The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-11-29
BEAR VS.. ALLIGATOR.
A Fierce Fight in Louisiana Bayou.
Correspondent N. Y. Post.

and vindictiveness was equal to any
stored encounter between rival mon
archs or an Eastern jungle.
A friend had proposed al expedition to
the lakes and bayous of central Louisi-
ana to hunt the alligator, and we set
out. Crossing the river in a skiff, we
found waiting for us on the other side
two spirited black horses, sent down to
the landing by the acquaintance at
whose house we were to stay during the
hunt. The shiny faced i, ebony youngste1
who accompanied them on the inevitable
mule informed us, barring his woolly
head obsequiously, that "Massa am
he ar layin' by de crap am halter stick
clus' ter de field but I'se gwine er long
ter sho' yer de way, an massa seq mex
yo'selves ter hum" A glorious ride of
twenty miles over level roads, through
dense canebrakes, and fording sluggish
flowing bayous and stagnant lagoons,
brought us to the house in time for a
most appetizing dinner.
AT two o'clock the next morning we
were awakened by our colored friend
with the horses, and after hurried
cup of black coffee we set off on the
long ride before us. When the lakes
were reached faint streaks OF dawn We're
beginning to show, and awakening ami
NAL life could be heard through. the for
est in shrill screams of panther and
wildcat, with now and then the hoarse
below of an alligator. Many bears
Car. be found in the densely wooded
swamps of the interior Of Louisiana.
but we were loaded for alligator, not for
bear; so getting into a dugout made by
burning out the inside of a large tree
,trunk-a treacherous craft which the un-
Initiated had better beware of-we slowly
foated and paddle over the lake. Game
was plentiful, and by noon we had left a
full dozen of alligators floating in our
wake. By this time our appetites clam
ored for the opening of the lunch basket,
and as the stagnant lake water is pois-
onous we steered for bayou which fed
the lake on the opposite side. Our lunch
finished we stretched out for rest and
smoke. While lazily enjoying our siesta
we were suddenly startled by loud
crashing in the bushes on the other side
of the bayou. Snacthing up our rifles
we rushed to the waters edge just in
time to see large black bear come out
of the canebrake and walk leisnrely to
the opposite bank. He was evidently
thirsty. and had sought, .the cool waters
OF, the bayou instead of the easier OBJ
tanned but hot and stagnant lake water.
As he had not yet caught sight of us
+ we concluded to wait developments be-
fore attempting to secure so enyiable a
prize. t; sia5e4
The bear climbed into a low tree that
grew out Of the side OF the bank, and
r,1,fr, cfn
overhanging the bayou. His weight
bent the thick limb until it dipped into
the water, and the bear squatted himself
on the interlacing branches and began
tapping vigorously. So eagerly did he
drink and SO intently were we watching
him that neither noticed a fierce swirl
ing of the water just below, until long
back snout shot suddenly from beneath
the surface and two cleaning rows of
teeth closed on the outstretched muzzle
Of the bear. The shock of this unexpect-
ed onslaught was So sudden chat the
bear had no time to clinch his hold on
the tree, and so he tumbled headfore-
most into the water. and turning a
complete somersault, fell on his back at
some distance from the alligator. In
falling he had jerked himself free from
the aIligator's teeth, and now he began
to make franticsetforts to swim to shore.
But the alligator, with one flirt Of his
tail, was upon him again, this time
Selling him by a forepaw and crushing it
like an eggshell. We could hear the
bones crack. The bear uttered. a terrific
howl of pain and rage, and with his other
paw gave the alligator blow whichssent
Ills long body flying through the air for
a considerable distance This short res
pite the bear utilized in padding violent
ly. for the shore, for he was at a deadly
disadvantage in the water against the
lightning speed of the alligator in his
native element Ii he could only gain the
shore, it would soon be his picnic, for
the alligator cannot turn around, his
little stumpy legs being too far apart. If
any reader ever meets an alligator and
will take the precaution to have the
meeting take place on land. he need not
fear harm, for he can walk all around
the alligator with impunity.
But to return to the fight. Like a
flash the alligator caught the bear by his
hind leg. They were now in place
hidden sandbar, SO the fight was little
more even. With q vicious snarl the
bear turned ON his back, and, bending
double, caught the alligator by the soft
white flesh of bis throat. 1t was now the
bears turn to bite, and bite he did with
such good will that the blood spurted in
streams and the alligator, letting go the
IOUG he udu UotI CHEW Ing, CiulbuCu d
series of bowls that made the woods
ring. Then the fight grew fercer. The
alliagtor beat a loud tattoo with his tail
on the bears tough hide, but they were
at such close quarters that he could not
give it swing enough to break any bones.
He was gradually moving around to
better position, however, and suddenly
planted vicious blow square on the
beast that sent the bear flying head over
heels into deep water. He was up in a
second and both rushed together. The
gear again sought the alligator's soft
throat, and with his sharp teeth tore
breat mouthfuls of bleeding flesh.
Suddenly he let go with a scream of
agony and clappad his paws to his right
eye,. from which the blood was flowing
III torrents The alligator, unable to see
teeth or tail in such close quarters, had
torn the BEARS eye out with his sharp
claws. Maddened by the pain, the bear
reared up on his hind legs and clasped
the alliagtor's body in deadly en-
brace t$
Now. we thought, the victory will sure
" be with the bear He certainly did
seem to have the best of it. The alliga-
tor used what breath had not been
squeezed out of him in believing like
bull The sounds he uttered were so full
of rage~that the water fowl and small
animals near the bayou fled in alright.
rrk,o +x,xo ,+,,o.lal honLr Nd forth mr.