Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1881-03-25
Sharing an Alligator.

AoOlINoPOuuCuttr WIZ ituS uGCu Dbu-
ing in the Florida waters, tells in Forest
and Stream of his adventure in snaring
an alligator. We procured he says,
(" a strong seven-eighths MANILA rope,
forty feet long, a small halter chain
uwisted links), eight feet long, and a
piece of well seasoned hickory. The
latter we cut to length of eight inches,
leaving the diameter one and half
inches, and we sharpened each end. VAt
the center we girded it with o quarter
inch groove, leaving the diameter still
one inch. The stick of wood we Sc
curely fastened to the link. To the
other end of the chain our rope was
fastened Our snare now had the APP
pearance OF a cap 7 with the upright
stroke very much elongated. We now
procured ten-pound chunk of beef,
into which we securely fastened the
piece Of hickory, and then, bringing one
end of the stick parallel with the chain,
we fastened it there with a bit OF yarn.
Repairing to the reserve we selected
a spot, secured our rope to q pine tree
growing near its edge, and then by the
aid of "a canoe we carried the bait out
as far as the rope would permit. To
insure the floating of the bait near the
surface of the water, we laid the rope
across tive-fcot strip of plank. Ev-
erything completed, we retired to await
developments. Early next morning we
were at the reserve, and there, sure
enough. we had n gator fast, and judg-
ing from the muddy condition of the
water he was whopper, and had been
there some time. The rope was now
ing through the water in quite o rapid
manner, and without unfastening it we
made pull with all our strength, but
we might as well have tried to lift an
elephant by the tail. After much talk. it
was suggested and agreed to that we
make use of small wagon and a pair
of mules belonging to the party. l
went for the team, and in my haste did
not take time to put the body on the
wagon, it having been removed for
the purpose of hauling wood. Hastily
throwing plank across the
holsters. seated myself and
drove over to where the party awaited
me. The rope had been secured by
slip-low, without passing it around
the tree, so we had only to fasten the
loose end to the hind axle and drive
away. and thus slip the knot and make
direct pull on the gator. After Sc
curely fastening this rope to the axle.
seated myself on the plank, and gave
the mules the slack. The mules were
young, fiery and hardly broken to har-
ness. and had repeatedly run away, en-
dangering our lives on 'more than one
occasion; hut we had not thought of
this in our excitement. For moment
after starting the team,' there was
strain on the rope, and then out came
the huge monster, covered with mud,
and lashing the water into foam with
his tail, the noise he made resembling
to some extent the beatings of huge
propeller. The mules both looked
around; and as. they did so, the mon
ster gave a roar that made the very
earth tremble. The team, alligator and
your humble servant, started for home.
The distance was about two miles, and
l think if Rarus had seen us, che would
have left the track witha broken heart.
The mules left the road--in fact, made
q new one without the aid of survey
or-and that alligator bounded in the
air as he never bounded before. Now
and then, he would rap against tree,
but he scarcely touched the ground. and
1 had serious fears for awhile that, in
his anxiety to go ahead, he might put q
head on me; however, we reached home
at last, and the mules, completely wind
ed, stopped of their own accord. When
we came to sum up, we found all the
rum taken out of the mules. one tire
gone, three spokes in another wheel
broken-in fact, the wagon q wreck.
My suit OF clothes was torn to rags, and
my person bruised, torn and bleeding
by the terrible whipping of the trees
and bushes over which we had passed.
A 'fourteen-foot alligator with every
bone broken, was almost skinned by
his constant banging against the trees"