Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1890-10-18
RACING FOR LIFE.
A RETRIEVER AND AN ALLIGATOR
SWIM TANDEM ACROSS
A RIVER.

Con hot, sultry day." said the
colonel, ''and within a lew miles Of
jacksonville, on a small tributary
to the st. Johns River, occurred
one Of the most sensational races for
life and prey that have come under
my notice.
"a party Of gentlemen left Jack
sonville last July on a Sporting ex-
petition, taking with them several
valuable, welltraiued dogs. TIE
owner Of a sPleniil retriever shot
at and wOuulej a duck Oh the
northern bank Of the stream, which
was about eighty yaris wide. Tie
wounded duck fell into 4 Jungle on
the opposite side aud the dog went
after, but could not fluid il. The
dog had only left the further bank
on his return, when suddenly the
snout of an alligator r0s. above tie
water The saurian gave chase,
while the gentlemen called the dog.
"Iht animal q emed TO realize ms
peril anu yelpeI while tine alligator
forged ahead. The cries Of the
party were continuous, ami the dog
swan his best. The alligator diu
not dip one moment, but kept his
eyes fastened upon the form OF the
dog. Not an inch seemed b be
gained or lost 10y either. The race.
was matchless. The alligator at
tempted occasional spurts, making
the water rush by in a snowy foam,
and the dog, evidently equal to The
emergency, would lay his ears hack
and speed along with astonishing
swiftness.
The middle Of the stream was
reached aud tine distance between
Pursuer and pursued remained tine
same. The sporismen began TO feaT
that the dog would give out before
they could ct an effective shot at
the alligator, Under tire cirCum
stances they UOuli not fire FOR feai
u killing the DOG; besides, having
only duck shot instead Of hall, theil
chances Of iuilieting any damag,
upon the reptile were few.
" The dog swan snXICusly, eNCit
edly, fixing his eyez upon the grlJI
II men and the low shore. Onil
about thirty yards more, AMI ii al
went well the dog would be safi'
The alligator changed his tactic
He would dip his snUut slightly IN
der the water, and In a wriggliu.
way would make a tJnishing spuris
but did not seem 10 Increase the us
lance. After each squirt the alliga
tor seemed to Loose "A little ground
out very little, At fifteen yard
from the bank the siae Of the mon
-ter could lie estimated. He wa
more than three yards in length
Every atom Of energy was exercise
by both. Cries rang out by Ia
men. The excitement began 10 in
reusify-the alligator was gaining
The brute did not notice the auxiUu
spectators on the shore. SUDDEN
report was heard. 7. vas q shl
It the alligator from = f1wling piec,
Needless Oi the noise the cOntesl
ants ih the race kept on. Only
iew feet and the dog would be
victim
sin vain did the retriever try I
ieugthen the distance 70 no purp1sj
The alligator was now gaining inc
ny inch. The dog was becOmiu
inspired possibly with too niue
lear, for he made several pite8J
yelPing aTpeals for help. SIEVE
yards nearer the bank, seven yarJ
from the goal Of hope and life for III
dog, and still the race was going O
with grim determination. Ever
hunter han his foWling piece read
% discharge at the alligator ~ 500
as he could DO it safely. The &c
-DUchet the slOping, water cover,
bank, Of the stream, and. with
wild cry OF delight from the spot
men and a yelp Of joy from the 20
ne soon was bounding on the shOr
The determination ii the aliIgat
vas 50 great that he stranded On u
sank, Lut lie rested there only for
moment. Several charges Of sh
we're poured into him in q wolfe
lie turned quickly and, with
,pTiug, la-hed the deep water al
lived into the dep;hs II the s.rear
-Omuha World Herald.