Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-09-16
A PLUCKY WOMAN.
FIGHTING WITH AN ALLIGATOR AND A
RATfLEsHAEE.
How q Florida Woman Came out VIC
torious-Going for an ALI
gators Scalp.

Mrs. +. !. Minlck, living a mile or so
! down the Hillsborough river, bears OIL
! the palm lust now for cOoi-headed,
brave little woman. Some weeks ago
she shot and killed IN alligator measu-
ring ten feet four inches that was alter
her ducks, and few days ago she killed
n big rattlesnake that measured seven
feet seven inches in length. and was ten
and five eighths inches IN circumference.
The reptile sported thirteen rattles and a
button. Both occurrences were quite
exciting and Mrs. Minnick's friends mere
speak of her ms quite heroine.
As they live near bayou branching OF
from the river, Mrs. Minnick has nice
flock of Pekin ducks that she takes
great pride in. SO few weeks ago.
while standing on the bank and watching
some Of them feeding near by, she WIS
no little astonished to see one of them
disappear under the water, qumklng
loudly and making every endcavor to
escape from an unseen foe. 1t was
swiftly drawn under, however, and the
biood-red water soon showed that It bad
met It's death. The others Of the flock
swan and scrambled for shore in the
widest confusion. Looking behind them
she noticed a black spot on the water
pursuing them swiftly. q second glance
told her thar it WAS big gator. Then
the secret OF the death Of the ducks
flashed across her mind.
This made her mad, and she resolved
TO have that gators scalp. Running
down To the waters edge she picked up
a long and heavy pole that WIS used to
propel the dupout. and waited for the
gator to come 20 land. She didn't stop
10 think OF the danger, as she hardly
thought the reptile would attack hui
man being. Tho ducks flew to land
soon, and hastily scrambled up the
shore, running up the bank as If tho obi
Nick was after them. The old saurlan
! came rusl Ing along, too, being doubt
less very hungry and yearniug for a blt
Of fat duck 70 Mrs. NinnicAs SUI
prise. he seemed to pay little atten-
ton TO her, but crawlcd up ont
of the water and wadlled after
the ducks in q very ungaIny but eager
manner. This put Mrs Minnick into
rage and, Gs the reptile passed near, she
brought down her pole on his head with
n sounding vhack. Doubtless the old
sauran saw stars, and as the pole came
across his Dyes, temporarily binding
one optic. he felt rather mad. Whlriiug
around with loud wh'f Of anger, be
CHARGED his pucky antagonist. This
rather put O. damp,r on Mrs. Mlnmck.
! but II was a case Of fight or run, and as
/ her rad was up, too, she resolved ID
give battle to the ugly reptile. As the
latter charged down with wide open
jaws. aud -huily kissing, she braced her
self for tie fray, and, with a quick and
/ sudden movement she rammed the pole
dova tie critters throat The heavy
end was cut to sharp point and the i'm
pctus given il 10y Mrs. MlnuIck nory
arms sent il several inches into
the ugly brutc's gul'ct TIE old saurlan
/ beloved deep and loud rs be felt
/ the pole driven down MS tlroat, and
he roarel and pitched around IN q
manner terrible to behold. Mrs. Min
nick low saw her advantage aud kept
pushing on the pole with all Lcr
strength, sending it further into the
rcptle's throat. The slurlan snapped
1T il and tried To bite it OF, but beng
small and round and hard wood. me-
! coul not secure good mold on 1t !;
/ therefore. the more Inc squlrmcd ana
| thrashcl the wore he was OF. Fls
/ loud believing increased, while the
strong musby odor almost stliicd Mrs.
| Ninnic6.
Rvtuis time her arms were tiring, and
she began calling for help. Her tael'e-
vcar-old son soon responded, and came
running down the bank with light axe
in his hand. Creeping mp close to the
gator quietly, he dealt HIM blow on
the back with the sharp b.ado that
nearly severed some three feet Of
the reptiles tail. The old gator
reared, AMI, with q violent effort,
lit through the pole in his mouth aud
endeavored 10 retreat to the water. But
! this Mrs. Minnick was now determined
| he shouldn't DO Catching the axe from
! her bows hands she rushed up, and with
one slick and effective stroke cut of one
OF the gator front paws. The saurian
snapped IT her viciously. but the stick
being still in his throat prevented him
| from turning rapidly. He fell over
on his side, roaring and bel
I lowing with rage. HIS ugly jaws
closed together with decidedly
vicious snap, and lis hali-seyered tail
/ still thrash,d around in a very ugly
manner. Watching her chance the
pluckv woman stole on Che struggling
reptile and with a wcil-dirsctcd bio" cut
/ OF the tail entirely. shortly aiter two
/ heavy whacks were delivered on tie
head Of tn struggling saurnn and the
victory waswou. The head was cut oil
and buried. ms Mrs NinuIck says that
/ che intends to Lave a set Of !oVelry
made OF his teeth.
MAKI>G suoET WORK or 4 EATTLEn.
The adventure with the snake was
/ hardly las, exciting and probably more
dangerous. she was walking out through
the garden, which was partly grown mp
/ with weeds, when all of a sodden She
heard ratt.er's deadly warning. IL
seemed on all sides OF her, and a5 She
stood for a moment undecided which
way to fee. she SAYS that all ut once sle
caught sight of what appeaued 10 be
"a spark OF lire through the gross
! A. she told the story altorwarI, sse
said that ~ the fiery. bright SPOT at
trnctel her eyes, it seemed to- glow aud
CLEAN with % thousand fires. All tee
colors of the rainbow seemed 20 BE- shown
as the bright ball enlarged and grew more
brilliant. Ii shone BRIGHTER every mo-
mcnt and seemed to send of sparks Of
light that glittered strangely rs they
sailed away. A ringing mu Ical sound
filled her ears and she SAYS ,nat the SEN
sation was decidedly pleasing. All else
beyond these two things seemed TO be
shut ont.
Suddenly the brigbtspark wayerel for
a second aud her iuIl senses came back
all OF sudden, together with an indie
tin.ble feeling that she Was in great dan
ger. lnyOlurta1ly she hastily Jumped
10 one side and started to RIM. As she
did SO % long black body tasted through
the air and big rat;lcr fell by her side
barely missing her. WITH "A scream OF
rror. she ran to the house, bresthless
with fright. A few moments suiiiced,
however. 10 regain her wits, and then.
getting her mad on, she determined
TO remove that dangerous inhhbitlnt