Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1894-08-23
AN OLD oARkY.s BRAVERY.

Uncle Billy has lived with the MAJ
tins through three generations and i.
considered one of them. His time ;s
chiefly spent with the Martin children
10y whom he is greatly beloved. writes
a Louisiana correspondent. 1t is his
habit to take them for an outing every
day when the weather is favorable and
the little ones look forward with keen
delight to these iaunts with this faith
full old darby. Yesterday was no ex-
ception to Uncle Billy's rule. although
he was 10th to leave the kitchen. where
in was the savOry odor of turkey. mud
ding, cake and sauces, the feast in
preparation being in honor of Uncle
Billy's birthday.
He had just turned ninety and as far
back as he could remember his s.old
masters folks" had given him birth
day dinner. So the old man much pre-
ferred lowering round the kitchen on
this especial day, but the children tug
ged at his coat until he hadn't the heart
to refuse, and, warning the cook not to
let anything happen the turkey, the
old man was soon back in the field.
hand in hand with the two little bows.
while the third child, girl of three.
was left sitting on the steps, the pic
ture of woe, because her mother did
not want to burden the good-natured
old man with this extra care.
Uncle Billy had been out with the
boys for probably two hours and they
were walking slowly back home
through the field along the canal, when
Uncle Billys keen eyes saw something
q good distance ahead of them go over
into the canal, followed by a child's
scream. The old man must have been
as feet as deer to have reached the
spot IN the time that he did. And that
very second he saw his ''little mistiss.',
as he calls the tot of three wears.
struggling in the water with the al
Hgator! He had no weapon of defense.
except small penknife, and no one
was within hearing except the two
little boys. And action had to be taken
at once. This he knew, and knowing
as well that he was in for the highest
tight ever experienced in the state, he
plunged into the canal, landing ON the
ailigator's back.
The monster snapped it's jaws at the
old man, and in SO doing lost it hold on
the child, which Uncle Billy managed
to grasp and hold out of it's reach
Uncle Billy sat astride of the alligator,
as near to its head as possible, to avoid
being bitten, with his knees pinioned
against its side, while both hands
We're employed in protecting the child.
1t was terrible strain on the old mans
strength, but it was that or death for
them both. He sent the two boys home
for help and in the meantime kept his
seat bravely. Those who have seen an
angry alligator can appreciate Uncle
Billy's situation better than it can be
described. In strength they are pow
erful, and when angered something
ferocious. This one was in perfect
frenzy, which increased every moment
at his failure to devour Uncle Billy.
The incessant swapping of his jaws
and rapid turning and twisting from
side to side of his head in his efforts to
reach the old man were frightful in
the extreme. He dashed his tail so Wig
orously as to nearly strangle both man
and child with the muddy water, which
went up and came down like heavy
rain. He plunged under the surface of
the water, but the exertiOns of Uncle
Billy kept him up most of the time. 1t
may be well imagined how slowly time
dragged for the old man, and how anx
iously he waited for help from situa-
ton so perilous.
But he knew the boys had fully two
miles over the rough field to walk be-
fore they could summon assistance,
and that necessitated considerabl en-
durance on his part, which he felt al
ready giving way.
This canal is about ten feet deep.
twelve feet wide and fully seventy-fve
acres long. Its ''bank'' is high and
steep, so that to climb out is very diff
cult. although. but for the child, Uncle
Billy might have made the attempt
but with the child it was preposterous
to think of for an instant. For several
minutes the alligator plunged to and
fro. up and down, without going very
far either way, but he grew tired of
this and in the widest fit of rage tore
like mad down the canal to its entire
Tenth. then turned and came back
again at the same rate, thus giving Uncle
Billy a ride one hundred and fifty acres
long in the space of only few min
uteS.
The old man swerved many times
from side to side and the blood chilled
in his veins. But hard and fast he
held on to the child and that much
deeper pinioned his knees into the
monsters ribs. Notwithstanding his
strong will. Uncle Billy felt himself
growing weaker and. fearing his
strength wouldn't last under SO great
strain until help arrived, he began
some desperate thinking as to what was
best for him to do. The place had been
cleared up years before and kept free
from all underground, so there was
not a tree or twig of any kind which
he might swing up by. 1t was time
for rapid thought, and it came to him
suddenly that there was one thing only
TO be done-throw the child over the
bank as far as he could and trust to its
falling on soft place and then going
II alone with the alligator.
But the monster did not keep quiet
while Uncle Billy was planning his es-
cape. 1t plunged on as desperately as
ever. as bound to its fury. The old
man glanced around as well as he
could. but no one was in sight. He
summoned what strength he had.
aimed as steadily as he possibly could,
breathed a prayer for the childs safe
ty. and then threw her ashore, fully
ten feet from the edge of the canal.
Feeling relieved that she was saved
from the horrible death which had
threatened them both, he breathed
more easily. and once again put on his
thinking cap, which helped him al
al