Morning journal and courier., 1889-06-13

around with astonishing auickness in every

around with astonishing quickness in every direction, and it was only after literally tir- ing out that it oonld be secured in a box. Then I had great deal of trouble getting the thing up here. At first the express company didn't want to take it, but was fn- ally prevailed on to do so, and then the train men were in mortal fear lest the beast should get loose and chew some of them up. It is mistaken idea about the ferocity of alligators and orocodiles, however. They are the greatest towards in the world, and will always run from man."
 s'There," continued the Doctor, returning to his workroom, ''is one of the largest eroeo- diles in Florida" The animal was already far enough along in the ''preserving state, to exhibit the general outline and shape of hide along the stomach Is nearly half an inch thick, and works aronnd on to the back in themassive black scales which render an alli- gator proof against rifle shots. This fellows hide would have glanced a musket ball as easily as it would shot from popgun. "We tried to get him alive also, ," said the Doctor, "but he was too much for us. He knocked five or six of us around for a time, and then we stuck spear through his neck"
 Shooting alligators must be exciting, but catching them alive offers little more ex- citement than most people care for. And it must be dangerous" was suggested. ''Not at all dangerous" replied Dr. Velle, "but exciting, you may believe. An alli- gator is generally taken alive by spearing him in the feshy part of the neck. The spear is strong affair, made with only one barb, so that it will raise the scales and slip under them. Spearing an alligator in this way does not especially injure him, and gives person an opportunity to handle him
 with greater ease. Once securely speared,
 and although he will fight tenaciously, 1t is
 only question of short time when he
 can be tired out and rendered powerless.
 Some of the hunters gain great dexteIity in the use of the harpoon and spear had rot seen the thing with my own eyes, could hardly have believed that two men could draw out of the water an alligator twelve feet long, fasten his muzzle, tie his legs over his back, and finally kill the beast by plung- ing sharp weapon into his neck, dividing the spinal nerve. This fourteen-foot fellow I am working on here we could have got alive if we had persevered, but, as he was
 wounded, was afraid he wouldn's live, as
 when he was speared he made for the water,
 and put couple of rife balls into him for fear he would escape By the way, you had
 better keep your hands off the hide, or you may get poisoned. It ia preserved with ar senical coap, one of the very worst poisons there is. Three years ago I absorbed enough of the stuff through my pores to lay me up for six weeks. Now I wash my hands every few minutes"
 ''Aside from the scientific value the ques- tion has to me-" continued the Doctor, talk ing another stitch, 'I don't know of any sport in which there is more excitement than hunting alligators and crocidiles. I killed one fellow about as big as this one, but lost his hide. I had peppered his scaly back sev- eral times, but never got near enough to put in fatal skot. After number of these un- successful attempts I lay in wait for him with my rifle opposite his favorite summing spot on the bank of stream. The old fel- low finally appeared an settled down for his afternoon nap, with outstretched paws and looking like big canoe bottom side upward. Crrwling as close as I could, and being in a position where I was considerable above him, let him have it on the head, and the broadest part behind the eyes. This is one of the best places to aim for when a vertical shot can be obtained. Astonished at the sa- lute, up flew the the head of the beast, open mouted, exhibiting his ugly ssrrated teeth.
 And with start and bound he fell from his
 comfortable couch into the water, with
 crash like the fuking of whale when struck
 with harpoon. I could trace his course
 along the bottom by the large volume of
 mud which soon aftervard rose in zigzag
 line to the surface. Of course, there was no
 expectation of his rising to the surface until
 after death, in g day or two, and so lost
 him, as had to go away.
 cone of the most exciting things saw
 during the trip was an alligator fight. The males are as vicious as they look among themselves, and are not only very pugnaci-
 ous over slight matters, but will fight des-
 perately for the possession of their mates
 Sometimes an individual is captured whose
 tail is entirely gone; often the end is missing,
 and sometimes leg is wholly or partly
 gone. These injuries are doubtless received
 in fights. We killed one alligator whose up-
 per jaw was broken squarely off half way up
 the eyes in some contest.
 'Yes, they are interesting animals" con-
 cluded the Doctor, ''but wish I had this fellow stuffed" And he resumed his