The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-07-28
ENCOUNTER WITH AN ALLIGATOR.
The Desperate Struggle of Two Men
With an Infatuated Monster.
From the st. Louis Globe Democrat.


From the st. Louis Globe Democrat
ITO hunt gator or be hunted by one"
is quite difference, as John Highland and
Will Jones say. They were out fishing with
a cast-net in boat one day week before
last at the mouth of Fish creek. which flows
into Tampa bay just below Rocky Point.
Noting big hole near the bank they cast
the net in, thinking to capture a school of
mu'et, but to their surprise a big gator
came in, thrashing around In the liveliest
manner possible. Then followed a fight
that was circus. except to the interes ed
parties in their small boat.
The gator soon had the net in tatters. but
the men getting mad at this, procured a
rope. cast bigut around his head and had
him secure. This rendered the saurian
furious, and he began to battle right well
He plunged at the boat and tried every way
to get over the gunwale.
The men had Only small paddles and u
pole to fight him with, but these they piled
lively, beating him about the eyes and
mouth whenever he tried to crawl into the
boat. The gator would jump half his
length out of the water and then rush at the
boat with wide-open mouth, sho a ing long
row of serrated teeth that were omlnous of
his intentions if he once gained a foothold
in the skiff. The men would push the pole
into his gaping mouth and beat him with
the paddles, and then the brute would back
off with loud below of rage and anger
Finally, by tremendous sweep Of his tail,
the gator tore off half the end of the boat,
and it began to sink. Jones jumped for
managed to crawl out safely. Highland was
not so fortunate. Holding one end of the
rope in his hand he sprang overheard and
tried to gain the land, but the gator pulled
away abruptly, and Highland was flung
back in the water right in front of the
enraged and hungry mo ster. Seeing him
thus the gator, with a loud roar, plunged
toward him with open jaws.
Jones saw his friends peril and jumped to
his rescue, Selling a big lightwood stick
(Which are as hard as iron and sharp pointed)
in his hand as he did SO. Highland got
entangled in the rope, and it looked as il the
gator had a meal in readiness Jones' leap
carried him near the gators head, and he
brought down the keen points Of his weapon
on the brute's nose, one point going into it's
eye. The big gator turned on him and
thrashed madly.
Highland got clear of the rope finally and
scrambled to land, where Jones hastily fol-
lowed as on as he could dodge the
wounded gator. The latter followed his
foes out on the shore and rushed at them.
The men ran around tree to get pur-
chase on their rope and the gator ran on
the opposite side. There they were; the
rope was SO held that the gator couldn't
quite get to them, while, on the other hand
they didn't dare to let go in the face Of the
Infatuated monster, that they could see
was so highly and thoroughly mad that
| they stood no cnauce with him, especially
without firearms.
The gator plunged at his would-be vic
TINS, so near aud yet so far aud roared in
impotent rage and anger. The mel strained
every nerve to hold him when he ragged il
this manner, and could only do so by the
exc else of their utmost strength. The rope
creaked and twisted under the strain, but
fortunately Eeld. For half au hour thi:
contest continued. and gator and men alike
we're getting pretty well tired out The
men kept shouting for help, aud after lonf
| interval Jones' boy came along from hi
home half a mile off. The lad was sent off or
the double quick for a rifle, and the time
| he was absent seemed hours 20 the tired
men. Wnen he returned his father tool
the weapon. and, aiming carefully at tn,
| gator, fired; the saurian plunged furiously
| forward as he felt the bullet, md the ropt
parted with a snap. AS the sadriau started
| toward them the rife spoke again, and the
big brute turned over twice and then lay
quiet.
The alligator measured II feet inch ic
length and weighed over 500 pounds II
was bull gator and very fierce. The mer
declared that one such squabble of this kind
was sufficient TO last lifetime