Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-08-02
An Encounter With an ALLIGATOR.

From the st. Louis Globe Democrat
ITO hunt gator or be hunted by one" 10
quite difference, as John Highland and Will
Jones say. They we're out fishing with cast
net in a 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 70
capture school of mullet, but to their surprise
a big gator came in, thrashing around in the
hveliest manner possible. Then followed fight
that was a circus. except to the interested par
ties In their small boat
The gator soon had the net in tatters, but
the men getting mad at this procured rope,
cast q blight around his head, and had him Sc
cure. This rendered the saurian furious, and
he began to battle right we'll He plunged at
the boat and tried every way to get over the
gunwale.
The men had only small paddles and q pole
to fight him with. but these they piled lively
beating him about the eyes and mouth when
ever 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, showing long row Of serrated tee th
that were ominous of his intentions if he once
gained 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 of 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 il
began TO sink. Jones jumped for land, and,
catching a big cypress knee, managed 70 crawl
out safely. Highland was not 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 High
land was flung back in the water right in front
Of the enraged and hungry monster. 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, seizing a big light wood stick
(Which was as hard as iron and sharp-pointed)
in his hand as he did SO. Highland got en-
tangled in the rope, and il 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 its
thrsshed madly.
Highland got clear of the rope finally and
scrambled 10 land, where Jones hastily fol-
lowed as soon 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 purchase 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 60 in the face of
the infuriated monster, which they could see
was so highly and thoroughly mad that they
stood no chance with him, especially without
fire arms.
Ing katoI ~ MS WOulo-De v1Ctlme,
so near and yet SO far, and roared in impotent
rage and anger. The men strained every nerve
TO hold him when he ragged I'm this manner, and
could only do 30 by the exercise of their ut
most strength. The roap cresked aud twisted
under the strain; but fortunately held. For
half an hour this contest continued and gator
and men alike were getting pretty we'll tired
out. The men kept shouting for help and after
a long interval Jones boy came along from his
home, half mile OF. The lad was sent of on
the double quick for . rife, and the time he
was absent seemed hours TO the tired men.
When he returned his father took the weapon,
and, aiming carefully at the gator, fred The
saurian plunged furiously forward a. he felt
the bullet and the rope parted with . snap. A
the saurian started toward them the rife spoke
again and the big brute turned over twice and
then lay quiet.
The alligator measured II feet inch in
length and weighed over 500 pounds. II was
bull gator and very fierce. The men declared
that one such squabble Of this kind was suf-
fcient to last lifetime.