The Benton weekly record. [volume] (Benton, Mont.) 1880-1885, 1882-04-13
A MISSISSIPPI PELOTss STORY
Some Facts About Alligators a
They Were in the Good Old
Days.


The passengers, who was going down
the big river for the first time in his life,
secured permission to climb up beside the
pilot, grim old grayback, who had never
told a lie in his life.
Many alligators in the river?' inquired
the stranger, after looking around.
Not so many now, since they got to
shootin' 'em for their hides and taller, was
the reply.
Used to be lots, eh r
4 don't want to tell you about 'em
stranger, replied the pilot, signing heavily
'Why?'
Cause you'd think [ was a-lyn' to you.
and that's sumthi,' I never do. [ car
cheat at keerds, drink whiskey, or chaN
poor terbacker, but [ can't lie
Then there used to be lots Of 'em?' in,
quired the passenger.
Tim most afraid to tell ye, mister, but
I've counted 'leven hundred allygators t6
the mile from Vicksburg cl'ar down tc
New Orleans. That was years ago, afort
shot was ever fired at 'em.'
Well, [ don't doubt it, replied the
stranger. ..M .1
And I've counted 1850 Of ,em on one
sand bar continued the pilot. 1t looks
big to tell, but Government surveyor was
aboard and he checked 'en off as | calie,
OUT
4 haven't the least doubt Of it, said ths
passenger, us he ieaved a sigh.
| I'm glad of that, stranger. Some feller
would think am liar, when I'm telling
the solemn truth. This used to be para
disc for allygators, and they were so thicl
| that the wheels of the boat killed an aver
age of fort y-ilinc to a miIe!'
Is that so?' '.~sE-
True as Gospel, mister. used TO salmos
feel sorry for tile. cussed brutes, 'caust
they'd cry out e'en most like u human be
ing. We killed lots Of 'em, as [ said, ant
we hurt a pile more. | sailed with on'
Captain who allus carried a thousand bot
ties of liniment TO throw over the wound
ed ones 7
He did?'
'True as you live, he did. [ don't spec
Ill ever see another such a kind Christian
man. And the alIygat0rs got to know tn
| Nancy Jane, and TO know Capt. Tom, am
i apy II swim ont and rub their tails aStu
the boat an ptlrr like cats, an look up am
try to smile'
They would?'
I Solemn truth, stranger! And once Whei
we grounded on bar, with an oppositioi
/ boat right behind, the allggutoFs gathered
around, got under her stern, and jumped
her clear over the bar by grand push! |
looks like big story, but / never told = Ii
vet. and | never shall: [ wouldn't lie 70
all the money you could put aboard th
boat.
There was painful pause, and after !
while the pilot continued:
Our ingines gin out out once, and
|crowd Of allygators tooksa tow line AM
hauled us forty-fve miles up stream II
Vicksburg.'
They did?'
sAnd when the news got along the rive
that Capt. Tom was dead, every allgato
on the river daubed his left ear with mut
as a badge of mournin,' and lots of zen
pined and died, ... "@5.".
The passenger left the pilot house will
the, remark that he didn't doubt the state
ment, and the old man gave the wheel ;
turn, and replied:
,Thar's one thing won't do for love no
money, and that's make = liar Of myself
II was brung up#by i good mother, and LII
stick to the truth if this boat don't make
eent.'- Ttchsbarg Herald.