The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-03-10
SHOOTING GATORS.
LIVELY SPORT CONTAINING A DASH
OF GENUINE ADVENTURE.

A fcw years ago alligator hunting was
so popular In Florida that hundreds OF
/ sportsmen went south to get IA shot az a
few OF the large saurlans but when the
natives found that there was a commercial
| valuo IN their hides and teeth, the work OF
determination began with great zeal.
The alligators are hunted by tho Indians
and white men. These great saurlans
have learned 20 avoid mankind and boats
Of any kind, and oyon in tho faroR wilder
ness OF south Florida thcy steal away from
tho noisy paddler While many arc still
along tho river st. Johns, ID Is rarely that
| passengers get glimpse Of ono from the
decks Of the steamboats,. They slide OF
! tho logs or mud banks long before they are
sighted by tho keen eyed visitors.
The old way Of hunting alligators by
| night is still carried on with moro or less
success In parts of south Florida The
| hunters equip themselves with knives,
| rifles and bullseyo lanterns and then seek
| tho track OF tho alligators near tho lagoon
rs soon rs it is dark. Tho alligator leaves
n deep, plain rut In tho sand as no travels
| from ono pond TO another, and it Is an
easy matter To discover such a trail and
follow IL.
Tho Same track Is used night after night
and by any number OF tho saurians. They
like TO take tho old beaten track and
rarely attempt to make new one unless
frightened away. Thcy waddlo along at
nighttime and mako such noise that tho
hunters can hear them n long distance of.
Tho hunters remain quiet, concealed in
tho darkness, until several large fellows
arc close TO them; then tho light Of the
lantern is turned full upon them. The
bright rays Of tho light fairly paralyzo the
creatures and they iomain perfectly quiet,
staring at the light with bullying eyes.
Tho eyes are the targets for tho hunters.
1t Is useless TO attempt 20 punoturo their
tough skins with q rifle bullet. The ball
would only glance off and tho creatures
escape. But if one Is II keen marksman
no can send ball straight at tho target
and strike tho brain of tho crawling rep
tile. IL he misses his mark, the alligator
will turn tail and retreat
1t IS no easy matter To capture tho crea-
turo after ho has finally turned to flee.
Tho heavy tail could knock the llfo out Of
man or break his leg. Clubbing over
the head would do littlo good, and besides
the animal might take savage bite at
you that would cause serious mishap.
Although quiet, slothful and cowardly on
tho land in tho daytime, tho saurians are
savage and active enough ct nighttime.
They love the darkness and can sec much
better than the hunter.
The alligators arc very migratory In
their habits and lovo TO travel from ono
pond Of water 10 another. Formerly they
did this In the daytime as well as at night.
l,tN
OF tho water except after dark. In the
winter they become moro RESTLESS than IL
the summer, and they frequently travel
long distances IN large 1ocks. II ono IS
fortunate enough to strike their trail, leo
can do great amount of slaughter
1t takes some time for the creatures TO
set It into their heads that danger is ahead
and the flock viii not change it's course
until n dozen or moro have boen killed. on
the bloody trail.
The size Of Florida alligators has been
vnrlously estimated and reported, but it is
raro that worry old fellow is found in the
south today. An old ono will measuro
from 10 60 10 feet in length, and his tail
will consequently DO aforinidablc weapon,
measuring about half tho length of bis
whole CARCASS.
When lying in tho mud apparently
asleep, the approach Of "A small darby or u
calf Is noted 10y the saurian, and when
within reaching distance the tail will fly
around with the rapidity OF lightning,
breaking the legs OF tho prey and knock
ing him over. Tho reptile will then pouncc
upon his victim and dcvour bones, hair
and everything. IL help should appear
upon the scene In the shape of a man or an
angry bull or mother COW, the great reptile
will crawl toward the water, dragging his
victim with him. In tho water the alli-
gator Is king of oil he surveys, and it Is
risky work 10 attempt to follow On onrag-
ed ono there
Tho true sport in the Everglades ia shoot
Ing NlllgatOrs from the small dugout. The
great sGurians can often bo found In con-
siderable numbers on the logs or mud
banks In some sunny cove a good paddler
will force the boat up close to tho creature.
The eyes OF the animal arc small, and it
takes some timo to locate them There is |
u slight CLEAN in tho sunlight, and this
forms the marksman's only target. 1t re-
quires n steady hand TO send the ball home
true. If it hits the eye, tho alligator slides |
off the log into tho water and thrashes
around for few moments In great STYLE |
ending up usually by turning over upon |
his back and kicking his last In this posi- |
ton.
Naturally tho oommotion startles tho |
rest of the inhabitants Of tho quiet cove. |
Scores Of frightened birds shoot up into |
the air with wild screams, and numerous |
splashes In the water show you how many |
other reptiles were sleeping on logs.
If by chance the creature is only injured |
and not killed by the rifle bullet no is Just |
rs apt to turn upon the boat as be Is to
slldo TO Che bottom OF tho pond. An on
ragged wounded alligator In the water Is q |
formidable foo to encounter. His power |
Tor evil is tremendous. While ho may be |
ut your mercy on land, the conditions are /
low just reversed. New York World.
The bread and caka Of the Suncrfor