Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1889-06-17
A White Alligator.

A large white alligator has been repeated
ly seen on Mrs. Wardloe's place, five miles
from Yazoo City, Miss. This is the only
white alligator seen in the State.
About Eve years ago Mrs. Wardloe, who
CONDUCTS stock farm, missed several OF her
calves. and almost every day some of her
stock would disappear. 1t was supposed at
first that cattle thieves we're at work, and
cloee watch was kept. But the calves con-
tinued to disappear even while the men
we're watching. One night the supposed
thief Yves discovered crawling, as 1t was
thought, on his hands, in the grass. 1t was
moonlight, and all that could be distinguish.
ed was form moving from the swamp to.
wards calf. Suddenly it pounced upon the
animal, and the men fred several shots at 1t
with rifles and closed In around the form,
when it was found that the calf thief was
pure white alligator. The reptile succeeded
in escaping to the swamp, and parties were
organized to hunt it the next day. They
watched for its appearance for week, but
could see nothing of 1t until one night about
ten days after it was fret seen. Several
shots were fred at it without effect, as the
range was evidently too long to hit the sau-
rian in auy vulnerable part. A great many
have tried to kill it since that time, but
none have ever succeeded, and the white
alligator is still master of the swamp.
Before his appearance there were mum.
ber of ordinary alligstors, hut with the ad-
yept of the white one the others made them
selyes scarce, leaving him sole possessor of
bes killed them or whether they fled at his
apDroach. He has continued his depreda-
tions, however, among the cattle, and every
possible means has been tried to effect his
destruction, but without success.
His size is unknown, as none have ever
been able to get sufficiently near to him to
determine, except one luckless individual,
who was too badly scared to measure him
accurately, and who thought he WAS about
as long as telegraph pole.
4 marty had been organized to hunt him,
and be was seen to leave the swamp and
climb upon log at some stance from the
water. The swamp WAS surrounded, and q
man named Drew, armed with trusty rifle,
went between the gator and tie marsh.
The wicked saurlan seemed to appr. ciate
the situation at glance, and, throwing up
his upper Jaw, started for Drew at wfat
seemed lightning speed. The hunter be-
ca me the hunted. He forgot to shoot, and
did not bave time 10 get out of the gators
wsy. He started on the run, but 1t was ev-
idept that be could never escape, and his
friepd- were horror stricken at his impend
ing fate, u hen he suddenly disappeared, and
the alligator passed over him.
When the crowd became sufficiently
uerved TO look for the missing man they
found that he had providentially fallen into
the stock we'll, which was of the edge of
the swamp, and was twenty feet deep. the
hunter, wnen discovered, was standing up
to his waist in mud and water, but was res.
cued by meahs of ropes without serious in
Jury. Since that time the reptile has not
been disturbed, except at distance. and
bullets or slugs seem to have no effect on
him.
Owing to his peculiar white appearance,
the negroes, 1t is said, entertain peculiar
regard for the alligator. and will not men.
tion him except with superstitious horror.
He is supposed to be malignant spirit,
and the negroes believe that be will never
die, and that it is impossible to kill him
without drawing upon themselves the
wrath OF sll evil spirits, who will revenge
themselves By visiting them with all man
ner of imaginable horrors. Meanwhile the
fact remains that the cattle continue to dis
appear and the reptile still lives.-St. Louis
Globe Democrat.