Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-08-27
FIGHT WITH An ALLIGATOR.
TWO Tampa Fishermen Battle for Their
Lives and Win.

81. LNNtN N.Nfr -iffN''.f *.+
TO hunt a gator or be hunted by
one" is quite a difference, asJohn high
land and viii Jones say. They We're
out fishing with east net in boat one
day week before last. at the mouth OF
Fish creek. which flows into Tampa bay
Just below Rocky point Noting Dig
hole near the bank they east the net H.
thinking to capture school of muIlec
but To their surprise big gator came
I'm, thrashing around in the livelicst
manner possible. Then followed fight
that was circus. except 10 the inter-
ested parties i'm their small boat.
The gator soon had the net in tatterS'
but the men. getting mad at this, pro-
cured a rope. east a blight around his
head and had him secure. This rem
gcrcd the Saurian furious. and he began
To battle right well. He plunged at the
boat and tried every way to get over Ihe
guUwale
The men had only small paddles and
pole to fight him with, but these they
piled lively, beating him about the
ewes and mouth whenever he tried TO
crawl into the boat. The gator would
iump half his length out of the water
and then rush at the boat with vide
omen mouth. showing long row OF
serratcd teeth that were ominous
of his intentions if he once gained
foothold I'm the skin. The
mon would push the pole into his gap
ing mouth and beat him with the pad
dies. and then tine brute would back Oh
Ill Of % fI
Finally. by tremendous sweep oil MS
tail the gator tore of hall the end cI
the boat. and 10 began TO sink. Jones
iumpcd for land. and. catching "a big
cypress tree. managed TO crawl ont
safely. Highland was not 50 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 Highland was flung
back I'm the water right in front OF tie
cnragcd and hungry monster. Seeing
him thus the gator. with a loud roar
plunged toward him with open jaws.
Jones saw his friends peril and jump
ed 10 his rescue, selling big ilght-
wood knot (which are as hard as iron
and sharp pointed in lis hand rs he did
so. Highland got ontauglcd ia the rope
and il looked as if the gator had meal
I'm readiness. Jones leap carried him
near the gators head, and hc brought
down the keen points of the weapon on
brute'S nose. one point going into ITS
eve. The big gator turned ON him and
thra>hcd madly.
Highland got clear of the rope finally
and scrambled TO land, where Jones
hastily followed ais 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 q
tree 10 get purchase ON theirropc, aud
the gator ran Ou 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 go in the face OF the
iufuriatcd monster. that they could see
was SO highly and thoroughly mat That
they stood no chance with him, cSpec-
tally without firearms.
The gator plunged at his would-bc
victims. so near and yet so far, and
roarcd iu impOtcnt rage and anger. Inc
men strained every nerve To- hold him
when he ragged In this manner, and
could only do so by the exercise of their
utmost strength. The rope crcakcd and
twisted under the strain, unfortunately
held. For half an hour this contest
continued, and gator and men alike
were getting pretty well tired out. The
men Kept shouting for help. and after a
long interval Jouos' boy came along
from hi. home half mile of.
The lad was sent of ON the
double quick for rifle, and the time he
was absent seemed hours % the tired
men. When he returned his father
took thc weapon and aiming carefully
40 the gator, fired; the Sauriau plunged
furiously forward as he felt the bullet,
and the rope parted with snap. As
the Saurian started toward them therllle
spoke again, and the big brute turned
over twice and then lay quiet.
The alligator measured II feet inch
I'm length. and weighed over 500 pounds.
II was a bull gator and very fierce.
The men declared that one such squad
bic Of this kind was sufficient TO last a
lifetime.