearing " oil more desperate measures were deemed
necessary Mr. Bisnon accordingly re entered the
iank, armed Nth long iron crowbar.
ELEcTURAL COMMISSION cKowBAR.
Cautiously pushing aside two or three OF the smaller
he made his way TO the centre o The enclosure
ana, by main force, prcd open the monsters jaws,
swing himself clear o danger. IL is expected that
two three days must elapso before these sauran
monsters Will be- accustomed TO one another and a
strict watch has to be kept the group TO prevent
largest in captivity, and form an important feature
among the many wonders OF tho Aquarium.