The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-01-23
A DEADLY CONTEST.

A DEADLY CONTEST.
Big Battle Between Three Bulls and Al
| Alligator.
! / was witness once, said an old hunter
from Kissimmee, Fla, of a very excit
ing and sanguinary contest between q
hage bull alligator and several head OF
cattle, in which the alligator was
killed and two bulls so badly injured
that they had TO be shot, and another
was rendered almost hors de combat
| A party of hunters. several of them
visitors from the Tropical hotel here
| were camping out on the lower shell
mound, which overloolSs lake, though
| several hundred rods from the shore,
which is marShy and grassy. Cattle
| gather there by the hundreds, as the
| grass is always fresh and black flies.
| their bane on most lakesides, generally
| absent.
While eating their dinner that day
the hunters were startled by loud bel
lowings that came from the lake. &C.
companied by the well-known cry" or
grunt Of alligators- On hastily getting
to the bluff most exciting scene was
witnessed. From the appearance OF
the field IL would seem that one of the
old bulls went to the shore for water.
and as he was drinking big gator
swan up and seized his nose.
The bull. a big black, with pair OF
magnificent sharp horns. was taken at
terrible disadvantage, and began bel
lowing loudly and endeavoring to shake
Oft his antagonist. The gator had Sc
cured firm hold, however, and he
chung tenaciously, ehurning the water
into foam with his immense tail,
the blood streaming from the bulls
lacerated nose already dyeing the
waters red.
With mighty effort tho ball 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 deep roar of
anger and pain. AS the other bull
came on tho 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-
rlan didn't like, as he attempted to
crawl into the water. His three oppo-
nents now began a systematic war
fare.
First one would dash at him, escap-
ing the flying tail of the big reptile.
and give him dig with his horns and
endeavor to toss him. The gator was
getting weaker all the while, and
though still game he seemed anxious
to cry quits.
One of the bulls allowed his anger to
blind him finally, and as he came on
without his usual caution, the reptile
whirled and delivered asweeping blow
with his tail that caught the animals
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-andtumble
contest which no description could do
justice to. The bulls plunged vicious
J. 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 hi.
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 toss. ripping
him up so that his entrails protruded.
The effect was seen at once, as his
terrible fail played more feebly, bu.
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. lacerating him !
terribly.
Finally no resistance was made, the /
victor trampiing on the bloody carcass. |
though the terrible grip of those iron |
Jaws still maintained their hold on the 1
nose of the first bull. who had been
forced TO his knees and was fast dying
rom the terrible blows ne had re- !
ceived and the great loss Of blood. |
several Of the watchers then went |
Down and mercifully shot TIE two /
wounded bulls
The alligator, which measured. IS
veil as they could ascertain, over sew
,nteen feet, the head and jaws being
TX feet. was literally torn 10 pieces
md disem boweled- The blow delivered !
" the gators tail broke several ribs /
Z the bull. whose legs were also
broken, while even the victor was bad
y injured. The one which had been
eized By the nose presented horrible
t,pearapce. the flesh having been
trippsd TO the bone by the iron hold
4 the saurian's jaws
|lFFH TN snAllAln