Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-10-02
Gales aud Sketfhes.
Adventure with an Alligator.

St. Johns in sunny Florida. and as our
hotel was situated on the banks OF the
river, my introduction to its principal in
habitants, the alligators-they are called
gators down there-very soon took place,
am not naturalist enough to determine
the genus and classification of the huge
amphibians. They infest all the rivers
and back waters of the Peninsular State
in immense numbers, and gator shooting
was. if not successful sport among the
Northern visitors. yet the daily pastime
of many or the Younger meD, who So
iourned on the banks of the St. Johns.
Many and many shot | had at them
myself. either as they lay basking on the
muddy river banks when. the water was
low, or now and then venturing, though
with scarcely hope of success. snap
shot at some fellows nose, which would
be popped above the water line, as its
owner lazily fioated, like some huge log
of timber. down the stream.
Never, however, with any luck. for even
if nv bullets took effect, it was not enough
to stop my gator friends, and hundreds
upon hundreds of cartridges did | thus ex-
pend, until one eventful morning, when
landed. or bagged. or secured, or what
ever else may be the proper expression,
nv only alligator.
A summer house, which was situated
some five or six hundred yards from the
hotel, stood upon an eminence rising
almost perpendicularly from the stream
some thirty or forty feet. and down to the
riverside there was winding path, half
roadway, half staircase, cut out of the
chalk like formation.
OnnoSifa of 1ietappa aCrOSS the water
of some thirty five yards. lay small is
land, covered with tropical trees. and
again, beyond this, the expance-say five
hundred yards-ot the main stream
stretched away to an old ruin; one of the
relics of the Spaniards, it was said.
All around the island were favorite
spots where, in the soft, Shiny mud. my
friends. the alligators, would enjoy their
morning siestas and we frequently used
to get rowed around in one of the little
boats in order to have shot at them al
ways, however, without success until that
time.
1t was beautiful day, and after my
morning walk round the village-,just to
see what was going on had returned to
the hotel, and having finished my break
fast, went on to the summer house.
| | had stretched myself out on one of the
seats, and was about to light a cigar.
when | heard one of my clerical friends
Rev. John Morton of New Hampshire
talking, little below me. to colored
servant. and telling him there was huge
alligator asleep on the bank just at the foot
of the pathway have before mentioned as
leading down to the river.
called out to Mr. Morton to come up,
and in a few minutes he was with me, in
an excited state about the alligator, but
dressed, as was his wont on week days as
well as Sundays-although the costume
but ill-suited the climate-in suit of
respectable black. with white neckcloth
and regular standing silk hat, just as if
preparing to 90 to meeting in his own
State.
Indeed, he was on his way to an early
prayer meeting in the neighborhOod
when he had been told of the allieator's
presence.
Fifteen feet long at least, sir, and fast
asleep. So. if you creep down quietly,
You'll get a splendid shot," said the Rev.
John.
Well, | loaded my Winchester-one of
the finest manufacture-verv carefully
putting in selected cartridges, and then,
clapping my hat on my head, proceeded
followed by Mr.. Morton and several of
the hotel servants. cautiously, and as qui-
city as might be, toward the scene of
action.
Down the path before mentioned, we
went, not, however, seeing anything on
account of the zig gag winding. until we
had turned the last corner at the bottom :;
and that passed, there lay the gator, re-
posing most calmly on a iutting bit of
bank, some five and twenty yards down
the riverside.
A really fine fellow he looked, as he lay
there, with his head toward the water-a
good fifteen feet from tip to tail.
His head was long and fiat, his neck
and body being thick, and protected by
regular transverse rows of long plates or
shields, elevated in the centre into keel
shaped ridges, and disposed on the back
of the neck into groups.
stopped, raised my rifle, and was Just
about to fire, when Mr. Morton whispered ::
TRY yet little nearer, sir"
So crept forward some few yards, and
should have tried to get even closer, but
hitting some loose object with my foot.
its splash as it rolled into the water dis
turbed the alligator and he awoke.
He was somewhat slow. however, about
this. and looked around as if uncertain
why or by what he had been disturbed ::
satisfied. apparently, that something was
wrong. and that he should be better afloat
than ashore, he then slowly began to creep
toward the water.
In moment fired, aiming as well as
possible, at the eye, and could hear by
the sound that the bullet had taken effect,
and the brute evidently hesitated for a
minute as to whether he should advance
or retreat.
The next instant, to my surprise and hor-
ror, found Mr.. Morton rushing past me,
and saw him without a moments hesita-
ton, seize the alligator, who seemed now
inclined to take the water, by the tail
Yes-there he was; there was no exag-
geration, no mistake whatever about the
matter. BY the tail he had him, and GAL
lantly did he stick to it,
Here was the highest state of Northern
civilization and cultivation in its evening
dress, white cravat, black coat. and tall
silk hat-humanity, if one may use the
expression, in its refined form of tailorized
Notwithstanding with the brute crea-
ton under. perhaps, its most disagreeable
and most disgusting appearance.
The clergyman was to win. for mas