Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1894-12-15
The Big Saurians Unable to With
stand the Sharks, but They Fought
With the Utmost Determination.

then in progress, and reached the bat
tie field when the combat was at its
fercest.
ITO make clear the natural causes
which brought about this Homeric
contest, it will be necessary to describe
the country. Between Manzanilla
I and Colima, a distance Of eighty
miles, there is a large lake 4 brack-
ish water, the bed of which is several
feet above the sea. This lake is about
forty miles long, and wal once most
important as q means of communica-
ton between the two places, particu-
larly as in Mexico formerly the roads
were beset by brigands, and land
transportation was of the most print.
tive character. The lake was filled
with fresh-water fish and reptiles of
all kinds. and the alligators that
summed themselves on its banks often
attained a length of from twenty to
thirty ieet. They were very fierce
when aroused from their accustomed
lethargy, much more ~voracious than
even the South American species, and
often seized and devoured men and
large animals. The barrier separat-
ing the ocean from the lake is e high
sand bank which, though nothing
more than a mere spit of land, had
been, prior to this time, sufficient to
condne the waters of the lake. But a
heavy wind storm from the northeast
blew tie water of the lake down to
the south and west, and piled it mp so
high as to drive it over the levee or
lam. After n short time a crevasse or
sluice was formed. allowing the lake
to drain directly into the ocean. The
rush of water from the lake in
creased, the sluice became broader,
and the 500 square miles Of lake sur.
face fell foul feet. Millions of fish
came pouring through the revasse
with the water, and with these, the
enormous alligators for which the lake
had become noted.
"The sluice was fifteen feet wide
when we reached it. We stood on one
of the banks watching the enormous
outrush Of water and fish. The latter
had attracted the numerous big sharks
Of M%anzanilla Bay, and they had COL
lected by hundreds to gorge them
selves with the dainty morsels sup
lied liz such an unlocked for
The alligators, less intent, perhaps,
upon the fish than upon the rush of
waters. which was carrying them on,
were met by the sharks the moment
they came out into deeper water.
There the sharks rushed furiously at
the more slothful alligators, and at
the battle began. The alliga-
tors, Of course, labored under many
disadvantages. Although crocodiles
are often known to swim out to sea
and spend whole weeks in salt water.
the alligator is not found in the ocean.
Not alone were the alligators handi-
capped by being out of their element.
They were also beset by a shoal of car
nivorous fish of prey, many of them
twice their size<and weight, and en-
dowed with activity far greater. Five
or six s harks would attack each sau-
rian as he came ont, not giving the alli-
gators an opportunity to form them
selves into a mass for concentrated at
tack or defence.
"The wal was waged with the Mt
most determination on both sides, and
the alligators, Notwithstanding many
and being far outrum-
put up q very good fight. They
kept the sharks at bay until finally
scattered ~ furious onslaughts. Each
fish and reptile seemed to understand
the character of his antag-
onist, and the powerful tails were
brought into requisition as often AS
the immense jaws. While the allipa-
tors were more slow to move than the
sharks. the latter we're obliged to turn
on their backs before being able
bite with any effect. This gave the
alllgators a chance to get away and
bring their wiry. horny tails into
Although the hard, bony
armor of the alligators prevented them
turning and swishinc their tails
around as rapidly as the fish, often
they could dash forward and snap a
shark before the fish could turn on his
back to bite or get away. But when
ohF SSASidSAS Nio tIt suhEk mas speed
activity SO great as to allow him
swim and play around the fastest
steamers, it will be very readily seen
that the Issue of the battle was only a
question of time. OF course the armor
Of the alligator. though Impeding his
was efficacious for a time
the blows and bites of his adj
scrsary. But alters while the con-
slant sharp swapping Of the shark tore
it away bit by bit. and finally with a
furious rush the huge shark would fix
Is sharp teeth in a good grip and crush
a vulnerable part of the ALI
,etor AS If the armor were an egeshell.
'he wonderful strength of the alligs-
tors jaw >ame' into play, and time and
again sharks we're thrown almost ont
Of the water.
The tight was carried on upon the
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