Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1880-07-22
ADVENTURES IN FLORIDA

Days and Nights Among the Alliga-
tors of the Flowery d---Find-
ing a Saurian Asleep-~-Holding a
Post -Mortem---Judge Emmshs
Escapade on Lake Jess1ip n En-
campment of Buzzagd1sF
| first went to Florida in, the
winter of 1913 Tak q allapfl-
grims in searcts6 of health, / sail
ed up the ST. Johns River At
ter beholding a palmetto in all
its glory, / was eager to see an
alligatorin Tits. pristine puri-
lty. For two hundred and thir-
ty miles | kept a bright lookout
along the banks of the St. j Johns.
1t was early in January and the
weather was chilly, / landed
/ iii Entelpriso, on Lake Monroe,
IWithopt seeing a saurian. They
were in winter quarters, hidden
in the mud at the bottom Of the
river. IF the negroes are to be
believed, each reptile had swal-
lowed a lightwood knot by way
of ballast, and would not reap
pear until the weather became
warm. / saw the first alligator
a week after my arrival in En-
terprise. | sat in the stern of
a blue boat trolling for Southern
bass. July Jenkins, venera-
Bile Ethiopian, was pulling the
oars. 1t was a day of sunshine.
We were nearing the mouth of
w oodruff Creek whenJnly stop
ped rowing and eagerly MUIR
INJURED: "Dah's a gatah!"
I looked up a small bayou,
and saw a long, black object
stretched among the reeds and
lilypads, perfectly motionleSs.
He looked as though he wore a
coat of mail. Giles dead, Ju-
ly," 1 said. IA q.
"Oh, no, sah," was the reply.
"He'm only asleep, | reckon" I"
"Back up the boat" / said,
"I want to look at him" I" a
The boat was noiselessly
backed up the bayou. The
monster gave no sign Of life.
He was fully eleven feett long.
1 had taken in my spinner, and
was handling my rod like a
horsewhip. "i'Fore de Lord,
don't be brash,' y July murmur-
ed, "dah's heap O. compre-
junction in a gatah." l could
not believe that the reptile was
alive. If he were breathing his
flanks ought to showi he motion
of a bellows. When within six
feet | prodded him under a fore
leg with the lancewood tip.
All doubt vanished. The, rep
tile jumped as though a torpedo
had exploded beneath him. He
took in the situation in a second.
Reeds and lily-pads flew in the
air, and he landed slap against
the gunwales, throwing me part
Ily overheard and covering the
frightened negro with mud. The
water was shallow, and las the
monster slid under the keel the
boat was careened, the freed
mans hat went overheard, and
an oar was thrown ten feet away
by wipe of the serrated tail
l clambered back intothe boat
and saw a curved line of bubbles
) marking the reptiles course
from the bayou into the lake.
r had seen an alligator in all its
pristine purity. 81 knowed dat
!, gatah war asleep, sab Y said u.
ly in a tone Of reproach, as he
fished up his hat and broke fol
e the stray oar. We resumed ouI
r fishing, but the old gentlemal
/ pointed out no more alligators
although he undoubtedly saw
a half a dozen. On our return
to Enterprise, Captain Ton
Reeves heard of the adventure
and made inquiries as TO the 10
I cation and position. A weel
! aiterward he was pulled up t
s the dock, with The cayman trail
ling at the. stern. of his boat. a
c Within a fortnight was troll
! ling alonga fringe Of. .lilypads
i near The mouth of the Wekiva
d and saw a six-footcr plastere(
c against the opposite bankof TIL
d river in profound slumber
d Showing a cartridge into a Rem
! ington rifle l got out of tn,
II boat, braced myself against
s live oak, took deliberate aim a
the reptiles neck and fired. z
d cloud of snowy herons aros'
d d from marsh behind, me, bu
the alligator didnot stir. 'Da
r alb gatah's a good sleepah, sah,'
SAID July. 'Dat ali shot don
IS gone clean ober him, / reckon.
:. AgainI stcadied MYSELF sgains
J. the live oak, and second repor
es rang over the water. l heard
: a crashing in the canes benin,
Is me, and saw a huge sanriar
rushing for the lilypads like
train of coal-cars.. lie ba
probably been Watching m
from the time ] landed, and ha