The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-08-18
COLORED MAN UP A TREE.
Beseiged for Long, Weary Hours by
a Horde Of Ravenous Alli-
gators.
The Adventure of q Runaway
Slave In the Swamps OF
Florida.
His Kinky Wool Turned As White as snow
In That Night of Terror-Kescued
n Maniac.

On the edge of a little lake about ten or
twelve miles northwest of here thsrs lives
an old negro whom l see and with whom i
talk every time l so hunting in that direc-
tion. 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. Inc last
time / was ont there l learned that hs was
quite young, only about 40, in fact, and
TINT his snowy looks had a history. After
urging | prevailed on him to tell mo the
story.
II seems that during the war this negro,
Ben Aiken, had run off. and While hiding
out in the woods subsisted as best he could
on wild fruits, some game, young corn, and
an occasional chicken, if he was SO fortu-
nate as to find one far enough away from a
plantation. One day he happened to slip
mp on = half-grown pig, and getting close
enough. KIN ooked it over. and at once stuck
it with hia knife and started of with 1t to
his improyissd hut. While picking his ay
through the swamp, and going from one
little mound to another, stepping on logs
and stumps and cypress knees, he noticed
that one log he was just in the act OF step
ping on was not a log at all, but quite a
the New York Sun. He lad lived long
enough among gators to feel no particular
un~easiness over this one, though he also
knew that they are mean to have around.
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
A. -. - ,.A~nk V-hny, ln f,rarH that his
little island was entirely surrounded by
aliigators, and he then realized that they
had been attracted by the shoat he was
carrying, which had left a trail of blood be-
hind him.
The darkey was now thoroughly fright
ened. He saw the allieators crowding
around his little island; he knew that at
night they would come up after him; he
had no weapons except a knife and a club;
he knew thore WAS no chance OF any one
hearing his cries, and it was now nearly
shutdown. A half-grown alligator came
with a club, but it gave him no consolation,
for he knew he could not keep that up
through the night. There vas one cypress
knee or stump on the mound which rose
about five feet or more, but he doubted his
ability to get upon its smooth top and. even
if ne got there, he didn't think he could
keep his place there long. Besides, it was
doubtful. even then, if 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 very
cramped position he could keep his place
upon the stump.
Night came on and be became sleepy.
He dare not close his eyes. He did every
thing possible to keep himself awake.
Finally, captivity itself would be a blessed
relief compared with this, and he called
loud and long for help hour after hour.
H. 1nayD ! \ xroc 0f No Init hn liant IL
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. lie tried
to brighten them away, so that he could at
least get down and stretch his limbs, but
they crawled all around him, glarinQ up at
him, opening their horrid mouths for the
feast they knew was coming. The hot rays
of the sun were becoming uncomfortable even
to him, a 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 altering his po-
sition it dropped to the ground. At once
an enormous alligator from each side
rushed toward it. 1t was the gauge of
battle, and a gurgling threat from each
was followed by the onset. Never lie
amy one witness such q combat The
enormous teeth and powerful 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 of each with his long tail and the
r~esounding echoes through the swamp-all
joined with Ben's hoarse cry for help, made
a din and commotion that almost deafened
Mr.. Aiken and his men, who now appeared
upon the scene. A crowd that had been ont
coon hunting the night before had been
frightened by Ben's cries, and reporting it
at the house Mr.. Aiken concluded it must
be his runaway hand, and SO took a crowd
of men and started after him, and now
came upon the scene. The battle between
the alligators vas finished and the con-
queror was at once also killed.
The others were driven away and Ben WAS
taken of his perch, a chattering, jibbering
idiot. A weeks rest restored him to his
normal condition, however, except his kinky
hair. That has always remained as white
as the whitest bale of cotton on the planta-
ton.
Tax on Wheat Suspended.
PARIS, Aug. 1.-THE French wheat crop
is estimated at ninety million hectoljtres q