Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1891-09-04
A NEGRO'S ADVENTURE.
WHY HIS WOOL TURNED WHITE
AT AN EARLY AGE.
The Awful Experience of Ben Aiken-Up
a Stump and Beset by Alligators
"A Runaway Spent e.
Dreadful Night.

or LWelVo mlloS northwest OF ldlluUuS-
sec there lives an old negro whom /
see and with whom l talk every time |
go hunting in that direction, says
writer To the Globe Democrat. At
least. have always supposed he was
aged, for though his wife is a buXom
young woman. he is white-haired,
though hale and hearty in appearance
The last time l was out there / learned
that he was quite young-only about
40. in fact and that his snowy locks
had n history. After urging / pre-
vailed on him to tell me the story.
1t seems that during the war this
negro. Ben Aiken. had run off, and
while hiding out in the woods sub
sisted as best he could on wild fruits,
some game, young corn, and an occa-
sional chicken, if he was so fortunate
as to find one far enough away from a
plantation. One day he happened to
slip up on half-grown pig and, getting
close enough, knocked it over. and at
once stack it with his knife and started
of with it to his improvised hut
While picking his way through the
swamp, and going from one little
mound to another, stepping on logs
and stumps and cypress trees, he no
ticed that one log he was just in the
act OF stepping on was not log at all,
but quite vicious looking alligator.
He had lived long enough among ga
tors TO feel no particular uneasiness
over this one. though no also knew
that they are mean to have around
Ben stepped back to the mound he
was on (Which was only about ten or
twelve feet square) and concluded 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 a retreat
when he found that his little island was
entirely surrounded by alligators. and
he then realized that they had been at
tracted by the shoat he was carrying.
which had left trail OF blood behind
him.
Tho darby was now thoroughly
frightened. He saw the alligators
crowding around his little island; he
knew that at night they would como
up after him; he had no weapons ex-
cept knife and club; he knew there
was no chance of anyone hearing his
cries, and it was now nearly shutdown.
A half-grown alligator came crawling
up toward him. and he Drained it with
club, but il gave him no consolation.
for he knew that he could not keen
that up through the night There
was one cypress knee or stump on the
mound which rose about five feet or
moro, but he doubted his ability to get
upon its smooth top, and. even il he
got there, he didn't think he could
keep his place there long. Besides.
it was doubtful. even then, il he would
be out of reach of their jaws. Being
the only chance. however, he tried it,
and found that by close attention and
sitting in a cramped position. he could
keep his place upon the stump.
Night came on and he became
sleepy. He dare not close his eyes.
He did everything possible to keep
himself awake. Finally captivity it.
self would be blessed relief COM
pared with this, and no called long
and loud for help hour after hour. He
knew II was OF no use, but he kept it
up. At last the first gray streaks OF
dawn were seen. and presently came
tho day. His little mound was covered
with alligators, and the swamp seemed
alive with them. He tried TO brighten
them away so that he could get down
and stretch his limbs. but they crawled
all around him, glazing up at him.
opening their horrid mouths for u
feast they knew was coming. The
hot rays OF the sun were becoming I'M
endurable even to him. plantation
niger" for he had kept up his calling
for help until his throat and mouth
seemed parched.
He had all this time kept the pig in
his arms. and, now. in slightly alter
ing his position. it cropped to the
ground. At once an enormous ALI
gator from each side rushed toward it.
1t was the gauge OF battle, and gurg-
| ling threat from each was followed by
the onset. Never did any one witness
such combat! The enormous teeth
and powerful jaws crashing on mailed
side, back. and head; the final advant-
age gained by one IN grip under the
neck. and the fearful struggle Of the
other; the terrible strokes OF each with
/ his long tail. and the resounding
echoes through the swamp-all, joined
with Ben's hoarse cry for help, made
"a din and commotion that almost deaf
ened Mr.. Aiken and his men, who
now appeared upon the scene. A
crowd that had been out coon hunting
the night before had been frightened
by Ben's cries. and reporting IL at the
house, Mr.. Aiken concluded 1t must be
his ru Slway hand, and so took a crowd
OF men and started after him. and now
came upon the scene. The battle be-
tween the nlligators was finished, and
the conqueror was at once also killed.
The others were driven away. and
Ben was taken off his perch. a chatter
ing gibbering idiot A weeks rest re-
stored him TO his normal condition.
however, except his kinky hair. That
has always remained as white as the
] ~ - III A..