Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1894-01-18
A DEADLY CONTEST.
Big Battle Between Three Bulls ana an
- Alllpat0r

A DEADLY CONTEST.
Big Battle Between Three Bulls snd an
Alligator.
was witness once, laid an old hunter
from Kissimmee, Fla, of very excit-
ing and sanguinary contest between
huge 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 she'll
mound, which overlooks a 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, ac-
eompanied by the well-known s'cry'' or
grunt of alligators. On hastily getting
TO the bluff most exciting scene was
witnessed. From the appearance of
the field it would seem that one of the
Did bulls went to the shore for water.
Ind as he was drinking big gator
swan up and seized his nosa.
The bull, a big black, with a pair of
magnificent sharp horns, was ia Ken at
terrible disadvantage, and began bel
lowing loudly and endeavoring to shake
off his antagonist. The gator had Sc
cured firm hold, however, and he
chung tenaciously, churning the water
into foam with his immense tail,
the blood streaming from the BULBS
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 tho 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 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 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 sweeping 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 a rough-and-tumble
contest which no description could dc
| justice to. The bulls plunged vicious.
ly at him, oftestimes 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 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 alligat>f, which measured, as
we'll as they could ascertain, over sew
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
~ injured. The one which had been
seized by the nose presented horrible
appearance, the flesh having been
stripped to the bone by the iron hold