The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-07-20
SAVAGE ALLIGATORS.
A Frightful Experience in the
SWamps of Florida.
Perched All Night on a Stump Surrounded
by Enormous Alliga-
tors.

On the edge of little lake, about ten OF
twelve miles northwest of here. there lives
AN old colored man whom l see and with
whom talk every time l 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 and hearty in appearance. The last
time | was out there l learned that he was
quite yOung-only about 40, in fact. and that
his snowy locks had a history.
1t seems that during the war this colored
man, Ben Aiken, had run off, and while
hiding cut in the woods subsisted as best he
could on wild fruits, some CANA, young
corn and an occasional chicken, if he was so
fortunate as to find one far enough away
from plantation. One dav he happened to
slip up on haif-grOwn pig, and, getting
close enough, knocked it over, and al once
stuck il with his knife, and started off with
IL 10 his impToyised hut. While picking his
way through the swamp and going from one
little mound to an Their, stepping on logs and
stunlpS and cypress knees, he noticed that
one leg he was just in the act Of stepping on
was not log at all, but quite vicious
: looking alligator. He had lived long enough
amongA' cato rs to feel no particular uneasi-
ness over this one, though be 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 slug
glsh creature moved on, but the "'gator !"
Gsiter awhile aroused itself, AMI In company
with fouI OF five others started toward Ben.
The colored man concluded to beat re-
treat, when he found that his little island
was entirely surrounded by ailigators, and
he then realized that they had been at
tracted by the shoat be was carrying, and
which had left a trail of blood behind him.
The Garky was now thoroughly fright
ened. he saw the alligators crowdng
around his little island; lie knew that at
night they would come IN after him; he
had nc weapons except knife and IA club;
he knew there was no chance of any one
hearing his cries, and it was now nearly
sundown. a half-grown alligator came
crawling up toward him and lie Drained it
. win club, but 1t gave him no consolation,
for he knew he 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 he doubted
his ability to get, up on its smooth
did not 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. how
ever, he tried il, and found that by close at
tention and sitting in a very Cramped posi-
ton 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 10 Keep himself awake. Finally,
captivity itself would be blessed relief
compared with this and he called loud and
long for help hour after hour. He knew it
was OF no use, bat he kept it up. At last the
first gray streak of dawn was SEEM and
presently came the day. His little mound
was covered with alligators, and the swamp
seemed alive with them. He tried to
frghten them away, so that he could
al least get down and stretch his
weary limbs, but they crawled ali
around him, glaring up at him, opening their
hGrTld mouths for tue feast they knew was
4GOmiug. The hot rays of the sun were be-
coming uneDdurabie, even to him, plan
tatien niger" for he had kept up his call
ing for help until his throat and mouth
seemed parehed. lie had all this time kept
the pig in his arms. and now. in slightly al
tering his position. it dropped TO the ground.
Al once an enormous alligator from each side
rushed toward it. 1t was the gage of battle,
and gurglIng threat from each was followed
Ivy tire onset. Never did any one witness such
combat. The enormous teeth ana power
tul Jaws crashing on mailed side, back and
head, the final advantage gained by one in
a grip under the neck, and the fearful
struggle Of the other; the terrible strokes
on each with his long tail, and the resound-
nig echoes through the swamp-aIl, Joined
with Beu's hoarse cries for help, made din
and cOmmation that almost deafened Mr..
Aiken aud his men, who now appeared upon
the scene. a crowd that had been ont coon
hunting the night before had been frightened
" Deh > cries anu reporting at the mouse, Mr..
Aiken concluded it must be bis runaway
hand, and so took a crowd of men and
started after him. and now came upnn the
scene The battle between the alligators
was finished, and the conqueror was al
once also killed. The others were driven
away. and Ben was taken off his perch a
chattering. gibbering idiot. A weeks rest
restored him to his normal condition. how
ever. except his kinkly hair. That has
always remained as white as the whitest
bale of cotton on the plantation.-Talla-
hassee (Fla.) special to Cincinnati Enquirer.