Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-02-15
ExpLoIrs WIrn AllIaAroRs.
A Hunter Who Boards the Monsters IL
Their Dem

Their Den.
The colored man who has lived for
any length of time in Florida has o
most wholesome respect for alligators,
and holds in almost religious awe the
man who will plunge stark naked and
unarmed save with short piece of
rope into river right in the midst of a
school Of these terrible man eaters.
That man should not only do this and
escape alive, but that he should also
bring with him on his exit from the
river alive and struggling iiercely but
nearly made harmless in net of skill
fully tied rope the largest and iierccst
man-eater in the school, is sufficient to
make that man very demi-god in the
eyes Of colored citizens. That is what
John Davis of Jacksonville, does, and
that is why for the past few days he
has been wined and dined, or rather
beered and Drcakfasted by the residents
along and about Lombard street.
Approached upon the subject of his
exploits, Davis said to mo to-day:
"Yes, am known all over Florida as
Alligator Davis. have been in the
business of capturing live alligators for
museums and show people for the last
20 years. | am now on my way to
New York on business connected with
my avocation.
ITO tell the truth, if you know how
to do ii, IL is not much of trick to COW
an alligator. In the first place an alli-
gator will not seize man save on the
surface of the water. If one makes
rush at me dive. Hard pressed con-
tinue to dive until can get a slip-noosc
over the alligator's tai and eventually
another over his snout about his jaws.
The two slip-nooses are both running
and in spite of MIR. Man. eaters angry
furnishings | gradually draw his head
and tail together tying him up in a
helpless knot. Then drag him ashore.
whenever l find myself at uncom-
fortably close quarters with an alligator's
snout plunge my fingers into his eyes
and he gladly turns tail and gives up
all ideas Of u man for breakfast. Another
tender spot on AN alligator is his under
surface, which is not armored like his
back. Rub the butt end Of your rough
rope lassu against his stomach and he
will make tracts in short order. Of
course that can only be done by diving
or when he has turned on his back to
grab you.
My greatest exploit in the eyes of
the colored people, however, is not in
tackling alligators in the open of the
rivers and swamps, but in diving and
coming up in the caves which they Lol-
low out under the banks of the river
and where droves of them congregate.
Most negroes, yes and most men of any
color, would tackle the old Nick him.
self before they would attempt this feat
You see, the alligators hollow out
great caves under the banks of the river
and assemble there in crowds. There also
they rear their young. The entrances to
these caves are beneath the surface OF
the river and are only lit up by an occa,
sional cave.in. l dive under the banks
and after few moments absence come
back with captive alligator bound
head and tail. ..
You could knock the eyes off the
astonished negroes who watch Inc dc
this with club. 1t is all, however
very simple when you know how. Al
| said before, an aliigator's tender spo
is his eyes. When | dive under the
banks take, in addition to my rope, 1
quantity of red pepper in receJ taclC
which Keeps it dry, If on my arriva
in the cave the man-eaters crowd me toe
closely, l can soon scatter them like {
flock of sheep with the pepper.
"The greatest danger in working
under the banks is Of a cave-in, fol
should that happen, not being an ALI
gator, could not bore my way out, bu
should be buried alive. have had til,
cold perspiration stand out on me some
times, when captive bull alligator
thrashed around too much, lat the though
of possible cave-in caused by the jar.
~ locate the caves by watching til,
alligators. Having studied their habit
for twenty years there is mighty littl
about them don't know"