Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1882-06-01

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AlIigalors.
The alligators are mostly Of the red
eyed species, which are noted for their
size and ferocity, and when met on land
are not much disposed to turn out Of
their course for anything; SO that not
many people care to meet them in their
rambles. An immense fellow who lay
about two hundred yards from the shore
allowed us to paddle within one hundred
feet Of him, SO that I had fine view Of
his vicious eyes and general ugliness.
II was fully two feet from his nostriIs
to his eyes, and he must have been
nearly or quite twelve feet long. AS we
approached nearer he settled slowly out
Of sight, sinking SO easily as not to
cause ripple upon the almost CLASSY
surface of the water, as he disappeared.
tt seems that these strange creatures
are almost as much at home on land as
in the water and, contrary to my previous
understanding OF their habits, they are
frequently found mile from any body
Of water, especially at night, when they
wander about from one pond or lake to
another. They are very destructive of
stock, and are especially fond Of hogs,
and, as all stock runs at large in this
country, they catch great numbers Of
them. Calves and yearIings are also a
favorita diet of these monsters, and even
full-groWn COWS and steers are frequent
ly pulled into the lake by them and de-
voured. Whenever you see bob-tailed
COW in Florida, which is not infrequent-
ly the case near the numerous lakes and
ponds, it is safe to presume that she
has been wrestling with an alligator and
would. if she could, s'a tale unfold"
A gentleman living about two miles
from Lochloosa Lake told me that an
occasion he was driving lot Of cattle
across q stream that empties into it,
when all at once they began running and
believing. Running forward he saw an
alligator had seized fine yearling, not
by the tail but by the body, being 20
large that he had actually grasped the
yearling's body in his month, as pig
would an ear Of corn. And although he
could not, OF course. raise it from the
ground, he did by his weight and the
strength Of hiss huge jaws crush it to
the earth. The owner Of the cattle
tried to make the alligator let 60 his
hold by striking him over the head with
his COW whip. Failing in this he rode
rapidly back for his gun and was follow
ed on his return by his dog. By this
time the alligator had released his hold,
and the yearling lay in the road nearly
dead. Riding up within twenty feet,
the gentleman discharged heavy load
of buckshot at the alligator's head,
which only served to infuriate the brute
and he at once made rush at the dog.
Thereupon the gentleman approached
until he could almost touch the aIliga
tor with the muzzle of his gun and dis
charged the other barrel at q point just
back Of his shoulder, causing the animal
to retreat into the bushes, ana he was
found next morning on the shore Of the
lake stiff and dead. He measured fifteen
feet in length.
Alligators are being hunted very ex-
tensively Of late for their teeth and hides.
Their teeth are mounted with gold and
made into earrings, necklaces, watch
charms, etc, and are worth from one to
five dollars per pound. The hides are
worth dollar to a dollar and half
each, green. Over four hundred have
been killed in Lochloosa Lake alone.
Fire hunting at night is the most sue
cessful mode of capturing them, if not
the safest. Two men and boat are
required. One paddles while the other
has an immense bulls eye lantern fast
ened on top Of his head, the light oi
which attracts the alligators to the sur
face and blinds them SO that the boat
can be run right against them. Then
the man with the light thrusts the muz.
zle OF heavy caliber rifle within six
inches OF the creatures head and fires,
Immediately proceeding to haul him
him abroad. to which effort the alligator
lends what strength he may have left;
his great desire on being MORALLY hurt
| is to get out Of the water. And If one
once feels the boat after being shot, he
will attempt TO climb in himself IL not
entirely dead. Anative alligator hunter
whom + met on the shore of the lake
recently told me that he had seen as
many as eighty alligators at one time
during one Of these night hunts. and
that he could hear and feel their noses
"plumpr against bis boat as they SWAN
rapidly toward the light, their eyes be-
ing too much dazzled to distinguish the
boat until they ran against it. On COM
ing 80 abruptly in contact with the boats
sides they would back or little dis
tance to investigate.
A S25, 200 piano, of unparalleled
plenaor, was the Prince of WnIpa' weas