Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1878-09-06

An OLD LoUIsIANIAS HUNTER TELLS WHAT HE
KNOWS ABOUT THEM.

| An OLD LoUIsIANIAS HUNTER TELLS WHAT HE
KNOWS ABOUT THEM.
A correspondent OF the St. Louis G'ot'-
| Democrat has come upon couple OF hunts
men down in Texas. one OF whom he found
exceedingly communicative upon the subject
of alligl.turs They were returning after
weeks spor, shooting prairie chickens in
the great plain Dor deripg on Bra2o' river.
| One of them was II native and long resident
of Louisiana, aid proceeded 10 give, IN de-
tail. what he knew about alligators i'll gen.
| eral, and his success III hunting them on
| this particular occasion. lie had no idea he
WAS talking to Il newspaper man. and gave
vent to his "cXpcrerce. During the hunt
from which the old Nlmrod NnS just return
ing. he and his companions came 10 plan
tatlon on the famous Oyster creek lands. the
place being cultivated 10y Col. Castlrtou. IN
Fort Bend county. Gu the farm Is - heauti-
ful lake. and in the lake the notorious allI-
untor has made his home from the earliest
recollections. While sitting uEder the shade
of some trees ON its b ,ults. the hunters dog
leaned into the lake and SWAIN To- the centre.
Here their presence frightened from their
summer snouZes school Of alhghtors--
Young old, male and female. Ihr Naurians,
with their long, saw-lke snouts above the
surface. beat the water with their serrlted
tails. and struck hec-hne for shore. The
hunters were immediatrly on the alert, and.
taxing stands awaited the approach.
Finally the Nimrods ''to.e loose ut them with
their shot-guns. aiming for the small pis like
ewes of the amphIhians that being the most
vulnerable part Of the alligator. They were
successful. One nftcr another WAS killed.
until five allisators were counted among the
trophies Generally when one was Int he
dived, but came up again, and Lay uoallnS
carcass ou the surface of the lake, his shlr-
inc belly clittcring like FURNISHED gold IN
the August sunlight One old bull was
harder dispatched than his brethren. lie
was II feet long. his back wr; ruuGh with
the rust OF several decades, and at the first
sh ot his upper jaw turned Upward ON ITS
hinges, displaying II regular r"N "i i"'nid-
able teeth This old alligator brought down
his upper Jaw on the lower with sudden
snap of rage beat the water with his tau INTO
IL white foam, and beloved with II sort oi
half roar He dived, but rose again. and,
after much flounderins. turned over on his
back, dead.
well, that's pretty good Tor lrNtS, ft-
marked the correspondent
"Oh, we'll, stranger, that's nothin to what
| have seed in Louisiana In the iuSt place
you think M alligator T. leet long might
big un, | reckon
Its about ns long as ever saw.
THAT'S only moderate sized one. l We
seed ON in Louisiana all OF ~ feet, and body
i'll proportion. That WAS IN inc uaH""N
near the SEA coast
That's very hrse. should Judge. How
ever. | know but little about your alliSHi"rs.
Il duz. You cant tell me nothlu bout
alligator. In Louisiana they hunts en- like
ANY other animal
:.What for? | don't see what they could
make out uf IT except the sport OF the
thing"
ii can tell YOU That's the lie. The nlli-
gator max, the best lie in the world. I've
known hnr' Is and barls made ont en-. Then
thars the hide. 1t makes iust nate boots
and shoes. only tnile lcnky prHps. lfa
man makes IL bllincss Of it. alligator huutin
will nav The huntin Is done III tins way
You get into II boat a small skin viii do
You take torch and II gun. The bright
light draws the gators, who flock around the
boat, and you kin jest set in shooim ct
en-.
..rhars one pecooharity about en-
guess You never dreamed "l
What that ?
"Thev carry in the mouth rcglar bag or
little bladder a musk Jest the same rs II rattle
snake carries bag ni poison behind hIS
fangs.'
I've heard they eat hEhtwood knots
when hard up Tor meal
i've never seen EN- do 1t, but have heard
they do when trav,ln' ON land in the pine
woods of Florida.
Whats their diet anyhow
They like fish, hut are death ON sch AMI
mails as fall in their way, sch rs hogs and
dogs. of which the gator IN very fond. When
nssaultin' their prey they generally Il" 1t
with their long tails, which are used To bring
the victim to thar mouths. Thar mouths
and tIl meets maxim circle OF thar
bodies.
They attack men sometimes
Seldom ever The alligator Is real
coward and always aieared of men. I've
swan towards en- many time IN the bay
Gus, and they always got out OF the way.