The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1890-04-23
a STRANGE ADVENTURE.
Riding Across a River on the Back of an

Riding Across River on the Back of an
Alligator.
The following is a portion of a story
related by Captain Wilmer, who had
been hunting alligators in British
Guinea:
Another night succeeded, and was
compelled to satisfy the pangs of hum
ger by devouring the ducks raw and UNI
cooked-revolting all the while against
my unnatural repast-but my cravings
for food were too powerful to resist. and
cast all dainty and squeamish feelings
to the winds. Again morning put in an
appearance. Another day was nearly
spent, with its .scorching sun, from
which there was no relief nor shelter.
lnow felt sure that the alligator was
dead, and not only dead, but was fur
ther convinced that his body was swollen
and distorted from tho effects of sun
and water, and it even struck me that
he seemed to be fioated, somewhat by
the water. A shudder OF fear and hope
passed through my frame as reflected
that here at last was means of escape
from my terrible imprisonment. What
ii the creature not only floated, but
would also carry passenger on his back
"a free passage across the strem for me
and means of deliyerance from this
alligator-infested spot. How I blessed
the chance which withheld mo from
emptying my remaining barrel at the
ducks; but for this my fate was surely
sealed. In no other way could possibly
have escaped with life. / approached
the alligator, and venturing ankle deep
into the water, I seized him by his for
midable tail, and sluing round, found
that was as supposed. His body had be-
come inflated from the combined action
of water, aided by powerful sun over
head, and he not only ioated, but was
capable of carrying much heavier car
go than poor, insignificant me. A big
heart was, however, contained within
my small body, and getting fearlessly
astride of his loathsome carcass | pad
died gently across the streams, using
the butt of my gun as a paddle, and was
on the point of grasping the gunwhale
of my boat when loud cheer and the
sound Of oars greeted me from bend in
the stream. A party of officers came
out in search of me, and hearty were
their congratulations and many their
expressions of establishment at finding
me in so extraordinary a position. My
story is DONE have met in my time
with many strange adventure by sea
and by land, and run many a hair
breadth escape, but never had had SO
narrow shave as when accomplished
q ride on an alligator
The Great Hudson's Bay.
A Canadian surveyor who was engaged
in an official expedition to Hudson's bay
in 1885 and 1886 says few people have
any idea of the resources of this great
sea. Its shores are the haunts Of the
musk OK, the moose, the reindeer, the
red deer, the white bear and his black
brother, the otter, the beaver, the mink,
the black fox, also the silver, gray and
white varieties, and other valuable fur
bearing animals. Its waters are teem-
ing with the most valuable varieties of
water mammals and fish. He ha, seen
the bay as far as the eye could reach
appear one undulating mass of white
porpoises. Both the hides and the oil
OF these are very valuable. In some
parts of the bay and in the straits, the
shores of the islands are swarming with
walrus. 1t has been reported by Prof.
Bell that on one island on the east coast
there was found to be thickly strewn
with the ivory tusks Of the wasrus. The
tusks are yaluable, though the chief
value of Awalrus lies in the hide,
which, an average three han-
SSi worth from ten to
- =. 9: =; :