St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1890-02-08
AND A
HOW . Huge eaurlao Disabled and q
cured Its Human Prey.

HOW . Huge eaurlao Disabled and -.
cured Its Human Frey.
An exciting story Of an alligator's VIC
tory over its human prey is CLEANED
from ''Sier.a Leone; or, the White Mans
erave:"
"One Of my men" says Mr.. Lethbridge
Banbury, crushed round from the back
Of the island and cried out: 'Massa, ma
dug-out upset, an dc man calling for
help
81 followed the men round the island,
apprehending nothing, and expecting 70
see the occupants Of the M wading
ashore, or again inside Of it. The man
wss standing in about four feet Of water
and mud, with paddle in hand, pushing
and striking at the water, while the
canoe fioatcd slowly down with the
tide. The boy, still screaming. swan
rapidly toward the far shore.
"'Isut why let the IN drift away
upside down, when he a so easily
regain it" l said, speaking more to my
self than tho Yet, as I spoke,
there was q commotiOn in tho water,
and the man, q powerful fellow, began
hitting out with all his might at a huge
dripping body, now slowly raising itself
. few PAGES before him. by heavens!
an alligator" I cried, as the monster
stood high out OF the water, the ugly
head craned forward, ami the two front
legs battling with the doomed negro.
My gun and shot-bag-quick. and suit
Ing the action to the word, l tore round
to the rock where l had left them, and
returned painting with the exersion. and
earnestly hoping that I might be in
time.
"Yes, there they were still, about
eighty yards of, the man fighting for
dear life. hitting III hard and strong at
the massive saurian but a few fec. from
him. Tho blows fell harmlessly upon
the thick head and body of tho brute
while the man endeavored to back
further away.
"There was not q foot between them
now, and it was impossible to fire, as
with anxious heart l dropped on one
knee and tried in vain to take a true
sight. 1t was impossible to do 80. as the
mans body was constantly covering that
of the alligator in their struggle, SO I
fired in the vain hope Of frightening the
beast away.
But my shots were UNDECIDED, for
they were soon absolutely entangled in
an unequal wrestling match, as with .
quick movement, the huge alligator
threw itself upon the wretched man.
The boat" l said, but my men shook
their heads. She was lying useless on
an Oozy bed of mud, and no amount Of
pulling would move her into deep water
within at least an hour. So I continued
firing, and then rushed desperately into
tho water. with an idea Of wading
toward the man. but it was useless.
Ere 1 had proceeded ten yards
the mud and slush were up to
my middle, and I could barely
move my feet; so returned to the shore.
1t was too late to do any thing, for
slowly but surely the alligator was gain
ing ground; its neck and body were
~craning over the mans shoulder, while
he tried to dig it of with his useless
weapon.
There was y mOmentary struggle, .
sort of spreading wriggle, as though the
alligator was putting still more weight
into its body; q faint cry. a splash, and
the water threw around a few circular
rings as they sank beneath its surface.
In vain I watched the water, with faint
hope Of seeing the man rise once more
to renew the unequal contest. Not .
sign or vestige again appeared, and be-
low the dark surface of the silent stream
the brute lay sprawling above its IN
happY victim until he WAS drowned"