The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1885-08-15
SOUTHERN ALLIGATOR'S PROBA-
BILE FATE.
New York San. !

New York SUM-
A few weeks ago big alligator was
living happily in nice muddy Florida
river, part of the time warming his
ugly back in the sun and part of the
time eating up the little al!igators as
fast as they came 0ut OF the egg, an
unnatural habit INDUCED in by all
male alligators. Now that same ALI
gator is rustlng for Il living in the
East river, without kith or kin to keep
him company.
Of tho uncertainty Of everything in this
world came about. One day while the
alligator was sleeping calmly on the
water he felt Il Sudden jerk, and awoke
to the realization that he was lassocd
and rapidly being choked. a few min
utcs afterward he was hauled ashore,
and the next thing he knew he was
sold to tourist, packed in a long box,
and bundled aboard tho steamer San
Marcos of the Mallory line. The trip
to New York was a very painful one,
and the poor alligator left without any
thing to eat, sadly missed the tiny
nephews and nieces 50 plentiful in his
own river. BY the time the San Marcos
reached New York and tied up at the
foot of Burling slip, the alligator was
very hungry, indeed, and watched with
fevcrish anxiety for Il chance to escape.
The chance came as he was being I'M
loaded from the steamer. One of tho
Stats of his box came loose, and he
pushed out his head. An alligator has
three eyelids on each eye. and when
this one winlcd his six eyelids in his
most threatening manner, and showed
his collection of eighty odd sharp teeth,
the sailors dropped him, and every one
got out of the way.
The first thing the alligator did when
ne crawlcd out of his box was to make
dash for the latest sailor on deck
But the fat sailor dashed also, and as
every one else persistently refused to
furnish him a meal, the alligator got
tho air, plunged overheard.
This was two weeks ago, and since
that time new zast has been added to
! the lives OF men and boys around Bur
ling slip The alligator, which was at
first only six feet long, has been grow
ing steadily, and is now compared to
an ordinary tugboat for size. When
the men, who work on tho dock, are
not watching for the alligator they
spend the timc discussing his chances,
and the boys, who arc afraid to go in
swimming, come around and listen
One man said the alligator would die
| because he couldn't get anything tC
eat, but another, who has been a sailor
said he knew better. Alligators could
eat almost anything, and this one
would keep fat if nc stayed around the
pier. Lots of alligator food could be
had around there, and then the place
was full of GELS. Alligators' mouths arc
furnished by nature with musky
! smell, said the OK sailor, and that smell
attracts fish. All the alligator would
have TODD would he to lie on tho bottom
of the river With his mouth open and
swallow cells as they came in.
Last Saturday the alligator Was seen
calmly summing himself on float, and
yesterday he came up and tioatcd
around tho steamer Colorado as though
he was dead. Bat when some men
went after him with a rowboat he
winl1ed at them with his six cyeliCls
and disappeared. Tho superintendent
! vi tbt lltI WIN SUCH MIN ScNtThl
times, said yesterday that the alligato OF
really was much bigger than he was
when he went overheard, and was got.
ting fat very fast. Every man on tho
steamship dock who owns pistol OF
gun brings it down with him now, and
the chances are that if the alligato,
comes up much more the boys will
soon be able to so in swimming. Ten
dollars reward has been offered for the
alligator's body, and a great many
men have determined 10 got the
! money.
a man who really knew about alliga.
| tors, said yesterday that this one would
prosper finely for a while, bat that il
he was wise he would strike straish
out for Florida. No, alligator can
stand New York winter, aud this one
! must die AS soon rs the summer passes
ARTnuR'S SOCIAL DUTIES.