Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-07-19
TWO pLUCKY GIRLS.
THEY DISPOSE OF A DOZEN ALLIGAToRs
ON A FLORIDA CREEK.
A Thrilling Battle Between a Bear and q
Band Of saurisns-Ear-
row Escape.

heroincs OF this place. Tbese TWO gifr' vi
young ladies rather. as they are Just Deyonu
"sweet SIXTEEN" are bonny, buxom lisses,
aud as well acquainted with the country as
The best hunters IN II. They, too, are excel
lent shots, aud for hunting their record IS
something that Mr. Bryan often boasts OF.
The g.rsfeke aquiet hunt very often, ti'hsr
on the river or In the high blmmocks 80 nu-
merous around here, and they put to shame
many OF the Nimrods or hunters by the nsh
and game that they bring In.
Just now the most exciting topic Is stir
ring adventure which the girls had the other
day, and in which they came or victorious,
displaying great pluck aud bravery.
FRIDAY last the tao girls concHded to trke
a days hunt in the Great AurantuIa Ham
mock, the upper edge OF which touches the
river some miles below here. Starting out
early they made good progress, and by
o'clock were in the midst OF the wild ham,
mock. During the forenoon they had good
luck-killing deer. a wildcat. ten big gray
squirrels, and several enormous snakes.
After taking MONDAY lunch they decided
to cross over Alligator creek, wide but
shallow stream that crosses the hammock,
emptying into the WIibacoochee.
A BATTLE WITH BRU1N.
just before reaching the creek they had TO
pass through dense csne-brake for sew raj
rods. When about bali way through one OF
their does, that had fingered behind, came
rushing up, yelpng Justify. while close on It's
heels was a big black bear, fierce and ugly as
it could be. The path was so narrow that
they had no chance to fight the animal, and,
in fact. the bear and dog came In on them so
suddenly that little time was allowed for re-
Election. Miss Josie slung her rife around
and fired at the beast but 10 the confusion
only wounded him. The girls then ran ahead,
Intending 20 get out onto the open bank by
the waters edge, so as 10 get falr ground 10
battle old Bruin. But the infatuated anil
nal, aroused " madness by the Iiile-bsll.
pursued them so closely that only scientific
lodging saved them from a close hug.
Emerging from the path they noticed the
dugout used to cross the creek lying right
IN front OF them, aud both OF the girls,
struck by the sane idea, sprang into toe boat,
their impetus carrying It out into the creek.
The dog wos unable 10 get into the boat,
but he biz at Bruins heels so sharply that
The latter had to stop his pursuit OF the girls
and ende9vOr 20 punish his iour-fOOted as
sailant. But the dog was too wary, and
kept out OF bis reach; the girls called him,
and plunging in he swan out to them.
Meanwhile the hungry denizens OF the
creek, whose numbers gave It its name, were
awakened by the tumult, and they began to
show themselves. As the dog jumped IN the
splash attracted scores OF the ugly reptiles
from all directlOns, and the water was
dotted by the black shouts Of the
hungry 'gatorS. The girls noticed this,
and called encOuragingly to Their
dog, who sceped to be fully aware
Of his danger. Several black noses
l.. 80 AZ firoaff0n and II
looked a. II the gators might get meal.
But Vida seized the pole lying in the bot
tom OF the canoe, and by .skiliul push sent
the boat close 20 the dog. JOSIE was waiting,
and as the dog swan up she helped him
Chamber over The side, almost Upsetting the
frlil vessel. And 1t was Just in time, too,
for Just as the dogs legs slipped ont OF tue
water huge pair OF jaws rose out OF the
depths with an ominous snsp. With souse
the disappointed saurian sunk.
EATEN by gators.
While this was going on Brriu stood on
the bank growing and snaring ia impOlent
rage ut the dogs aud girls thus escaping.
Seeing the dogin the canoe seemed to render
him still more furious, and, with deep
Rrowl. he dashed into the water and began
swimming toward the boat. Between the
bears and the gators the girls began to
think their hands would be full. Vida
ncked IN her gun and made snap shot at
the animal. but q movement OF the dog dis
concerted her aim, and the load OF buckshot
flew TO one side, only a small number strlk-
ing the bear. But they aDgered him toe
more. and with a snarl he almost leaped out
Of the water IN his mad eagerness TO reach
the boat. Vida dropped the gun,
and, picking up the pole, soon placedt
the boat rod ahead OF the pursuing animal.
Josie hsd again reloaded her gun, and she
turned to deliver his quetus to the animal.
But the commollon In the water and the
bears evident disquietude put new face on
matters, and she withheld her fire. The dogs
yelping and the bears growing had evident
ly awakened the scaly denizens OF the creek
TO u realizng sense that 1t was meal time.
Missing the dog they were not ayerse TO bear
meat. pruiu In his hurry TO caleb his first
prev bad paid little attention to what might
befal him in the creek. But now he began
TO notice the increasing number OF black
spots on the water, all turning
toward him, and probably instinct
told him that hungry gators, in
their own element, were a foe rot to
be despised. With an uneasy whine he at
tempted TO turn and regain the shore, but
now IL was too late. With q rush big,
black form was seen to dart up against him.
and In n second he was seized and dragged
under. The old fellow was game, howeyer,and
now that he had gotten into the light he
proved no mean antagonist. with an In
mense effort he plunged away from the al
tacklng gators end dashed forward Tor The
shore. The water shoaled aud 1t seemed
as II be would escape. A big bull ssurian
dashed forward aud seized the bear by one
OF his hind legs, while two others swan be-
hind HIN TO cut OF his retreat.
With a deep roar OF rage the bear
turned on the one that had seized him, and
with one stroke Of bis paw claved out the
gators eyes. The latter beloved with
pain, and thrashng the water madly
plunged forward at Bruin. Other gators
joined in, and the poor animal was beset on
all sides. sitting on its launches, with the
blood flowing from gapiug wound on nus
hind leg, the bear snapped, clawed, and bit
a. his savage antagonists; but they were TOO
many for him. Another seized one OF bis
legs In IT. powerful laws. and with a
strong effort drew the bear of into
deeper water; others dashed at him from
oil sides, swapping at MIN from every
point. The water splashed high and was
churned INTO snowy whiteness by the furi-
Gus efforts OF the fighters, save where the
red blood told the tale, But few moments
longer did the unequalled struggle last.
Bruin stroye to regain bis feet but the cruel
laws OF the reptiles closed on It, legs, sides
and wherever hold could be secured, and
with one mighty, agonizng roar the oesr
disappeared, while the furious struggle con-
tinued under water for several seconds.
Bits OF flesh and the blO0d-dyed waters,
however, pointed TO the bears fate. and the
hyeuas OF the wafer fought among them
selves for the morsels OF meat.
AsAvAGE ATTACK.
The girls had gazed on the fight SPELL
bound, but now they were rIldely aroused
to their own peril. The dog had barked
loudly during the savage fight going on so
near, and the gators who missed bear'meat
seemed to be after dogs flesh. The canoe
rocked. almost oyerturning, and the startled
girls saw moustrous pair OF lopen jaws
riebt at the side OF their small
craft. Josie pushed her rifle barrel IN
the gators mouth and pulled the
Al 4