Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1888-01-05
EXCITING CONTEST.
A BULL ALLIGATOR ATTACKS \ HET

BULL ALLIGATOR ATTACKS y HERR
OF CATTLE AND Is KILLED.
A very exciting and sanguinary con
test between huge alligator and severa
head of cattle occurred Saturday a few
miles below Kissimmee, Fla, on the banl
of Lake Tohopakaligo, in which the al
ligatoF was killed and two bulls so badly
injured that they had to be shot, and an
other was rendered almost hOrs de com
bat. "A party of hunters, several of then
visitors from the Tropical Hotel here
were camping out on the lower shell
mound, eight miles southeast of here
which oyerlooks the lake, though several
hundred rods from the shore, which is
marshy and grassy. Cattle gather neal
there by the hundreds, as the grass is al
ways fresh, and black flies, their bane on
most lake sides, generally absent. While
eating their dinner that day the hunters
were startled by loud bellowings that is
sued from the lake, accompanied by the
well known "ery" or grunt of alligators.
On hastily getting to the bluff most ex-
citing scene was witnessed. From the
appearance of the field 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 seized his
noze. The spectators came on the field
just moment afterward. The bull, a
big black animal with pair of magnif-
cent black horns slightly curved back
ward, was taken at terrible disadvantage
and began believing Justify and endeav-
oring to shake of his antagonist. The
gator had secured a firm hold, however,
and he clung tenaeiously, churning the
water into foam with his immense tail,
the blood streaming from the bulls lac
Grated nose already dyeing the waters
red. With mighty effort the bull
plunged backward, hauling his ''attaeh-
ment'' partially on dry land, and then
the fun waxed furious. The bull, rem
dered frantic from the pain, endeavored
to hook the gator, and failing in that
stamped at him and plunged around
madly to get rid of his foe. Attracted
by his bellowings two other bulls came
furiously down the side, and seeing the
gator plunged at him. Observing his
new enemies the latter endeavored to
escape, but was too late. One of them
caught his horn near the gators fore
leg, and with an upward toss tore a big
hole in his side, the saurian responding
with deep roar of anger and pain. As
the other bull came on the gator thrash
ed around with his tail and gave the
animal a terrible blow, knocking him
over on his side with dull thump. His
first victim was now free, and the three
thoroughly infuriated animals surround
their foe, believing and with lowered
heads, presenting a picket of sharp
horns which the saurian didn't like, as
he attempted to crawl into the water.
But his three opponents now began
systematic warfare. First one would
dash at him, escaping the flying tail of
the big reptile, and give him a dig with
his horns and endeavOr to toss him. The
gator was getting weaker all the while,
and, though still game, he seemed anx-
ious to cry quits. One of the bulls al
lowed his anger to blind him finally, and
as he came on without his usual caution
the reptile whirled and delivered
sweeping blow with his tail that caught
the animals legs, breaking them like
the old fellow falling with a
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 ensued
a rough-and- tumble contest which no
description could do justice to. The
bulls plunged viciously at him often
times hitting one another in their mad
rushes, while the alligator swept his big
tail around in endless circles and inf1lct-
ing terrible whacks on their sides and
legs. For over twenty minutes this
was continued, the mingled roars of the
animals producing indescrib-
able, ear-spliting sounds. Finally gator
again seized his first victim by the nose,
and with death grip. The other ami
NAL plunged in, and catching both horns
under the gators side gave him toss,
ripping him up so that his entrails pro
truded. The effect was seen at once, as
his terrible fail played more feebly, but
his hold on the bulls nose could not be
broken. Several more ugly wounds
were made, and the reptiles roars of an
ger changed to those of pain and fear.
His antagonist charged at him time and
time again, lacerating him terribly.
Finally no resistance was made, the vic
tor trampling on the bloody carcass,
though the terrible grip of those iron
Jaws still maintained their hold on the
nose of the first bull, who had been
forced to his knees and was fast dying
from the terrible blows he had received
and the great loss of blood Several of
the watchers then went down and mer-
cifully shot the two wounded bulls.
The alligator, which measured, as well
as they could ascertain, over seventeen
feet, the head and jaws being six feet,
was monster, but was literally torn to
pieces and disembOweled. The blow
delivered by the gators tail broke sever
broken, while even the victor was badly
injured. The one which had been seiZ-
ed by the nose presented a horrible APP
pearance, the flesh having been stripped
to the bone by the iron hold of the sau-
rian's Jaws. 1t is seldom such encoun-
ters are seen, and the spectators to this
unique fight all said it was the most
affair they ever witnessed. The
gators attack young cows and calves
very often, and the annual loss to the
amounts to hundreds of
dollars. But it is seldom bull is at
tackled, as they are so wild as to become
very ferocions and dangerous.
IT is quite possible to cultivate good
manners, without the least pretence or
deceit, by merely expressing in pleasant
ways every pleasant thing that is felt,
and by eherishing that imaginative sym
pathy by which we discern the feelings
and need of Others. This much we owe
to each other and to society. Only in
this way can we add our quota to the
general happiness and welfare.