The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-08-15
WOOL TURNED WHITE.
AWFUL EXPERIENCE or A NEGRO
BESGT sY ALLIGATORS.


four Hours on a Stump in q Deep
Swamp-He Held a Pig on His Back and
Was Surrounded by Hungry SaurIAns.
On the edge of little take about ten or
twelve miles northwest of Tallahassee,
there lives an old negro whom | see and
with whom talk every time / go hunting
in that direction. AT least have always
supposed he was aged. for though his wife
is buXom young woman, he is white
haired, though hale aud hearty in appear
ance The last time / was out there I
learned that he was quite young. only
about forty in fact, and that his snowy
locks had history After urging pre-
vailed On him to tell me the story.
Ii seems that during the war this negro,
Ben Aiken, had run of. and while hiding
out In the woods subsisted as best he could
on wild fruits, some game. young corn. and
an occasional chicken If he was so fortunate
as to find one far enough away from q
plantation.
One day he happened to slip up on a half
grown pig and, getting close enough,
knocked il over. and at once stuck it with
his knife and started of with it to his i'm
provised hut. While picking his way
through the swamp and going from one
little mound TO another, stepping on logs
and stumps and cypress knees, he noticed
that one log he was just in the act of step
ping on was not log at all, but quite Q
vicious looking alligator.
He had lived long enough among gators
to feel no particular uneasiness over this
one, though he also knew that they are
mean to have around. Ben stepped back
to the mound be was on (which was only
about ten or twelve feet s9uare) and con-
cluded to wait till the sluggish creature
moved on. But the gator after awhile
aroused itself, and in company with four
or five others started toward Ben.
The negro concluded to beat retreat,
when he found that his little island was
entirely surrounded by alligators. and he
then realized that they had been attracted
by the shoat he was carrying, which had
left trail of blood behind him.
ALLIG AToRs ON EVERY SIDE.
The darby was now thoroughly fright
ened. He saw the alligators crowding
around his little island; he knew that at
night they would come up after him; he
had no weapon except knife and a club;
he knew there was no chance Of any one
hearing his cries, aud it was now nearly
shutdown A half grown alligator came
crawling up toward him and he Drained it
with club. but it gave him no consola-
ton, for he knew be could not keep that
up through the night.
There was one cypress knee or stump on
the mound which rose about five feet or
more, but be doubted his ability TO ges
upon its smooth top, aud even If he got
there he didn't think he could keep his
place there long. Besides, it was doubtful
even then if he would be out of reach Of
their jaws. Being the only chance. how
ever, be tried it, and found that by close
attention and sitting in very cram ped
position he could keep his place upon the
stump.
Night came on and he became sleepy. He
dare not close his eyes lie did everything
possible to keep himself awake. Finally.
captivity itself would be a blessed relief
compared with this, aud he called long and
loud for help hour after hour. lie knew 1t
was of no use, but be kept it mp.
At last the first gray streaks of dawn
were seen, aud presently came the day.
His little mound was covered with alliga-
tors and the swamp seemed alive with
them. He tried to brighten them away, SO
that ne could at least get down and stretch
his limbs, but they crawled all around
him, glaring up at him, opening their hor-
rid mouths for the feast they knew was
coming.
The hot rays Of the sun were becoming
uncomfortable, for he had kept up dis call
ing for help until his throat and mouth
seemed parched.
RESCUED a CHEERING IDIOT
n had all this time kept the pig IN his
arms. and now. in slightly altering his
position, it dropped TO the ground. A.
once an enormous alligator from each side
rushed toward it, II was tue gauge Of
battle, aud a gurgling threat from each
was followed by the onset. Never did any
one witness such combat
The enormous teeth aud powerful Jaws
crashing on mailed side. back aud bead:
tbs final advantage gained by one Ia a grip
under the neck. and the fearful struggle
of the other; the terrible strokes Of each
with his long tall, and the resoundiug
echoes through the swsmp-all, Joined
with Ben s hoarse cry for help. made din
and commotiou that almost dsafsned Ar.
Aiken and bis men. who nov appeared
upon the scsue.
i crowd that had been out coon hunting
the night before had been frightened By
Ben's cries. and reporting II a. the house
Mr.. Aiken concluded II must be his run
away hand, and 50 took crowd Ok men
and started after bin aud COW came upon
the sceue The battle between The alliga~
tors was finished. and the eonqusror Was
az once also killed
The others we're driven away. ard Ben
was taken of his perch. chstterinR. Gio-
bering idiot A weeks rest restored him
70 his normal coalition. however, eIceps
his kinky hair. That has always remained
a. white r. tie wGlsest bale o. cotton On
the D!aEtAt.ou.-Cor- 81 L1ou.s Globe Dem