The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1891-06-05
APeT GATORS m,sHAP.
ne Gets Lost for SIX Months In = sew~r-
Pipe.

Some six months ago a prominent
citizen of Oc;ila betliought to himself
that he wanted Il small alligator TO
keep as a curiosity and to show TO
some friends of his whom he expected
from the north this winter. says a
letter from Ociila. Fla, to the st.
Louis Gfobe-DeDtocrdt.
In few days he had an opportunity
to crafty his wish at very moderate
price. and taking up the crate in which
.'Enoch" was Gagged. started proudly
home with his prize.
..1'he gator was as playful as Mail
tese kitten on a sunsIIiny day. He
soon learned to know what his name
WIS, and would come whenever called.
He would eat out of his masters hand.
and in fact so endeared himself into
the hearts of his master and mistress
that they We'd with each other TO see
who could catch for him the most and
fattest flies and roaches-rare and de-
licious tid-bits for alligators.
..Enocll' became so completely do
mesticated. 50 much like one of the
family, and was growing so large for
his age. that his master and mistress
determined To give him his liberty.
and so :Enocli" was turned loose aud
allowed to me;tu,ler around the gar
den. His most especial delight WAS 10
crawl up on the roof of tie wond<hed
and. stretching his sc;lly anatomy over
the ridge pole so that tile sun could
strike all parts of him at once. he
would close his dreamy eyes and lay
low for flies and June bugs until din
ner time
But, alas for poor .'Enochi,' Near
his cage was AN nprlIitg TO i:tr-se
sewer-f,ipe. and one day. in making a
snap rt Il .r.tsS-lIoppcr. lie IiiiSsed his
tooiing aud fell in.
AT dinner lime no .-Enoch" APP
ieared. The master and mistress did
nat know what to think of his absence.
but surprising that lie had curIed up
and went to sleep in the wasftub or
ash barrel. they would not WORRY; bat
when nis,t came and no .-Etu1cii"
they hecaine trtieiy alarmed. and. with
lanterns in hand. secured tile entire
premises, but no .tEnoch'' could he
found
Weeks passed. The master and mis-
tress had sniien over the first parox-
.>nIs of grief, hut they still had a
warm spot in their hearts for their lost
gator their '-EuneIi''
Just six months from the day
.-Enocl,' was lost II workman was re-
pairing a sewer-lIipe on OeklawaIa
avenue l. e pipe had become stop
ped up aud lie MAS trying TO find out
the case. Putting his arm up The
pipe la see if he could feel the OBJ
struciion he was Mortified 10 feel sonie-
thing take Told of il like Il wise. His
teeth eiIaitered. his hair stood straight
up on his lie:td- and il was only br a
mighty effort that lie could attract the
attention of IL bysiantler. who came 10
his rescue They decided the best way
was to make tile thin. let go. but fail
ing in this. their only hope was to pull
the thing. whatever il was. out The
bvstander tt,nk hold of the workman.
aud the work. man planted his feet
against the sidewalk. anil then they
pulled. How it li,ppened they never
knew. but something suddenly gave
way aud they both fell ov, r e;ciI other.
and by The time they got the sand out
of their eveS all ti:ev could see was a
4-foot 'gltor walking leisurely away
and blinkins his eyes as if he wasn't
used tn tue light.
The gator was -Enoch." He was
recognized by Il ece of blue ribbon
that It's mistress had led around his
neck. Six months life in sewer
hadn't any had effect upon him or dim
med his memory. and the same day.
an hour later, he gi.idldeneI the hearts
of his former master aud mistress by
crawl ling niajt.Sticaliy into the yard
and taking up ais old quarters
..Euoth' will n-se er go near the
sewer opening .ia5iiis-