The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-01-03
An Odd Team.

A man who lives near Mobiles Lake
has demonstrated the theory that alliga-
tors can be domesticated and made use
2ul' Several yee~s ego he captured two
young alligators and put them in smait
pond which he had arranged for the
purpose. He fed them well, gave them
all the dog and other delicacies they
could eat, and was rewarded by seeing
them develop into the finest specimens
of their race. A gentleman who recent
" visited Mobiles Lake, thus describes
the extent to which the alligators have
become useful:
While standing on the bank of the
lake | heard a terrible splashing and
looking far out over the water among
the cypress trees, saw man approach
ing in boat He did not use an oar,
and the boat was making such Roadway
that l was at loss to understand the
motive power, when the man seeing me,
thrust long stick, which he carried,
into the water and seemed to tap some
thing Immediately the course of the
boat was changed, and in moment
more it had stopped near where | stood,
Then | discerned that the boat had been
pulled by two enormous alligators al
least ten feet long. They were har-
messed up. wore collars, names and back
bands.
You seem to have rapid team ]
said exhibiting as little surprise as posi-
bic, knowing that establishment on my
part would close his mouth as to any in
formation he could impart.
Yes, pretty peart team"
Were they hard to train9"
No, not much. General Grant. thar, -
tapping the leader, twas a little stub
born, ''but MIR. Beecher, thar" tapping
the other monster, twas mighty easy"
why did you select such names for
them?"
wall, you see, I call the leader Grant
cause he hardly ever opens his mouth,
an l call this one Beecher cause he
opens his mouth on all occasions. See
him. Don't care what you're talking
about, politics or religion, Mr.. Beecher,
here, will open his mouth, but the Gener-
al don't pay no attention, but shutting
one eye, sorter, he opens the other and
seems to be lookin' way off in the flu
ture."
What are these things floating be,
side the team?"
''Gourds. You see if it want fol-
them, the alligaters would sink when
they stop. They can float if they want
to, but nothin' would give 'em more
satisfaction than to sink and leave me
in the lurch.'
In what way do you reap a benefit
from working these great lizards, other
than by enjoying the oddly of the per
formance?'
He looked at me with an expression
of pity and replied; Don't you see:
Why / haul wood across the lake for tbs
railroad, an am the only man in this
community than can do it. The cypress
| trees are too thick for a steamboat. an
pullin' boat would be out of the ques
ton. Another advantage have is thai
when the wood is in a marsh where the
water is too shallow for row boat.
this team drags my boat through al
right
Something popped like slapping two
boards together and looking around
| saw the hlnd legs OF my nne setter dos
protruding from Mr.. Beecher's mouth
'Great Cesar, sir, your Internal rep
tile has eaten my dog!''
''oh, yes. so / see. / told you that Mr.
Beecher always had his mouth open.
But 1t was the closing of his moutl
that deprived me of my dog"
That's SO, an right here I'll Civ,
you pinter on Mr.. Beecher," and
thought he spoke of a pointer becaus,
the thing had eaten my setter, but seeing
that he had no intention of making
pun allowed him to proceed MIR
Beecher,n continued the man, "nearl,
always has his mouth open, and neye
shuts it only when it is to his advantage
Mr.. Beecher, in fact, opens his moutl
for other folks but shuts it for himself
! Good day, sir. Whoa, haw; gee thar
General. Come here" and with a flut