Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-10-08
A FIGHT WITH AN ALLIGATOR.
Thrilling Experience of Party of
Houston County Fishermen
PolOersUille Corr. Perry tGd.) Journal.

aOuBJOn OOuDLN ElSneTmen-
Po1oersUille Corr. Perry tGd.) Journal.
One dag last week party Of fishermen,
composed of Mr.. West Howard, DR.. C. N.
Warren, Joe Barnes and Charlie Bate
man went fishing in Messy creek. Their
place of rendezvous was Turkey Pen
island, in Houser's mill pond. This is a
small area of land so elevated that 1t is
never inundated when there is a full head
of water in the pond; and is the place on
which Mr. Houser kept small flock of
goats Immediately after the stock law
went into operation.
1t is favorite resort for fishermen.
Mr.. Howard, being professional
fisherman, had set Il chain of nets around
the shores, or edges OF the island. The
first business of the party was to examine
the nets and capture such fish as had be-
come entangled in the mashes. The par
ty had two boats, and were seated two in
each boat. They at length found the
shore-line of one net missing, and as Mr..
Howard had had several nets destroyed
here by alligators, he supposed this one
shared a similar fate: but upon eXamina-
ton 1t was discovered that the line was
not missing, but only sunken. Upon rails
ing it, it was discovered that there was
in the meshes Of the net. Their first inn
preston was that 1t was an enormous
trout, and shouts of JOY went up from all
hands. They continued 10 raise the line
till they brought the tail fms in sight. Mr..
Howard caught the tail and made a des-
perate effort to haul it into the boat, but
he soon discovered his mistake. He saw
to his chagrin and modification that he
had an S-foot alligator by the tail. Now
oop no ina Of Of hn nartNr
in their terror and excitement cried out:
"ShOot itw Mr.. Howard, being the old
est and, perhaps, the most composed of
the party, took Mr.. Bateman's pistol, and
holding the monster by the tail with one
hand. shot him several times, aiming the
missiles near the region of the heart. He
says the splashing of water and founder
ing of the monster upon receiving the first
shot, were almost indescribable. They
expected every moment the boat would
be upset and the entire party drowned.
At length, however, the alligator quoted
down, and, suppOsing him to be dead,
Mr.. Howard hauled him into the boat oc-
cuped by himself and DR.. Warren. I'm
mediately upon finding himself out of wa
ter, the alligator began fiOundering and
| trying TO get back into the creek, but Mr..
Howard held him in the boat by main
strength. Failing to escape, the monster
for DR.. Warren. The doctor, wholly I'M
armed, at once realized his critical situa-
ton, and seeing the other boat alongside
of the one in which he was standing, made
a long stride and succeeded in stepping
safely into the bow; but this being small
boat, and already containing two heavy
men, it at once began to dip water and
show signs OF sinking. Not being an ex-
pert swimmer, the Doctor again saw
hia critical sitTafiOn HQnr0ilV hnWnVQT
there stood a gum stump near by,
to which the doctor chung with arms and
| legs for dear life. Mr.. Bateman being in
predicament similar to that of the doc
tor, also chung for dear life to the same
| stump, below the doctor, trying all the
while to get his feet on terra frma, but
! could not. Mr.. Barnes left the sinking
boat and went into the one containing the
| Infatuated alligator.
Meanwhile, Mr.. Howard had dealt the
monster several blows upon the head with
| his paddle, which he broke. This quoted
| the monster down again. He then went
to the rescue Of his beleagued comrades.
| He bailed the water out of the sinking
! boat and got the two men clinging to the
! gum stump back into it. By this time the
| irrepresslble monster began again to
| show signs of fight.
Mr.. Howard now dashed the two boats
| together, the smaller one in front, go that
| it could tow the one containing the ALI
! gator to land. Again taking the monster
! by the tail, Mr.. Howard directed Mr..
| Barnes to hold its head down by putting
! the handle of the broken paddle in its
mouth and pressing down upon it with all
his might. He then gave the order to row
| for land.
Upon reaching land they had recourse
| to heavy ak, with which they dealt the
monster several blows on the head. They
| then proceeded to skin it. Mr.. Howard
| says this was the only animal he ever met
| with that would die WHEN he killed it-he
| thinks they skinned it alive, that it was
! only in an unconscious state. it was s
feet long, and weighed about $50 pounds.
| They failed TO secure the teeth, which
would have been more valuable trophy
than the hide.
When asked how it's teeth looked when
| going for him with his mouth open, DR..
| Warren says he didn't see It's teeth, he
| only saw its yawning mouth, which, to
| him, no doubt, looked like the frightful
| crater of Cotopaxi magnifed.