Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1886-11-11
A RARE COMBAT.
Witnessed at Washington Between a
Lizard and an Alligator.

| WASHINGTON, Oct. pa rare COM
bat took place this AFTERNOON in the
building occupied by the Fish Com
mission between two little pets of that
institution, whose likes have probably
never found themselves in such close
proximity since the ages of featherless
birds, winged reptiles and web-footed
quadrupeds. The aggressor and the
victor as well, was the newly arrived
Gila pronounced Hela) monster
only species of lizard whose bite is
known to be poisonous, and the victim
was a twO-year-Old alligator from
Florida. The monster is fourteen inches
long and about twice the weight of his
antagonist.
Both reptiles were in a semi-torpid
condition, having ceased to take food a
week or two ago; and for some purpose
they had been removed from their glass
cases and placed beside each other up
on the stone floor.
An attendant inadvertently touched
the alligator's tail and caused him to
move sluggishly onward few inches,
where he came in contact with the
blunt nose of the monster. The snaky
eyes of the latter lighted up with a
gleam of fsatanic malevOlence, its black
lips opened wide and its Jaws closed
with snap upon the fore paw of the
alligator. The prisoner developed un-
expected activity, and though taken
at sad disadvantage, made for time
a gallant fight for it's liberty and its
life. Its movements were marvelously
quick, and its jaws closed dozen times
in succession upon the mailed head of
the assilant.
1t soon, however, became exhausted,
and moaning like a suffering child, it
relapsed into quietude. The attendants
sought by variety of means to release
the wretched alligator, but were COM
PEELED, as may be supposed, to be very
careful in handling the venomous
monster" He was seized by the tail
and held up in the air, taken by the
bloated neck and choked severely,
plunged under water and maltreated in
other ways but to no purpose.
Then sharp wires were thrust into
his nose and finally large trowel was
forced into his mouth, but such was the
force of his grip that the steel blade,
though considerably bent in the effort,
failed to release the imprisoned paw.
Then the pair were replaced in the glass
case which had been occupied by the
monster, and again the alligator re-
newed his struggle, thrashing its enemy
with its tail and then swapping at it
with its jaws. In its struggles it had
dislocated its shoulder and its impris-
oned limb became limp and powerless.
Its meanings were pitiful and the at
tendants were moved to renewed, and
at last, successful efforts to effect a
separation. The trowel was, therefore,
introduced into the monsters mouth
with no very gentle thrusts and proba-
bly, effected severe wound in some
tender part. Bubbles of greyish slime
were exuded from mouth and nostrils
and finally the jaws slowly opened. |
Even then it was work of several
minutes to disengage the hooked fangs
from the wounded paw.
The combatants were placed in their
receptacles, the monster lap
ping his thick black lips with his green
ish forked tongue, while the alligator
closed its eyes, probably to die of the
venom in its system.