Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-03-13
SHOOTING GATORS.
LIVELY SPORT CONTAINING A DASH
OF GENUINE ADVENTURE.

Hunting Alligators at Night ~ 1t IL Car
ried on In South Florida - Tho True
Sport Il to Go After. tho saurians In
Dugout, but 1t Has Elements OF Danger
A few years ago alligator hunting was
SO popular in Florida that hundreds OF
sportsmen went south to get shot at a
few of the large saurians, but when the
natives found that there was commercial
value in their hides and teeth, the work of
determination began with great zeal.
The alligators are hunted by the Indians
and white men. These great saurians
have learned to avoid mankind and boats
of any kind, and even in the faroff wilder
ness Of south Florida they steal away from
the noisy paddler. While many are still
along the river St. Johns, it Is rarely that
passengers get glimpse of one from the
decks of the steamboats,. They slide off
the logs or mud banks long before they are
sighted by the keen eyed visitors.
Tho old way Of hunting alligators by
night is still carried ON with more or less
success in parts Of south Florida. The
hunters equip themselves with knives,
rifles and bullseye lanterns and then seek
the track of the alligators near the lagoon
as soon as it is dark. The alligator leaves
deep, plain rut in the sand as he travels
from one pond to another, and it is an
easy matter to discover such trail and
follow it.
The same track is used night after night
and by any number of the saurians. They
like to take the old beaten track and
rarely attempt to make a new one unless
frightened away. They waddle along at
nighttime and make such a noise that the
hunters can hear them a long distance off.
The hunters remain quiet, concealed in
the darkness, until several large fellows
are close to them; then the light of the
lantern is turned full upon them. The
bright rays of the light fairly paralyze the
creatures, and they remain perfectly quiet,
staring at the light with bullying eyes
The eyes are the targets for the hunters.
1t is useless to attempt to puncture their
tough skins with a rifle bullet The ball
would only glance off and the creatures
escape. But if one is keen marksman
he can send ball straight at the target
and strike the brain of the crawling rep
tile. If he misses his mark, the alligator
will turn tail and retreat
1t is no easy matter to capture the crea-
ture after he has finally turned to flee.
The heavy tail could knock the life out Of
a man or break his leg. Clubbing over
the head would do little good, and besides
the animal might take a savage bite at
you that would cause a serious mshap.
Although quiet, slothful and cowardly on
the land in the daytime, the saurians are
savage and active enough at nighttime.
They love the darkness and can see much
better than the hunter.
The alligators are very migratory in
their habits and love to travel from one
pond of water to another. Formerly they
did this in the daytime as well as at night,
but they now rarely show themselves out
of the water except after dark. In the
winter they become more restless than in
the summer, and they frequently travel
long distances in large flocks. If one Is
fortunate enough to strike their trail, he
can do great amount of slaughter.
1t takes some time for the creatures to
get it into their heads that danger is ahead,
and the flock will not change its course
until dozen or more have been killed on
the bloody trail
The size of Florida alligators has been
variously estimated and reported, but it is
rare that very old fellow is found in the
south today. An old one will measure
from 10 to Is feet in length, and his tail
will consequently be formidable weapon,
measuring about half the length of his
whole carcass.
When lying in the mud apparently
asleep, the approach Of q small darky or q
calf is noted by the saurian, and when
within reaching distance the tail will fly
around with the rapidity of lightning,
breaking the legs of the prey and knock
ing him over. The reptile will then pounce
upon his victim and devour bones, hair
and everything. If help should appear
upon the scene in the shape of man or an
angry bull or mother COW, the great reptile
will crawl toward the water, dragging his
victim with him. In the water the alli-
risky work to attempt to follow an enrag-
ed one there.
The true sport in the Everglades is shoot
ing alligators from the small dugout. The
great saurians can often be 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 the creature.
The eyes Of the animal are small and it
takes some time to locate them. There is
slight CLEAN in the sunlight, and this
forms the marksnsans only target. 1t re-
quires steady hand to send the ball home
true. If it hits the eye, the alligator slides
off the log into the 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 the oommotion startles the
rest Of the inhabitants Of the quiet cove
Scores of frightened birds shoot up into
the dir 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, he is just
as apt to turn upon the boat as he is to
slide to the bottom of the pond. An en-
ragged wounded alligator in the water is a
formidable foe to encounter. His power
for evil is tremendous. While he may be
at your mercy on land, the conditions are
now just reversed.-New York World
Ravages of the African Climate.
Six years Of arduous labors and ankle
Cies IN torrid Africa, with only brief six
weeks in Europe between, will sap the
pest constitutions, and the hematuric form