The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-05-10
WOOL TURNED WHITE.
AWFUL EXPERIENCE OF A NEGRO
BESET BY ALLlGAToRS.

lie Spent the Greater Part of Twenty
four Hours on stump in n Deep
swamp-He Held Pig on His Back and
Was Surrounded by Hungry Saurians.
On the edge of little take about ten or
twelve miles northwest Of Tallahassee,
there lives an old negro whom | see and
with whom | talk every time / 90 hunting
In that direction. 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 appear
Ance. The last time | was out there |
learned that he was quite young, only
about forty in fact, and that his snowy
locks had history. After urging pre-
vailed on him to tell me the story.
1t 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 chickenif if he was so fortunate
as to find one far enough away from
plantation.
One day he happened to slip up on half
grown pig and, getting close enough
knocked it over and at once stuck it with
his knife and started Off with it to his inn
provised hut. While picking his way
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 log at all, but quite a
vicious looking alligator.
He had lived long enough among gators
to feel no particular uneasness over this
one, though he also knew that they are
mean to have around. Ben stepped back
to the mound he was on (Which was only
about ten or twelve feet square) and con-
cluded 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 to beat a retreat,
when he found that his little island was
entirely surrounded by alligators, and he
then realized that they had been attracted
by the shoat he was carrying, which had
left trail of blood behind him.
ALLIGAToRS on EVERY SIDE.
The darky was now thoroughly fright
ened He saw the alligators crowding
around his little island, he knew that at
night they would come up after him; he
had no weapon except knife and a club.
he knew there was no chance Of any one
hearing his cries, and it was now nearly
sundown. \ half grown alligator came
crawling up toward him and he Drained 10
with q club, but IL gave him no cousola-
ton, for he knew he could not keep that
up through the night
There was one cypress knee or stump on
the mound which rose about Eve feet or
more, but he doubted his ability % get
upon its smooth top. and even if be sot
there he didn't think he could keep his
place there long. Besides. it was doubrful
even then If he would be ont Of reach Of
their jaws. Being the only chance. how
ever, he tried il, and found that by close
attention and sitting in a very crlmped
position he could keep his place upon the
stump.
Night came on and he became sleepy He
dare not close his eyes. He did eyer.hu.
possible to keep himself awake Finally,
captivity itself would be blessed relief
compared with this, and he called long and
loud for help hour after hour lie knew 10
was Of no use. but be kept it mp.
At last the first gray streaEs OF dawn
were seen, and presently came the day
His little mound was covered with alhgl-
tors aud the swamp seemed alive with
them. He tried to frIEhtcn them away, so
that he could at least get down and stretch
his limbs, but they crawled all around
him, glnring up az him, opening their uor.
rid mouths for the feast they knew was
coming.
The hot rays OF the sun were becoming
uncomfortable, for he had kept up his call
ing for help until his throat and mouth
seemed parched.
RESCUED A C1BBEETNG IDIOT
He had all this time kept the pig in his
arms, and now, in slightly altering his
position, II dropped 70 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 did any
WIfugga anrn "A combat