The morning call., 1891-09-15
SEIZED AN ALLIGATOR.
Gus Was So Sure 1t Was Dead He Dashe ed
in If

Gus Was So Sure 1t Was Dead He Dashed
In After 1t.
When l lived in Texas it was in Atascosa
County, about forty or fifty miles southwest
of San Antonio de Bexar, on ranch, where
l was engaged in cattle raising. One moln-
ing some sever or eight of the nearest neigh
bOrs, representing as many families. whose
ranches were located along ths same little
stream, the Atascosa, the English of which
IS Little Muddy" met at the ranch of
Mr.. James French, who lived at the upper
end of The settlement, near small lake, or
rather large water hole in the bed of said
stream.
We had all brought our rifles with us.
hoping again to meet here for the purpose
of going some twenty miles out west to
drive away or kill some mustang horses
that had made their appearance near the
settlements among the tame herds, 1t being
very dangerous to have the wild mustangs
among them, as they frequently injured the
tame geldings, killing some of them, and
often enticing the whole herd with them Into
their range.
While we were sitting on the front YER
anda, chatting over the events Of the past
two days. the prospects Of crops, ETC.,
negro woman VINO had been down to the
lake near the house engaged in the family
washing. came rushing toward the house
screaming "Aligatorl AligatorW at the
top of her voice. The noise and frightened
appearance of the negress attracted the at
tentiOn of the boys, and Gus Durand, one OF
the party, snatched up his rifle and started
for the lake, the rest Of the party following
slowly after Gus was al unerring shot,
aud we knew If he got fair bead on the
gators eye that he was sure of his game.
We kept back far enough not to flush the
game and give Gus chance to take every
advantage of position, but we had gotten
sufficiently close to see at least the head and
shoulders of the reptile out on the bank, the
other half of his body still hanging in the
water. At the crack of the gun the alligator
Slid back into the lake and sank in about
ten feet depth of water. Ofcourse we could
not tell whether Gus had touched him or
not, whereupon some of the boys began to
guy him and Offering to bet that lie hadn't
even graZed his hide. Now Gus had the
utmost confidence in his unequaled marks
manshp, and was ready at all times to back
his judgment, whereupon, to the surprise OF
US all, he coolly accepted the challenge, and
offered to cover any mans $40 that he mad
and Gus deliberately doffed his clothing and
plunged into the water.
1t appeared afterward that the alligator
was not instantly killed, and by the merest
accident Gus happened TO land right on the
alligator's back Just as the reptile was in
the last throes Of the death agony and had
started to the surface. and in a very few
seconds landed him safely on shore, going
through his last shiver in the death strug-
gle in few feet of the water. 1t is stated
by those who claim experience in the hab-
its of the alligator that they always come to
land to die, and perhaps this accounts partly
for Gus good luck in getting out alive, as
we all agreed that 1t was the most fOOlhardy
trick we ever knew Gus Durand to be guilty
of.
Gus only reply to our remonstrances was:
81 knowed DANCED we'll I'd get his eye" as
he cooly pocketed the golden eagle.-Phl-
adelnhia Times