Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1890-10-15
naiiiInc Win a Bull '6ator.

At hunt gator or be hunted oy one
isqnil, difference, as John Highland
All VIII Jones. say. They were out
iahing With cast net in boat one day
recen-ly at tie mouth of Fish Creek,
which flows into Tampa Bay just below
Rock Point Noting a big hole near
the lank they cast the net in, thinking
CAPTURE a school Of mulet, but to their
surprise a big gator came in, thrashins
ani whaling around in the liveliest man-
ncr possible. Then followed a fight that
was circus. except to the Interested
parties in their small boat.
Tie Gator soon had the net ~ tatiers,
but the men, getting mad at This pro-
cured a rope, cast blight around his
head. and had him secure. This rem
dereI the saurian furious, and he began
to lattle right well He plunged at
the boat and trie every way to get over
the cunwale. The men had only small
paddles and pole to fight him with, but
these trey piled lively, beating him
about the ewes aud mouth whenever he
tried 10 crawl over into the boat The
gator would jump half his length out
of the water AMI then rush at the boat
with wide open mouth, showing long
row of sorratcd teeth that were ominous
of his intentions if he once gained foot
hold in the skiff. The men would push
the pole into his gazing mouth and beat
him 18th the paddles, and then the brute
would back Off with loud below OF
rage and anger Finally, by tremen-
dous sweep OF his tail the gator tore of
half The end Of the boat, and it began to
sink. Jones jumped for land, and,
catching big cypress knee, managed
TO crawl out safely. Highland was not
so fortunate. Rolling one end of the
rope in his land he sprang overheard
and tried to gain The land, but the gator
pulled away abruptly, and Highland
was flung back into the water right III
front of the enragel and hungry mon-
ster Seeing him thus, the gator, with
loud roar, plunged toward him with
open jaws
Jones saw his friends peril, and
Jumped to his rescue. seizing a big light
wood knot (Which are rs hard as iron,
and sharp pointed, in his hand as he did
So Highland got entangled in the rope,
and it looked a7 if the gator had meal
in readiness. Jones's leap carried him
near the gators head, and he brought
down the keen point of his weapon on
the brute's nose, one point going into Is
eve. The big gator turned on him and
thrashed madly.
Highland got clear Of the rope finally,
and scrambled to land, where Jones
hastily followed 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 n purchase on their rope, and
the gator ran on the opposite side.
There they were; the rope was so held
that the gator couldn'tquite get TO them,
while. on the other hand, they didn't
dare to let go in the face Of the in
furiated monster, that they could zee
was so highly and thoroughly mad that
they stood no chance with him, e5-
peciallv without firearms The gator
plunged at his would be victims, so near,
and vet so far, and roared in impotent
rage and anger. The men strained
everv nerve to hold him when he ragged
in this manner. and could only do 50 by
the exercise of their utmost strength
The rope creaked and twisted under the
strain, but fortunately held.
For half an hour this contest con-
tinued, and gator and men alike were
getting pretty well tired out The men
kept shouting for help, and after long
interval Joness boy came along from his
home half mile Off The lad was set
of on the double quick for a rife, and
the time he was absent seemed hours to
the tired men. When h returned his
father took the weapon, AMI aiming
carefully at the gator, fired; the saurian
plunged furiously forward as he felt the
bullet, and the rope parted with a snap.
As the saurian started toward them the
rifle spoke again and the big brute
turned over twice and then lay quiet
The alligator measured II feet 1 inch
in length, and weighed over 500 pounds.
It was bull gator, and very fierce.
TIE men declared that one such squab-
ble of this kind was sufficient t. last
lifetime. -[St Louis Globe Democrat