Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-10-30
A RARE COMBAT.
Two Reptiles In the Oflce Of the rish
Commissioner Engage In an
Exciting Struggle.
A fenomous Arizona ella Secures Grip ON
the Paw of Florida Alligator witch lie
Gould not be Induced 60 Relax

WASHINGTON, Oct 20 "A rare combat
took place this afternoon in the building
occupied by the fish commissioner, be-
tween two little pets Of that institution,
whose lives have probably never found
themselves in such close proximity since
the ages Of featherless birds, winged rep
tiles and web-footed quadrupeds. The
aggressor aud victor as well was newly
arrived ella pronounced Hela) monster
from the ella river, in Arizona, the only
species Of lizard whose bite Is known to
be poisonous, aud the victim was a two
Year-old alligator from Florida. The
monster Is fourteen inches long aud about
twice the weight OF It's antagonist. Both
reptiles were ina semi-torpld condition,
having ceased TO take food
a week or two ago.
For some purpose they had been removed
from their glass cases and placed beside
each other upon the stone floor. An at.
tendant Inadvertently touched the alliga-
tors tail and caused him to move slug
gishly onward few inches, where II came
In contact with the blunt nose Of the mon
ster. The snakey eyes OF the latter lighted
up with CLEAN OF satanic malevolence,
its black lips opened wide and its
JAWS CLOSED WITH sNAP
upon the foreraw ~ the alligator. The
alligator developed unexpected activity,
though taken at sad disadvantage, and
made for time gallant fight for its lib
! erty aud life. Its movements were mar
velously quick, and its Jaws closed dozen
times In succession upon the mailed head
Of its assailant. 1t soon, however, became
exhausted, and moaning like suffering
child, relapsed into quietude. The at
tendants sought by variety OF means to
relieve the wretched alligator, but they
were compelled, as may be supposed, to
be very careful in handling the venomous
monster. He was seized by the tall and
held up in the air, taken by his bloated
neck and choked severely, plunged under
water, and maltreated In other ways, but
10 no purpose, Then sharp wires were
thrust into his nose, and finally large
trowel was forced into his mouth, but SC
successful was the force OF his grip thai
the iron blade, though considerably
bent in the effort, failed to re
lease the imprisoned paw. Their
the pair were replaced IL
the glass case which had been occupied
by the monster, and again the alligator
renewed its struggle, thrashing it's enemy
| Will us thu, anu US lmprlsoueu limo oe
came limp aud powerleGs.
ITS Meanings WE'RE PITIRUL,
and the attendants were moved to re
newed and at last successful efforts ia
effect separation. A trowel was re
introduced into the monsters moutt
with no very gentle thrusts, and proba
bly, effected severe wound IL
some tender part, Bubbles OF greyist
slime were exuded from his mouth anC
nostrils, and nuallT his jaws SLOWLY
opened. Even then It was the work Of
several minutes to disengage the hooked
faugs from the wounded paw. The com
batants were finally placed in separate
receptacles, the monster tapping his blacl
lips with satisfaction, while the alligato
closed its eyes probably to die Of tn,
venom in its system.