The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-11-11
JUMPED on AN ALLIGATOR.
Gus Durand's Foolish Confidence In
His Rife shooting.
From tte PhiIadeIplf1 Tinles.

his Rifle shooting
From the Philadelphia Times.
when lived in Texas, it was in Atlas
cosa county, about forty of fifty miles
southwest Of San Antonio de Bear. on a
ranch' where was engaged in cattle rails
| ing.
One morning some seven or eight of the
nearest nelghbors, representing as MANI
Isnlnes, whose ranches were located along
Tue same little stream, the Atascosa. the
English OF which is Little Muddy.n met at
the ranch Of James French, WHO lived az
the upper end of the settlement. near a
small lake, or, rather, large water hole in
the bed OF said stream.
This was not a running stream all the
year round, but was formed of small lakes
OF a lew miles or less apart, aud the yvater
only ran from lake to lake during about
three or four months of the late fall and
winter seasons.
At the time that l write there was no
water In the creek except Ii these lakes,
which was the home of the beautiful and
artistic alligator.
We had all brought our rifles with us.
hoping 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 dangerous to
nave the wild mustangs among them, as
they frequently injured the tame geldinRs.
killing some OF them and often enticing the
whole herd with them into their range.
While we we're sitting on the front
veranda, chatting over the events of the
past two days, the prospects of crops, ETC.,
negro woman who had been down at the
lake near the house engaged il 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 bis rife and started for the
lake, the rest Of the party following slowly
after.
Gus was an unerring shot, and we knew
that II 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 got
sufficiently close to see at least the head and
shoulders of the reptile out on the bauk the
other half Of the 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. or course 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 he hadn't
even grazed the hide.
Now, Gus had the utmost confidence in
his unequaled Workmanship aud was ready
at all times to back his Judgment, where
upon, to the surprise Of us ALL he coolly &C.
cepted the challenge and offered to cover
any mans SO that he had killed the alli-
gator.
The wager was settled and Gus deliber-
ately 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 alhgator's back just as the reptile
was in the last throes of the death agony
and had started for the surface, and IN
very few seconds landed him safely on shore
going through bis last SILVER IN the death
struggle in a few feet of the water.
1t is stated by those who claim expert
ence in the habits of the alligator that they
always come to land to die, and perhaps
this accounts partly for Gus's good luck in
getting out alive. as we all agreed that it
was the most foolhardy trick we ever knew
Gus Duraut to be guilty of.
Gus only reply to our remonstran ces
was Il knowed DANCED we'll I'd get his
eye" as he coolly pocketed the golde eagle.