Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1888-01-03
q Great Battle.

a Great Battle.
very exciting and saDguinary contest
between huge bull alligator and several
head OF cattle occurred Saturday on the
bank Of Lake Tohopakaligo, Florida, ia
which the alligator was killed and two bulls
so badly injured that they had 10 be shot,
and another was reudered almost hols de
combat A party Of hunters, several of
them visitors from the Tropical Hotel there,
we're camping out on the lower ehell mound,
eight miles southeast, which overlook5
The lake. though several hundred rods
from the shore, which IS rnarshy and grassy.
Cattle gathe. near there by the hundreds,
as the grass is always fresh, and black flies,
their bane on most lake Sides are generally
absent. While eating their dinner that day
the hunters were startled By loud bel!owings
that csine from the lake, accompanied by
the we'll. known "cry" or grant OF alli-
gato7s, On hastily getting to the bluff q
most exciting scene was witnessed. From
the appearance OF the feld it would seem
| that one of the old bulls went to the shore
for water, and rs nc was drinking big
| gator swam up and seized his nose. The
| spectators came or the field just moment
| afterwsrd.
The bull, big black, with pair OF mag
| nificent sharp horns slightly curving back
ward, was taken at terrible disadvantage,
and began believing loudly and .endeavor.
| ing TO shake off his antagonist. The gator
| had secured firm hold, however, and he
| ciung tenaciously, churning tho water into
ioarn with HE immense tail, the blood
streaming from the bulls lacereted nose al
rssdy dye;ug tho waters red With q
mighty effort the bull plunged backward,
hauling bis attachment" partially OF dry
! land, and then the fun waxed furious. Tho
| ball rendered frantic from the pain: enGeav-
ored to hook the gator, ard, failing in thGt.
stamped n him and plunged around madiy
! to get rid of his foe. Attracted by his bel
| lowiugs, two other bulls came furiousiy
down the side, and, seeing the gator,
plunged at him. Observing his new enc,
! mics, the latter tried to escape, but too late.
One of them caught his horn near tn
! 'gator's fore leg and with an upwGrd toss
tore big hole in his 5iGe the saurian re-
spending with a deep roar Of anger and
pain. As the otner bull came or tho 'gntor
thrashed around with his tail and gave the
animal terrible blow, knocking him over
on his side with a dull thump. His first
victim was ROW free, and the three thor
ouehlv infurated animals surrounded their
foe, believing and with lowered heads, pre-.
sertipg picket Of sharp horns which The
saurian didn't like, as he attempted to crawl
into the water Ills three opponents now
began g systematic warfare.
| First Que woulS dash ST him, escaping
| the flying tail of the big reptile, and give
| him a dig with his horns aod endeavoT to
toss him. The gator was getting weaker
all tho while, and, though still game. he
seemed anxious to cry quits. One OF tho
lind hin,f
aud as he came on without his usual caution
the reptile whirled and delivered sweep
ing blow with his tail that caught the ami
malls legs, breaking them like pipestems,
the old fellow falling with roar of madness
that could have been heard mile, while
the seurian's eyes seemed to CLEAN with trl-
umph as they glowere1 at his enemies. Then
ensued IL rough and tumble contest which no
description could do justice to. The bulls
plunged viciously at him, oftentimes hitting
| one another in their mad rushes, while the
| alligator swept his big tail around IN endless
circles and inflicted terrible whaoks OF their
sides and legs For over twenty minutes
tnis was continued, the mingled roars OF the
infuriated animals producing ear.sphtting
| sounds.
Finally the gator again seized bis first
| victim BIZ the nose, and with a death grip.
| The other animal plunged 10, and catching
| both horns under the gators side gave him
6 toss ripping MIN up so that mis- entrali5
protruded. The effect WAS seen ct once, as
| bis terrible tail played more feebIy, but
his hold on the bulls nose could not De
broken. Several more ugly wounds were
made, and the reptiles roars of
anger changed to those Of pain and fear.
His antagonist charged at him time and
time again, acerating him terribly. Final
| IL no resistance was made, the victor tramp
| ling on the bloody carcass, though the ter
riblu grip Of those iron jaws still maintain
! sa their hold OF the nose of the first bull,
who had been forced To his knees and was
fast diving from tho terrible blows be bad
received and the great loss of blood. Sever
al of the watchers then went down aud
mercifully shot the two wounded bulls.
| The alligator, which measured. us well as
| thew could ascertain, over IL feet, the head
| and laws being feet, 9as literally torn to
pieces and d:senbowoled. The blow de.
| iivered by the gators tail broke several
| ribs of the bull whose legs were also oFok-
| en-, while even the victor was badly injured.
The ons which had been seized by the nose
presented horrible appearance, the hesh
having been stripped to the bono by the
| iron hold of the saurian. The gators at
tack young COWS and calves very often. ana
the annual loss to the cattle owners amounts
to hundreds of dollars. But it is seldom 8
bull is attacked, as they are so wild as to
become very ferocious and dangerous.
A Lovely Complexion.
What lovely complexion" We often
6a~x hot oh n 1ooc