Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1890-08-29
A MONSTER VICTIM.
Thrilling Sensation in u Variety Hall n


by an occurrence which had the effect
of uustringing the nerves of a large por-
ton OF the audience. In front of the
stage was tank in which was floating
an enormous alligator. The tank was
carefully rallied in to prevent any over
curious spectator from falling forward
and making meal for the voracious-
looking monster, and also to prevent
the latter from making an expedition
among the audience. The programs
contained an announcement that the
alligator would perform later on, and in
the meantime group Of trained mon
keys were amusing the audience with
their clever trick. In the midst of this
diversion a little girl, as pretty as a
picture and faultlessly attired, who was
among the occupants of enc of
the stage boxes that literally overhung
the tank, in her apparent curiosity to
watch the hideous saurian, tumbled for
ward and before her agonized mother
could put forth hand to save her, had
fallen within the railing, and was cling
ing to the edge of the tank with her
little feet angling in the water. There
was q simultaneous shrek from about
two thousand Threats as the spectators
saw what had occurred, and dozen
frenzied men tried to extricate them
selves from their seats and rush to the
rescue. Before anything could be done.
however, the brutal monster had OBJ
served the treat which was in store for
it, and swimming directly for the spot
where the child hung, opened it's terri.
bic mouth. With one shrek of anguish
the little one disappeared into the
horrible jaws of the reptile. By this
time half dozen men had arrived at
the railing, but all they could see of
the child they had come to rescue was
faint streak OF blood which marked
the alligator's track in the water.
While the men paused inactive. know
ing not whether to fire Off the revolvers
they had produced and summarily dis
patch the alligator, man clad in an
oilskin suit brushed his way past them
on his way down from the gallery. The
man was Hercules in build and looked
Like the hero OF a Ouida romance as he
leaped nimblv over the rail aud draw
ing long-bladed knife from sheath
dangling at his side. prepared to face
the terrible monster, which now turned
upon him as ii aware Of his intentions.
Every arm seemed paralyZed as the by
standers watched the strange combat
between the man in the oil-skin and
the ferocious saurian. The man had
jumped into the water, and stood ready
with his knife as the enormous am
phibian made a lunge at him. Quick
as lightning the man sank between the
waters OF the tank as his terrible adj
versary rushed upon him, and before
he rose to the surface the tank was
dyed a vivid scarlet, whether from the
life blood of the man or the alligator
was not apparent till the hero rose to
the surface and waved his hand aloft to
show that he was all right.
A tremendous cheer burst from the
audience, and one Of the men tried to
get near enough to shoot at the alligator,
but was afraid to fire lest his bullet
should hit the wrong mark. The ALI
gator had evidently got the worst Of the
light so far, as he came forward slug
g,ishly enough in the next round, and
received another thrust from his agile
foe, below the belt, which rendered him
hors de combat. There was another
flow OF blood and the water in the tank
changed to vivid crimson, after which
heavy lifeless mass tioated aimlessly
upon the surface. 1t was the dead
saIrian. Round after round of APP
plause greeted the fearless hero in the
oilsllin, but his program was not
nearly Completed yet. Selling the
trunk of his dead opponent with one
hand, he started in to carve up his
helpless foe with the manner of one
accustomed to handling such jobs. The
interior of the monster was soon re-
vealed by cutting away large portion
Of the scaly body underneath, and the
intention of the brave fellow soon be-
came evident. He was going to recover
what remained of the poor little victim
whose untimely death had been
avenged. A convulsive sob arose from
the spell-bound audience as the rigid
little form, bearing no marks of having
been bitten, but very quiet and bloody,
was drawn out from the saulian's
stomach. A moment later the childish
corpse lost its rigidity and with cry of
Joy the little innocent started up in the
arms OF her preserver and shouted in
very life-like manner, Mamma,
mamma" The lady i'll the box, just re-
covered from her faint, came forward
and took her darling from the arms of
her burly rescuer-the man in the
ovaralls bowed to the audien ce in reply
to ther ceaseless applause and then two
or three dozen people rushed forward
and taking off rings and watches forced
them upon the heroic looking fellow.
1t was not until the tank had been taken
away and the man in the overalls, now
clad in faultless evening suit, had
bowed to the audience once more that
the people recognized the fact that the
alligator act had been performed and
taat the Notwithstanding saurian was
only clever imitation in paper mache
with mechanical effects. The discon-
solate mother and the child whom the
alligator had gobbled sat and smiled
through the rest Of the performance,
and those who had been so spontane-
ously generous felt as if their smiles
VERY tinged with a slight amount of
ridicule. = F5e}lna, Cor. to the Nev
York -Herc20W.
Speed o. IA Locomotives