The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1888-03-17
A GREAT BATTLE.
An Alligator Attacks Three Say
age Bulls.
Two of The Bulls Killed Before
the Saurian SucCumbS.

cACltloS anu sdaSuluaFy CodtcSI W
tween huge bull alligator and several
head of cattle occurred Saturday, few
miles below here, on the bank of Lake
Tohopakaligo, in which the alligator
was killed, and two bulls so badly in
jured that they had to be shot, and
another was rendered almost hors dc
combat. A party of hunters, several of
them visitors from the Tropical Hotel
here, were camping out on
the lower shell mound, eight miles
southeast of here, which over
looks the lake though sew
eral hundred rods from the shore, which
is marshy and grassy. Cattle gather
near there by the hundreds, as the
grass Is always fresh, and black flies,
their bane on most lake sides, generally
absent. Will, eating their dinner
that day the hunters were startled by
loud bcllowings that came from the
lake accompanied by the we'll known
"cry" or gruat of alligators. On hastily
getting to the bluff a most exciting
scene was witnessed. From the appear
ance of the fed it would seem that one
Of the old bulls went to the shore, for
water, and as he was drinking a big
gator swan up and scizel his nose.
The spectators came on the field just a
moment afterward.
The bull, big black, with n pair of
magnificent sharp horns slightly curving
backward, was taken at terrible disad-
vantage, and began believing Loudly
and endeavoring to shake of his an
tagonist. The gator had secured firm
hold, however, and he clung tenacious
ly. churning the water into foam with
his immense tail, the blood streaming
from the bulls laceratcd nose already
dying the waters red With mighty
effort the bull plunged backward, hau.-
ing his attachment partially on dry
land, and then the fun waAcI furious.
The bull, rendered frantic from the
pain, endeavored to hook the gator.
and, falling in that, stamp,d at him and
plunged around madly to get ri Of his
foe. Attracted by the bclowin-s, two
other bulls came furiously down the
side, and, seeing the gator, plunged at
him. Observing his new enemies, the
latter tried to escape, but too late.
One of them caught his horn near the
gators fore leg, and with an upward
toss tore C big hole il his side, the saur-
ian responding with deep roar of an
ger ald pain. As the other bull came on
the gator thrashed around with his
tail and gave the animal terrible blow
knocking him over or his side with a
dull thump. His first victim was now
free and the three thoroughly Infatuated
animals surrounded their foe, below
ing and with lowered heads, presenting
picket of sharp horns which the saur-
ian didn't like as he at: empted TO crawl
into the water. Hi, three opponents
! now began a systematic wartar..
First one would dash at him, cscap-
ing the flying tail of the big reptile, and
give him dig with his horns AMI en-
deavor TO toss him. The gator was
! getting weaker all the while, and,
though still game, he seemed anxious to
CRY quits. Onc of the lulls allowed
his anger to blind him finally, and as he
came on without his usual caution the
reptile whirled and delivered sweep
ing blow with his tail that caught the
animals legs. breaking them like pipe
stems, the old fellow falling with roar
of madness that could have been heard
a mile, while the saurian's eyes seemed
to CLEAN with triumph as they glowered
at his enemies. Then cnsucd rough
and-tumble contest which 10 description
could do justice to. The bulls plunged
viciously at him, of;entimes hitting one
another in their mad rushes, while the
alligator swept his big tail around in
endless circles and inflicted terrible
whacks on their side, and legs. Fol-
over twenty minutes this was continued,
the mingled roars of the infuriated ami
mails producing ear-splitting sounds.
Finally the 'gater again seized his frs
victim by the nose, and with a deatl
grip. The other animal plunged in, ant
catching both horns under the gator.