Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-12-17

lake, or rather large water hole in the
bed OF said stream. says a writer in
the Philadelphia Times. This was
not running stream all the year
round, but was formed of small lakes
a few miles or less apart and the
water only ran from Lake to lake dur
ing about three or four months of the
late fall and winter seasons.
At the time that | write there was
no water in the creek except in these
lakes. which was the home OF the
beautiful and artistic alligator
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, it being very danger
Gus 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
veranda, chatting over the events of
the past two days, the prospects of
crops, etc, a negro woman who had
been down to the lake near the house
engaged in the family washing came
rushing toward the house, screaming
ALLIGATOR! alligator" at the top of
her voice. The noise and frightened
appearance of the negress attracted
the attention 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 an unerring shot and we
knew if he got a fair bead On the ga
tors eye that he Was sure of his game.
We kept back far enough not to
flush the game and give Gus chance
20 take every advantage of position,
but We lad got sufficiently close to see
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 sunk in about
ten feet deep OF water. Of course we
could not tell whether Gus had touched
him or not, whereupon some of the
boys began to guy him and offered to
bet that he hadn't even grazed the
hide. Now Gus had the utmost con-
fdence in his unequaled marksman-
ship 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 had killed the alli-
gator. The wager was settled and
Gus deliberately dotted his clothing
and plunged into the water.
1t appeared afterward that the alli-
gator 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 minutes
landed HIM safely on shore, going
through his last SILVER in the death
struggle in few feet of the water 1t
is stated by tho who claim expe-
rience in the habits OF the alligator
that they always come to land 10 die,
and perhaps this accounts partly for
Gus good luck in getting out alive, as
we all agreed that it was the most
foolhardy trick we ever knew Gus
Durand to be guilty Of.
Gus only reply to our remonstrances
was: Il knowed DANCED we'll I'd get
his eye" as he coolly pocketed the
golden eagle.