The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1894-01-11
A DEADLY CONTEST.
Zig Battle Between Three Bulls and q
Alligator,


was witness once, said an old hunter
from Kissimmee Fla, of a very eXest
ing and sanguinary contest between
huge bull alligator and several head
! cattle, in which the alligator was
killed and two bulls 90 badly injured
that they had to be shot, and anothC-
was rendered almost hors de combat
A party of hunters, several Of then.
| visitors from the Tropical hotel here
were camping out on the lover shell
mound, which overloolls a lake, though
several hundred rods from the shors,
which is marshy and grassy. Cattle
| gather there by the hundreds, as tie
| grass is always fresh and black lilies,
their bane on most lakesides, generally
| absent.
While eating their dinner that day
| the hunters We're startled by loud bel
lowings that came from the lake, ic-
companied by the weli-known Cry n
! grunt of alligators. On hastily getting
to the bluff most exciting scene was
witnessed From the appearance If
the field it would seem that one of tie
| old bulls went to the shore for watT,
and as he was drinking big gator
swan up and seized his nose.
! The bull, big black, with pair If
! magnificent sharp horns, was takenit
terrible disadvantage, and began BIZ
lowing loudly and endeavoring to SHAY
off his antagonist. The gator had SCI
cured firm hold, however, and be
chung tenaciously, churning the water
| into foam with his immense tail,
the blood streaming from the bulls
lacerated nose already dyeing the
waters red.
With mighty effort the bull plunged
backward, hauling his attachment
partially on dry land, and then the fun
waXed furious. The bull rendered
frantic from the pain, endeavored to
gore the gator, and, failing in that,
stamped at him and plunged around
madly to get rid of his foe. Attracted
by his bellowings, two other bulls
came furiously down the side, and see
ing the gator plunged at him. OBJ
serving his new enemies the latter
tried to escape, but too late
One of them caught his horn near the
gators fore leg, and with an upward
toss tore big hole in his side, the sau-
rian responding with a deep roar of
anger and pain. As the other bull
came on the gator thrashed around
with his tail and gave the animal ter
rible blow, knocking him over on his
side with dull thump.
His first victim was now free, and
the three thoroughly Infatuated ami
mails surrounded their foe, believing
and with lowered heads presenting a
picket of sharp horns which the sau-
rian didn't like, as he attempted to
crawl into the water. His three oppo-
nents now began systematic war
fare.
First one would dash at him escap-
ing the flying tail of the big reptile,
and give him a dig with his hons and
endeavor to toss him. The gator was
getting weaker all the while, and
though still game he seemed anxious
to cry quits.
-. i'm finally, and as he CANT &c
/ Fithout his usual caution, the reptile
whirled and delivered sweeping blow
| with his tail that caught the animal S
legs, breaking them like pipestems, the
old fellow falling with roar of mad
ness that could have been heard mile,
while the saurian's eyes seemed to
| CLEAN with triumph as they glowered
at his enemies.
Then ensued rough-and-tumble
contest which no description could do
| justice to. The bulls plunged vicious
ly at him, oftentimes hitting one an
| other in their mad rushes, while the
alligator swept his big tail around in
| endless circles and inflicted terrible
whacks on their sides and legs.
Finally the gator again seized his
first victim by the nose, and with a
death grip. The other animal plunged
| in, and catching both horns under the
gators side gave him a toss, ripping
him up so that his entrails protruded.
The effect was seen at once, as his
terrible fail played more feebly, but
his hold on the bulls nose could not be
broken. Several more ugly wounds
were made, and the reptiles roars of
anger changed to those of pain and
fear. His antagonist charged at him
| time and time again, decorating him
| terribly.
Finally no resistance was made, the
victor trampling on the bloody carcass,
though the terrible grip of those iron
| jaws still maintained their hold on the
nose of the first bull, who had been
| forced to his knees and was fast dying
from the terrible blows he had re-
ceived and the great loss of blood.
| Several of the watchers then went
down and mercifully shot the two
wounded bulls.
The alligator, which measured, as
well as they could ascertain, over,sa#4
enteen feet, the head and jaws being
six feet, was literally torn to pieces
and disemboweled. The blow delivered
by the gators tail broke several ribs
of the bull, whose legs were also
broken, while even the victor was bad
ly injured. The one which had been
seized by the nose presented horrible