Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-04-04

Coquina, Fla, March 27.-Perhaps
one Of the most unique industries in
existence is located on one of the
many islands which are dotted along
the east coast OF FLORIDA between the
Indian and Banana rivers. The ISL
and covers an area of about eighty
acres, III the center of which is a
Iresn water lake completely surround
cd by palmetto posts ten to twelve feet
nigh, as close together as they could
be set, making IL StUckade both strong
ana durable Here for many years
Major Peter EberIosS has furnished
he nucleus for what the northern
tenderfoot invariably carries back to
his friendS-the Ginning little fellows
When alive OF the highly vanished
mOunte ~alligatorS Uf And
the curio's booth would look lonesome
without the alliga, or's open counte-
nance adjoining his shelves. Your cor
respondent readily accepted an invita-
tIou 10 accompany Il keeper Of one
OF these booths to me island after a
fresh supply OF STICK. Upon arrival,
we clImbed upOu = platform overlook
ing the inclOSure and the old major
gave Il loud blast Dp3n Il conch shell.
Ia seemed 1T ..tst glance to be
logs p~romiScuouSla along the shore
proved to be nOJllIg less than great
monster alligatorS, some of them over
twenty feet in lcul-..
'l mn 1. old ,.l,.l, 4, .. -. Z Ip,,l -" ,,; A..
major, is tW~euty-l.ree feet by actual
measure. How oiD,? Well, he was
plenty old enough TO vote when |
first met him over twenty years ago"
1t was II Of tie queerest sights
Imaginable; not over handsome, yet
equaling III loyeiiuesS some Of the
dog, crySanthemum and beauty shows
we see. After tossing over several
fish, which the reptiles gobbled up
like SO many hungry hogs, the major
led the way across Il platform and
down i stairway into a long, low
building, where We found hundreds Of
little alligators iIUm six to eight
inches long up to several feet. The
sand had been eNcaNated III order to
food the pens, which We're surrounded
by heavy Wire screens. Like the fish,
IL was necessary 10 keep those OF
about the same size i'll pens by them
selves, the cannihalS.
Ito do we first get the little ones?
Come in here"
Opening Il side door we found our
selves i'll Il room about twenty-five
feet square, with Il low roof Slanting
to the south, with glass in the roof
resembling q dollhouse. Like the other
room, only white sand under foo and
a big, old, box stove comprised the
furnishing. Right here was the great
est surprise of all, for that room was
nothing less than an immense incuba-
tor; the alligator Eggs being gathered
from the nests in Inc sand along the
banks, and placed in this artificial
one, it being much easier 10 gather
the eggs than to capture the little
ones; besides. 50 many OF the young
are destroyed by fish and birds If left
to shift for themselves. The incuhat-
ng room was low enough TO be par
TALLY submerged and when the sun
fails to shine the stove keeps up the
temperature.
Il want to show YOU now what can
he dom even with Il gator" said the
major, and, opening one OF the wire
gates, he cried. Pom, come out here
sir, An alligator about fifteen feet
long craWled out and the major affec-
t~ionately Stroked the reptile. 1t would
take too long to attempt to enumerate
the many astonishing tricks that al
ligator performed. one thing deserves
mention though, to SHOW the intclli-
gcnce exhibited. " lille standing on its
hind legs and balancing itself with
its tail Il baseball could not possibly
get past if within reach of its capa-
ciouS jaws or the alert tail. And the
amusing part of il vas the reptile
seemed to enjoy the Sport-wagging
its tail and looking as pleased as it
could, being somewhat handicapped
by nature If the island was not so
far from civilization the major could
make 4 barrel OF money showing his
ranch, farm, museum, hatchery-or.
name it yourSclf;-but. as it is. It's
said he has amassed quite a fortune.
Upon departing we yentured to ask
il it was really 4 fact that darkey
babies are tied to stakes for decoys.
The old major winked his other eye
and said:
wal, l reckon il might have been
resorted to before the war, but gators
A. l.. A.