, 1890-08-14
SAVED BY FLOUR.
A Woman's Desperate Conflict with
an Alligator.


A Woman's desperate Conflict With
an Alligator.
During the recent high water in
the vicinity of Courtney, Tex, a
huge alligator was killed under
what were probably tho most curl.
Gus circumstances that such q thing
ever took place. A woman named
Lucinda Burns, living about half A
mile on the other side of the river
(Brazosl, found herself cut Off from
the town and her neighbors by tho
water, though her own house, stand.
ing as it did ON an elevated point
was out of danger. She lived quite
alone, and her provisions giving out
one day, there was no ono to fetch
more but herself; so, getting in an
old "dugout," or home manufac.
turcd boat, she possessed, she rowed
herself to town, and after purchas.
ing what she needed, which in
cluded a sack of lour, she started
home again.
She had crossed about u quarter of
n mile of the sheet of water, which.
ut this point, was over eight miles
wide, the river being spread all over
its bottom, and was within half a
mile of home, when the boat struck
what seemed to be Il floating lop.
But the inert mass wheeled sudden.
ly about and displayed the horrid
gaping mouth aud scaly head of an
alligator. The creature, which had
apparently been floating asleep on
the water, seemed to regard the
blow of the boat as direct insult
and made for it furiously. Tho
woman, who Is of powerful build,
rowed with all her might, but see.
ing that 1t was impossible to out.
strip the saurian, turned and made
for the side she had just left, the
gator following. lie caught her
easily, and thrusting his long black
snout over the side of the boat, mar
rowly escaped upsetting 1t.
Mrs. Burns struck him with aB
her might across the nose with an
oar and caused him to fall back fof
n moment, but he returned to the
attack and again came near turning
over the boat. This was repeated
several times, the woman making
the most of her opportunities, row,
ing with all her might and now and
then striking ut the alligator, first
with one oar and then with the 9TH
er, IA he would approach either sidc
of the boat. n current caught her
and lent its aid in sending her to.
ward the shore, where IA crowd had
assembled and was watching her
movements In brcuthless Interest.
1t was evident, If she could succeed
in warding off the attacks of her
enemy II little longer, she would
reach the shore In safety; but to do
this was becoming more and more
difficult, for the alligator was be-
coming more vicious and bold as he
saw his prey escaping him.
The ugly brute drew back for q
mcment and gathered himself for o
rush that the woman succeeded In
avoiding by sweep of the oars, but
the sauriau turned instantly to rc-
peat the rush. The spectators gave
her up for lost, for the boat was still
rocking violently from the agitation
caused by the last rush and, there
being no other boat at hand, assist
ance from the land was impossiDle
Mrs. Burns here dropped her oars
as ii in despair, but 1t was sOou up
parent that her woman's ingenuity
had hit on II plan for Outwitting her
foe. She ripped open one end of the
flour sack. aud filling "A tin dipper,
used for bailing the boat, with the
contents, waiting until the alligator
reached the side of the dug-out, aud
then flung the flour straight
in his gaping throat, and before he
could dive filled his eyes with It,
The brute gnsped aud iloundered for
"A moment, then sunk, and for sew
cral moments she rOwed on undls.
turbed, But presently the black
shape rose close to the boat aud
made another rush mt 1t, only to re.
ceive another dipperful of Hour In
his eyes. Maddencd and blinded,
the alligator did not pause, however,
but hurled himself at the frail little
vessel with distcnded jaws, and tried
to climb in.
The boat dipped with his weight
and began to fill and sink, but Nlrs'
Burns caught up the sack of flour
and emptied 1t into the capaclous
mouth Just IA the dug.out capsized.
Down went the alligator, raising
mimic storm by the furious lashing
of his tail and his rolling and tunb'
ling, but the woman struck out iof
land, and catching "a rope that had
been thrown to her, was soon III
safety. The alligator, still gasplng
and twisting, rose presently TO the
surface of the water, and was easily
dispatched by shotguns, which had
been sent for from town, and only
arrived in time " end his gator
ships career.