The Penn's Grove record., 1895-07-12
VERSUS ALLIGATOR.
. PIERCE F1oHr IN A LoUrSIANA
BAYOU.

=. PIERCE FIoHr IN A LoUISIANl
BAYOU
GhIIe Drinking Bruin Is Attacked
by a Huge Saurian-A Duel to tn
Death. ~
W. IT. f . !: s i; r ;; y:
!. fierce encounter between
bear and an alligator which he wit
nessed while hunting with a friend IN
Louisiana. Says Mr. Knapp:
While lazily enjoying our siesta We
we're suddenly startled by a loud
crashing in the bushes on the other
tide of the bayou. Snatching up our
rifles, we rushed to the waters edge
lust in time to see a large black bear
some out Of the cane brake and walk
lleisurely to the opposite bank. He
was evidently thirsty, and had sought
The cool waters OF the bayou instead
Of the easier obtained but hot and
staenant lake water. As he had not
vet caught sight of us we concluded to
wait developments before attempting
70 secure so enviable o prize.
The bear climbed into a low tret
that grew out of the side of the bank,
and proceeded to crawl out on q stout
limb overhsnging the bayou. His
weight bent the thick limb till it
dipped into the water, and the bear
souatted himself on the interlaoing
branches and began tapping vigorous
ly. So eagerly did he drink, and so
intently were we watching him, that
neither noticed a fierce swirling of
the water Just below, until a long black
snout shot suddenly from beneath the
surface and two cleaning rows of
teeth closed on the outstretched mug
zle of the bear. The shock Of this
unexpected onslaught was so sudden
that the bear had no time to clinch
his hold on the tree, and so he tum-
bled headforemost into the water, and
turning @ complete somersault, fell on
his back at some distance from the
alligator.
In falling he had jerked himself FIRE,
from the alligator's teeth, and now he
to make frantic efforts TO swim
to shore. But the alligator, with one
airt Of his tail, was upon him again,
this time ssizing him by a forepaw
and crushing it like an eggshell. We
could hear the bones crack. The bear
q terrific howl Of pain and
rage, and with his other paw gave the
alligator q blow which sent his long
body flying through the air for q con-
siderable distance. This short respite
the bear utilized in padding violently
for the shore, for he was ct @ deadly
disadvantage in the water against the
lightning speed of the alligator in his
native element. If he could only gain
the shore, it would soon be ''his pic
ME-" for the alligator cannot turn
around, his little stumpy legs being
too far apart.
Like q flash the alligator caught the
bear by his hind leg. They were now
in a place where the water was shallow
over a hidden sand-bar, SO the fight was
o little more even. With 0 vicious
snarl the bear turned on his back, and,
bending double, caught the alligator
by the soft white flesh of his throat.
1t was now the bears turn to bite, and
bite he did with such good will that
the blood spurted in streams and the
alligator, letting go the foot he had
been chewing, emitted a series of howls
that made the woods ring. Then the
fight grew fercer. The alligator beat
q loud tattoo with his tail onAhe bears
tough hide. but they were at such close
quarters that he could not giveit swing
enough to break any bones. He was
gradually working around to a better
position, however. and suddenly
planted a vicious blow square on the
breast that sent the bear flying head
over heels into deep water. He was
up in a second and both rushed to-
gether. The bear again sought the
alligator's soft throat, and with his
sharp teeth tore great mouthfuls Of
bleeding flesh.
Now, we thought, the victory viii.
surely be with the bear. He certainly
did seem to have the best of il. The
alligator used what breath had not
been squeezed out Of him believing
like q bull. The sounds he uttered
were 50 full of rage that the waterfowl
and small animals near the bayou fed
in alright. The two struggled back
and forth. The water was dashed into
foam by the furious beating Of the
%alligator's tail. S~training and strug-
Cling, this way and that, suddenly the
writhing mass Of ferocity slipped of
Of lie narrow strip of sand and was In
deep water again. Now the conditions
are reversed and the advantage on the
side Of the alligator again. With a
snake-like twist OF his 1.-THE body
he slipped from the bears
clutches and, wheeling around, the
long, powerful tail flashed for an In.
slant in the cir and descended with
crushing force fnll on tho back OF the
bear. The thick backbone snapped
like q reed. With the cry Of O human
being in distress the bear rolled over,
limp aud lifeless, and sank to the bot.
tom like o stone, and the fight was
over.
The victor, apparently l~ifeless.
doated motionless on the surface Of
the water-an alligator always Aoats
when dead-so we were preparing to
leave, whom o low moan recalled us
and We found him in great pain and
slowly bleeding to death from his la
cerAted throat. The water for many
yards around was dyed crimson with
his blood and his moaning was p;tiful
to hear. We deemed it an act Of
mercy to kill him, and a well-directed
bullet in the eye soon put on end 10
ais su(ferings.
Upon drawing him out Of the water
and measuring him, he was found to
stretch a fun sixteen feet from tip to
tip, n Of the largest known