The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1889-11-06
A Fight With an Alligator.

An exciting story Of an ailigator's vic
tory over its human prey Is CLEANED from
Sierra Leone; or, the White Mans
Grave"
zone Of my men, y says Mr. Lethbridge
Banbury rushed round from the back Of
the island and cried out, 'Nassa, ma dug
out upset, an de man calling for help
y followed the men round the island,
apprehending nothing, and expecting TO
see the occupants of the canoe wading
ashore, or again inside Of it. The man
was standing in about four feet of water
and mud, with paddle in hand, pushing
and striking at the water, while the ca
noe fioated slowly down with the tide.
The boy, still screaming, swan rapidly
toward the far shore.
"But why let the canoe drift away up
side-doWn, when ne can so easily regain
to / said. speaking more to myself than
the men. As spoke, there was COM
motion in the water, and the man, a
powerful fellow, began hitting out with
all his might at huge dripping body,
now slowly raising itself few PAGES be-
fore him.
"By heavens an alligator :" l cried,
as the monster stood high cut Of the wa
ter, the ugly head craned forward, and
the two front legs battling with the DOOM
ed negro. +" Ny gun and shot-b bag
quick = and suiting the action to the
word, tore round 10 the rock where |
had LEFT them, and returned painting with
the exertion, and earnestly hoping that
might be in time.
Yes, there they were still, about 50
yards of, the man fighting for dear life,
hitting out hard and strong at the mass
i've saurian but few feet from him. The
blows fell harmlessly upon the thick
head and body of the brute, while the
man eudeavored to back further away.
Tnere was not foot between them
now, and it was impossible to fire, as
with anxious heart l dropped on one
knee and tried in vain TO take a true
sight Il was impossible to do 50, as the
mans body was constantly covering that
Of the alligator in their struggle, 50 1 FIR
ed in the vain hope Of frightening the
beast away
But my shots were unheeied, for
they were soon absolutely entanglei in
an unequal wrestling match, as. with a
quick movement the huge alligator threw
itself upon the wTetched man. g The
boat - I said, but my men shook their
heads. She was lying useless on an oozy
bed of mud, and no amount Of pulling
would move her into deep water within
at least an hour. So / continued firing,
and then rushed desperately into the wa
ter, with an idea Of wading toward the
man. But it was useless. Ere ! had
proceeded ten wards the mud and slnsh
were up to my middle, and 1 could bare
ly move my feet so returned TO the
shore. 1t was too late to do anything,
for slowly bat surely the alligator was
gaining ground its neck and body were
craning over the mans shoulder, while
he tried to dig it off with his useless
weapon
There was momentary struggle, a
sort Of spreading wriggle, as though the
alligator was putting still more weight
into bis body faint cry, splash, snd
the water threw around a few circular
rings as they sank beneath its surface.
In vain | watched the water, with a
faint hope Of seeing the man rise once
more to renew the unequal contest No
sign or vestige again appeared, and be
low the dark surface Of the silent stream
the brute lay sprawling above its unhap-
py victim until he was drowned