The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1891-09-17
AN ALlICATOR'S PREY.
A Baby Girl Falls Into the Saurian's Tank,
but L. Calamity Rescued.

hall in Vienna the other day. says
Parsons Heck'y, Il panic was caused
by AN occurrence which had the effect
of unstringing the nerves of large
portion of the audience.
In front of the stage was tank IN
which was floating an enormous alli-
gator The tank was carefully rallied
10 prevent any overcurious spectator
from falling forward and making
meal for the yor:.cious-looking mon
ster. and also 10 prevent the latter
from undertaking an expedition among
the members Of the audience.
The programs contained an an
nouneement that the alligator would
perform later on, and in the mean
time a troup of trained monkeys was
amusing the audience with their en-
tertaining antics and clever tricks.
In the mhlst of this diversion a little
girl. rs pretty as picture. and fault
lessly attired. who was among the oc-
cupants Of one OF the stage boxes that
literally oyerhung the tank, in her APP
parent curiosity TO watch the hideous
saurian. tumblcd forward, and before
her agonized mother could put forth
her hand to save her, had fallen with
in the railing and was clinging to the
edge of the tank with her little feet
dangling i'll the water.
There was simultaneous shrek
from about 1000 throats. as the
spectators saw what had occurred. and
dozen freuZicd men tried to extricatc
themselves from their seats and rush
to the rescue of the hapless little victim
Before anything could be done. how
ever, the monster hal observed the
treat which was in store for him. aud
swimming for the place where the
Child hung opened It's terrible mouth.
With one shrek Of anguish the little
one disappeared into the terrible jaws
of the reptile. which swan lazily off to
the other side of the tank.
As the men who had rushed forward
from among the audience paused at
the edge of the tank, not knowing
what TO do Il man clad in an oilskin
suit brushed his way past them on his
way down from the gallery.
The man. who was Il Hercules in
build, leaped nimbly over the rail, and
drawing long-bladed knife from
sheath dangling at his side. stood up 10
his waist in water, and prepared 10
face the terrible monster, which now
turned upon him rs if aware of his in
tentions.
Every one seemed paralyzed rs the
bvstandcrs watched the strange COM
bat between the man in the oilskin and
the ferociouS saurian. The man was
on the alert, and stood ready with his
knife rs the enormous amphibian made
lunge at him. Quick rs lightning
the man sank beneath the waters of
the tank as his terrible adversary
rushed upon him, and before he rose
to the surface the tank was died vivid
scarlet-whether from the lfe-blood of
the man. or the alligator. was not APP
parent till the hero appeared on the
Surface and waved his hand aloft 10
show that he was all right.
a tremendous cheer burst from the
audience. The alligator had evident
ly cot the worst of the fight SO far. as
he came forward sluggishiv enough
and received another thrust from his
agile foe, which caused him to turn on
his back and float aimlcSsIy upon the
surface.
Round after round of applause greet
ed the fearless foe in the oilskin, but
his program was not completed yet.
Selling the trunk of his dead opponent
with one hand he began to carve up
his helpless foe. The interior of the
monster was soon revealed by cutting
away large portion OF the scaly body,
and the intention of the brave fellow
became evident lie was going 10 re-
cover what remained of the poor victim
whose untimely death had been avenged
by his bravery.
A convulsive sob arose from the
spcll-b0und an licmce rs the rigid little
form, bearing no marks of having been
bitten, but very quiet. WAS drawn out
from the aligator's interior. A mo-
ment later the childish corpse lost its
rigidity, and. with Il cry of joy, the in
nocent started up in the arms of her
preservcr capped her hands over her
head. and shouted in a very lifclike
manner.
The lady in the box. just recovered
from her faint. came forward and took
her darling from tie arms of her bury
rescuer; the man in the nveralls bowed
to the audience in reply /" their cease
less applause. and then two or three
dozen people rushed forward and. TAX
ing off rings and watches. forced them
upon the heroic fellow, while coins
fell around him in a positive rain.
1t was not till the tank had been
taken away, and the man in the over
allS, now clad in faultlcSs evening
suit had bowed TO the audience once
more. that the people recognized the
fact that the alligator act had been per-
formed. and that the Notwithstanding
saurian was only n clever imitation in
papier mache with mechanical effects.
The discOnsolate mother and the
child whom the alligator had gnbb!cd
up sat and smiled through The rest of
the performance, and tanSc wlo had
been so spontaneously generous f"it "a
if their smiles were tingcd with
slight amount of rdiculc.
The favorite midsummer midday
lunch of N-CongrnSSmam John S.Wisu.
Of Virginia. IS tomatoes and onions,
aud he invariably invites all his friends
to try the same dish 1T the same time.
Dick WinterSnith once partook OF this
dainty dish at one of the most cXpen-
sivc hotels in hington-C!iamber
inns. Il wish. said he 10 Henry
Watterson. who was one of the party.
That could get something to cure
nv breath after this deli ghfuI repast."
Have you paid your bill yet at this
hotel?" asked Watterson. NO" said
Wintersmith. in surprise. ''rnen ask
for it at once" rejnined Watterson.
aud when you get it, i. will take your
breath away"
In ancient Egypt marriages between
children of the same parents was ac-
quiesced in and approved. The wires
of nearly all the PharoahS were their
own sisters. The Persian Kings since
the time of CamhySes married their
own sisters. They ryeu married their
own daughters. Among the West
Asiatic and various Greek u,tiunS mar
-ages between relative, were permit
ted-with the exception of marriages
between Children OF the same parents
and between parents aud their Off
Snrjnr Ihp e1r!irsl Roman iawS pru.