The Grenada gazette. (Grenada, Miss.) 1885-18??, 1889-12-27
ALLIGATOR AND MAN.
How a Huge s~aurlao Disabled ana se
cnr.a RS Human Prey

"W " I1uxf N1ui'
cured Its Human Frey
An exciting story of an alligator ; VIC,
tory over its human prey Is gieahea
from Sierra Leone; or, the "hi'e Man $
Grave ~
zone of nv men" says Mr.. Lethbridge
Banhurv .a.,ahod round from the back
Of the island and cried out MaS'a' ma
dug-out upset, an de man gaining ior
help
81 followed the men round the island,
apprehendinp nothing, and expecting to
see the OCCUPANTS OF the canoe wading
ashore, or again inside OF 1t. Inc mar
was standing in about four iee' Oh water
and mud, with paddle in hand pushing
and striking at the water whiie the
canoe floated slowly down with the
tide. The boy, still screaming swan
rapidly toward the iar shofo'
"Iut why let the canoe DRIFT away
UPSIDE down. when he can so easily
regain it?, | said, speaking more to my
| self than the men. Yet, as l spoke,
there was a commotion in the water,
and the man, a powerful fellow, began
| hitting ont with all his might at a huge
dripping body, now slowly raising itself
a few naces before him. by heavens!
an allipatorr | cried, as the monster
stood biph out of the water, the ugly
head crancd forward, and the two front
legs battling with the doomed negro.
NV gun and shot-bag-quick" and suit
ing the action to the word, | tore round
to the rock where had left them, and
returned painting with the excrsion, and
earnestly hoping that ! might be in
time.
eyes, there they were still, about
eighty wards off, the man fighting for
dear life. hitting out hard and strong at
the massive saurian but a few fees from
him. The blows fell harmlessly upon
the thick head and body Of the brute
while the man %endeavored to back
further away.
'.There was not a foot between them
now, and it was impossible to fire, as
with anxious heart | dropped on one
knee and tried in vain to take a true
sight. 1t was impossible to do so, as the
mans body was constantly covering that
of the alligator in their struggle, so |
fired in the vain hope of frightening the
beast away.
'But my shots were UNDECIDED, for
they were soon absolutely entangleG in
an unequal wrestling match, as with a
quick movement, the huge alligator
threw itself upon the wretched man.
'The boat" | said, but my men shook
their heads, She was lying useless on
oozy bed of mud, and no amount of
would her into deep water
within at least an hour. SO | continued
firing, and then rushed desperatolyinto
the water, with an idea of wadinc
toward tho man. But it was useless.
Ere l had proceeded ten yards
the mud and slush were up to
my middle, and I could barely
move my feet; so returned to the shore.
1t was too late to do any thing, for
but surely the alligator was gain
ing ground; its neck and body we're
over the mans shoulder, while
be tried to dig it off with his useless
weapon.
''Thore was a momentary struggle, q
'ort of spreading wrigglc, as though the
alligator was putting still more weight
INTO its body; a faint cry, a splash, and
The wafer threw around a few circular
'ings as they sank beneath its surface.
n vain | watched the water, with faint
rope of seeing the mar rise once more
o renew the unequal contest. Not a
ign or vestige again appeared, and be.
the dark surface of the silent stream
he brute lay sprawling above its uu
victim until he was drowned"