Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-05-30
4 FIGHT WITH AN ALLIGATOR.
The wild Freak of a Young Engilshmsn
Hunting In Georgia.

\ Darien Ga } correspondent writes. VI
Henry Todd, one Of our oldest and wealth
est citizens, tells the following amusing
story.
1t Is now about nifty years since hap
pened to make the acquaintance of
young English naval officer who had come
to visit some relatives on this side of the
Atlantic He was fiery, ambitious and
daring to such All extent that to rncOur
age him in some of his plans would nave
led to the most QuIXOtlC enterprises
Luckily, hIs first visit was of short duTa
t"n, and as he always looked To me for co
operation in his wild schemes, feeling 81
relief came over me when he was ready 10
bid farewell
Next year | return he said, as he
vigorously shook my hand, and We VIII
then have some glorious sport | Thought
that once IN his native land he would SOON
forget his promise, but it proved other
Wise. He returned IA yraE later a. tull al
life As ever Day after day passed and
startling PROPOSALS followed in quick sue
cesSlOn. TO Kill rattl.snakes and moo
Ciu,Ins seemed to him one uf the charming
occupations of life, aud the greater the
danger that accompanied any ut his plans
the less he could resist il One day he
came and proposed u 20 alligator hunt
mg, and, displaying a cleaning dagger, hr
SAID. i propose to finish one with this T."
day. He had two white duck suits, and he
dUnncd one, while he made me put the
other On in honor OF his anticipated VIC
tory. felt nervous as to the result "t hf
fool hardy resolution to battle AN all
gator with such a weapon, but neverthc-
less determined To humOr him 50 far IT.
II was safe to do SO. High up un mud
hat huge monster soon appeared baskirE
himself III the sun. The water being at IA
low stage We had hard work getting our
boat up 10 where he vas lying.
He was fast asleep, however, AMI We
managed 10 get within three or four feet
of him. | touched lin with the oar. He
seemed daZed, and with his jaws wule
open he made for the bow Of the boat. ]
saw the EuglIShmun's dagger glitter in
the sun, but experimenting danger,
showed the end of the oar into the threat
rning gap Resistance seemed OF no avail,
however. The brute appeared determined
to get into the boat | saw the English
man Keel over, and in a second he Wa
completely buried in the mud. made an
attempt To pass the alligator. and get Ia
my friend rescue, but violent stroke
from the monsters tail, landed me in the
mud on the opposite side Of the boat.
After a desperate effort managed to get
hold of the boat, but was completely
blinded with the mud. Thinking Of my
friend, sang out faint haIlOu, and in re
>pOnse came "A despairing groan. We
presented Il pitiful spectacle-a strange
contrast to the gay, duck-clOthed gentle
man of an hour ago. The Englishman
never proposed hunt after this ex-
perience.
Many years after this, in glancing
through an English newspaper, giving an
account OF the social life of the officers of
a certain English squadron, found that
an alligator story Of Il captain had made
him quite name, and in perusing this
story recognized every little detail of
our adventure. Atlanta Constitution