The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1881-05-05
SHARING AN ALLIGATOR.
"A CURIOUS AND EXCITING ADVENTURE IN
FLORIDA.

"A L ioilud COIISs pOutlSlll Tells III Il or
est and Stream" OF his adventure in snar-
ing an alligator. I'VE procured he
says, ''a strong seven -eighths manila
rope, forty feet long, a small halter chain
twisted hnks), eight feet long, and a
piece of well-dressed hickory.
''Ihe latter We cut to length of eight
inches, leaving the diameter one and a
half inches, and we sharpened each end.
"As the center we girded it with a
quarter inch groove, leaving the diameter
still one inch.
''The stick OF wood we securely fasten-
ed to the link.
'"To the other end of the chain europe
was fastened. Our snare now had the
appearance of a cap L 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 bit of
yarn.
Repairing to the reserve we selected
a spot, secured our rope to pine tree
growing near its edge, and then by the
aid OF 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 a
ive-foot strip of plank.
Everything completed, we retired to
await Developments. Early next morn
ing we were at the reserve, and there,
sure enough, We had gator fast, and
judging from the muddy condition of the
water, he was a whopper, and had been
there some time.
''The rope was moving through the
water in quite rapid manner, and. with
out unfastening it, we made a pull with
all ou- strength, but we might as well
have tried to lift an elephant by the tail
CATER much talk, it was suggested and
agreed to that we make use Of o small
wagon and a pair of mules belonging to
the party.
81 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 throw
ing plank across the holsters, I seated
myself and drove over to where the party
awaited me.
'fThe rope had been secured by slip
loop, without passing it around the tree,
so we had only to fasten the loose end to
the hita axle and drive away, and thus
slip the knot and make direct pull on
the gator. After securely 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 harness, and had re-
peatedly run away, endangering our lives
on more than one occasion; but 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 lasbing the water into foam
with lis tail, the noise he made resemb-
ling to some extent the beatings OF q
huge propeller.
"Ihe mules both looke4Sround; and
as they did so the monster gave a roar that
made The very earth trembIe. The team,
alligator and your humble servant start
ed for home.
"Ihe distance was about two miles,
and [ think if Rarus had seen us he
would have left the track with a broken
heart.
''The mules left the road-in fact,
made new one without the aid of sur
veyor-and that alligator bounded in the
air IS he never bounded before.
NOW and then he wohld rap against
tres, but he scarcely touched the
ground, and [ had serious fears for q
while that, in his anxiety to go ahead, he
| might put head on me; however, we
reached home at last, and the mules,
completely winded, stopped Of their own
accord.
"When we came to sum up, we found
all the run taken out of the mules, one
tire gone, three spokes in another wheel
brokeu-in fact, the wagon wreck.
MY suit OF clothes was torn to rags.
and ny person bruised, torn aud bleed
ing 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"
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