The Coalville times. [volume] (Coalville, Utah) 1894-1923, 1896-09-11

a few daye ago. avcfs a correspondent
in the 81. Louis Republic
About daylight Farmer Perdu was
aroused from souni slumbcr by the
barking Of dogs. the reIghing Of horses.
the braying OF mules and the believing
Of cattle. lie opened his front door
and saw alliFalors ranging In size from
the gigantic saurlan to the playful lit
tie reptile not mor' than a foot long
dlsporiIng Themselves about his yard.
There we're two or three big bull nlli-
gators on the porch. only few PAGES
form the farmers bare feet. The
hounds had chased rome OF the ulliga-
tors into fence corners. and whole
droycs Of alllgaiors were prancing
along the walks and chasing each 9TH
er under the rose bushes.
Mr.. Pcrdu rubbed his eycs. and after
taking second look he shouted for
his wife and bis Winchester.
rhls Is what had happened. Not n
drop Of rain has fallen In this section
OF country for more than two months,
and In consequence OF this fac, nearly
all creeks. ponds. ana bayous are a.
dry rs the throat OF a famous Texas
politician from whom his friends had
TO hide the coal oil can. Alllgators can
live a long time on dry land. and when
the lake or bayou In which they live
has dried ~ they win lie around In
the hot mud or sand for a few days.
looking very disconsolate. After awhile
they will give Il up and atrike straight
across the country toward the noareat
lake or river They generally travel
OF night. Led by an old bull. they will
march straight to the nearest water.
ar n they had been over the road q
hundred times before.
Courtncy's lake is the fayorlt'
haunt OF hundreds Of alllgators. and
never but once before within the mem
DRY OF the oldest Texan was II entirely
dry until a few weeks ago. A dozen ~
more young folks went down there iaOt
Monday on fishing expedition ana
they were surprised to ind that tho bed
OF the famous lake afforded a hrst-rato
place for playing baseball. or running
races on bicycles. and that II was not
much Of place for FISH.
These young people scared the ALL
gators on into the woods. and on that
very night the whole army OF eaurlans
concluded TO emigrntc to the Brazos
river. some ~ miles away They march.
ed out OF the bottom and s.ruck theprai,
rlc not far from the old San Antonio
road. Here they found an lnaurmount,
able obstacle In the shape OF a hog.
proof barbed wire fence.
They followed the line OF fence foi
three miles, until they camc to Farmer
Perdu's gate. This gate Ia kept CLOSED
by a heavy weight attached to a chain
The alligalors were evidently trying I,
got through the wire fence at eyery
step. and when the big bull that lie,
the army put his aoSe against the cat,
and found that II readily yielded, h,
was no doubt highly pleased. lie crep
into Mr.. Perdu's yard. and the nose o
tho next gator behind him kept IN,
gate from closing. In this way IA,
whole lot, OF more than 100 alllgators
soon found themselves inside the yard
The yard Is not large. and the alllga
tors were not long IN discovering tina
while II had been an easy matter 4
get into the Enclosure. getting out wa
altogether another thing.
The dogs were not long In scentIn,
the saurlans, and they went TO barklnl
in a way that Farmer Perdu had neys
heard before. Tho horses. hogs. nm
cattle In the adjacent lots acted n
though they were much frightened
All OF this commotlon aroused Mr.. Per
du, and he says that when he opene
his door and saw the yard fun d
strange looking monsters he experI
enced feeling Of horror no words ca
describe. Although he has been Twin
In Texas for 10 years, he has never BE-
fore seen an alligator.
lie said; II had no idea what IN
awful looking creatures we're. rub
bed my eyes and looked at them an
wondered II were not dreaming"
One OF the big monsters on the pore
opened Its mouth aud snapped It's law
close TO Mr., Perdus feet. Mr.. Perd
has some five boys, who are fond {
fishing. Their experience made theI
wiser than their father, In natural hi
tory at least. Aroused by the groan
OF the old man and bis wild shouts "a
his Winchester, the boys rushed to IN
windows. and instantly recognized IN
faces Of their old enemies, who had o.
ten kept them from swimming in IN
cool waters OF Courtney's lake.
They got their guns and went bold
ont into the yard and opened fusl
lade upon the monsters The old peopI
in the house were engaged In earnei
= prayer, and the boys out In ~ ysr
were having more fun 80. .n.r Eve
had before In their lly' ar "I 10
is not easily XIII H.. hal
I dozen shots ont q o. lhe oil
, bull
lnnitst IVA Of ~ ..l.'s We
, Il tnmea, ilat e ed In Ii
NJ rood Ine rapid firing OF n
ympanieu ~ the snouts ,