The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-10-30
A REMARKABLE COMBAT
BETWRRN AN ALLIGATOR AND A
RIVER CHA Lizard
In which che Latter Comes or Vie.
tOr-His AIIigaIOrshIP
Likely 20 bic.

WASHINGTON, October ga rare
combat took place this afternoon in a
building occupied by the Fish Com
missioner between two little pets of
that institution, whose likes have
probably never found Themselves in
such close proximity since the ages of
fsatherless birds, winged reptiles and
web-footed quadrupeds. The aggres-
sor, and the victor rs well, was the
newly arrived Gila pronounced Hela)
monster from the ella river in Ari-
iona, the only species Of lizard whose
bite is known to be poisonous, and the
victim was two year old alligator
from Florida. The monster ia fourteen
inches long and about twics the
width Of his antagonist. Both reptiles
were in a semi-torpid condition, hav-
ing ceased to take food a week or two
ago, aud for some purpose they had
been removed from their glass cases
and placed beside each other upon the
stone floor. An attendant inadvert-
entity touched the alligator's tail and
caused him to move sluggishly on
ward few inches, where he came in
contact with the blunt nose of the
monster. The snake eyes of the lat.
ter lighted up with a CLEAN OF Sa-
tanic malevolence, its bla.k lips
opened wide aud it's Jaws closed with
a snap upon the fore paw OF the ALI
gator. The prisoner developed unex-
pected activity, aud, though taken at
q sad disadvantage, made for time a
gallant fight for its liberty and its life.
Its movements were maryellously
quick and its Jaws clo:ed a dozen
times In succession upon the mailed
head OF the assailaut. II soon, how
ever, became exhausted, and, mo aning
like safferingEchild, it relapsed into
quietude. The attendants sought by
various means to release the Wretched
alligator, hut were compelled, as NAV
be supposed to be very careful in
handling the venomous monster. He
was eelGed by the tail and held up in
the air, taken by the bloated neck and
chOked severely, plunged under water
and malreated in other ways, but to
no purpose. Then sharp wires were
thrust into his nose and Il 1ally larps
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 renewed it's
struggles, thrashing its enemy with its
tail aud swapping at IL with its Jaws.
In its struggles II had dislocsted its
shoulder, and Its imprisoned limb be-
came limp and powerless. Its moan
ings were pitlful, and the attendants
were moved to renewed, and at last
successful, efforts to effect separa-
ton. The trowel was reintroduced
into the monsters mouth with no
very gentle thrusts, and probably ef-
fected severe wound in some tender
part. Bubbles of grayish slime were
exuded from its mouth and nose, and
finally the jaws slowly opened. Even
then II was work Of several minutes
to disengage the hooked fangs from
the wounded paw. The comb Rtauts
were placed in their separate re-
ceptacles, the monster tapping his
black lips with his tongue, while the
alligator closed his eyes, probably to
die OF the venom in its system.