The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-02-03
FLORIDA
The Recent Cold Weather Numbed
Them, but They Thawed Out.
LETTER in Philadelphia Press.

LcttSI III IiiiduSlpihd
Professor Rice, of the Cheltenham NIL
itary Academy at Ogontz. near Philadel-
phia, who was here with his family and
related to me a singular incident as to the
effect of the cold on the alligators. which
incident fell under his " observation.
which place is Merrick's island, in the
Indian river. On that island there is a
came TORPID because of the cold. a resident
of the island took a large two-horse wagon
and witt some men ana ropes ropes secured haif
them into the wagon and started to cart
them over to an improvised pen in some
shallow water near this residents house.
The alligators were warmed up by the
shaking they got in the wagon and the men
in in e gettFng 81 th anT" into naa the pen. N But t amy
were safely housed at last, and the next
day; while Prof ,ns 9ga Rlrs n and fn his ns family lily
animals began to ight.
The kissing, bowling and other noises
as something terrible. One big gator
caught the head of another in his mouth
f BIooG Yi tbua a sra eat D and th ne a anim nRpe Set jaw W.
a terrible racket; so much so that Mrs. Rice,
who was looking on, retired from the scene:
the injured animal went off and stuck his
head in the mud. and when seen two days
later he was still in the same attitude.
1t was said by those acquainted with the
habits of the alligators that this one would
remain in that position without changing
Nhtil thC OiOhSh OOAiSo @As~N ~ aha ~
wound had healed. This appears. to be the
method of surgery followed by these ami
mails.
So many alligators are shot in Florida
each year to secure their skins, which are
a valuable article OF miner that except
in the southern parts OF the state 1t is no
longer an easy thing to catch. sight of one,
unless it is in a state of captivity. But on
coming down the upper st, Johns river
from Sanford the other day ! was fortunate
in seeing a considerable nuInber of them,
some Of which Were very large. These were
person could only reach them with a boat,
the shores, so-called shores, being nothing
law water covered with sawgrass. On Lake
Munroe, as well as on the river. myriads
were seen. The fishermen along the river,
who are numerous. at this season. waded
out as far as possible. seemingly utterly re-
CARELESS of any danger from the alligators.
1t is said that these animals will not at
tack a human being unless they themselves
are attacked. At the southern end of Lake
Worth a canal is being dug to connect with
Biscayne bay. and where the men are at
work along that canal aliigators are quite
tractors hat it is difficult to get the aliiga-
tors out of the way sometimes But too
tors will not attack a person does not pay,
as Mr.. Robert Moore found out the other
day While annoying one y a state ss Of semi
caught Moore's entire foot in its mouth and
would not let go until the animals mouth
Clyde steamer on the ST. Johns river. al
though perched upon logs and the bank.
did not move until the steamer had passed
by and the swosh of the water disturbed
them. AS it is not allowable to shoot alli-
gators from the steamers deck the animals
become fearless. which makes. them easier
prey for the fishermen, who kill them when
eyer. possible il. order to secure their skins.
/ heard an interesting story of a fight
between alligators and a big bull on the
shores of Lake Okeechobeea siAlligators are
quite numerous in that lake and 1t is little
visited by white men, though Seminole In
dams fish and hunt there. Herds of cattle
roam about through that section Of the
State, and the bull in question belonged
to one of these herds. 1t was drinking
at a small inlet on this lake when its nose
was caught by an alligator. The bull man
aged to free itself by pulling the gator
it's horns and caught the gator, throwing
it on the bank. When the bull made an
other attack the alligator struck the bull
with its tail and severely hurt it. The bull
managed to tear a hole IN the abdomen
or soft spot of the gator but on another
charge the gator broke one of the legs of
the bull by a blow from it's tail. This dis
abled the bull and the gator manage to
break another leg in the same way. but
the saurian soon bled to death. and the
bull, when found with its two broken legs,
had to be shot.