The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-07-06
THE SHE MANS ALLIGATOR.
A Story that They Tell Down on the
CaIoosahatchic River.

"The She Man of the Caloosahatchie Is
a tradition in that part of Florida. and ne
was also a fact, said an old hunter.
have met him. and, even more ne mas tod
me his story. so that the mystery about
him may be dismissed. j met HIM nrst
one winter when ] was on the Caloosd-
hatch1e river. with Gator ole, VINO -
whimsical i'm regard TO his hunting
grounds. passing from one To- anotner ~
something tells him TO. The charms
Of this Southern river, surely the rove
Hest lOwland stream anywhere. detained
me with the same fascination az the ga
tor richness of the shady mud banks ana
deeD. Dautean cOVeS did my guldc.
THE second week out we brought up az
the haunts Of the Long brothers. VINO
have only one leg between them. but are
determined and successful alligator huil-
ers for all that. They oueted as the
freedom of the woods and waters with a
quantity chummy manner. IL was near
ing the end of a day Of disappointment
to me. i mean-fOr the cOuntrymen had
bagged all the game. while l had nothing
TO chronicle except a veXatous series OF
toilsome mshaps. The four full-grown
saurians that Gator Joe regarded with
complacency. so pardonable. were hate
ful in my sight -
" That's pile Of gator, ne sald. 1
never had a finer haul tn take me
the rest o. the day 10 skin EN-. so L
reckon III stop
I'm make one more trial said I. If
I can secure that big fellow gazing at
US with such cool impudence. the day
won't be a failure
I'm not a poor sportsman. by any
means. but IL was ny unlucky day.
Though the reptile was uncOmmonly
fierce and bold. making a target OF him
self repeatedly. J did not quiet him -
der six shots. Elated. / sprang into the
river TO secure my game.
Mind. Mr. Hosmer. he's Just that
kind Of sharp devil 70 be playin' pos
tt,.f coll la ..rHf - To- lfa l
d" Dive! Diver screamed Dick Long
the same instant The warning was
barely in time. My head scraped the
creatures great expanded jaw as l DIV
ed, and finding another monster down
there ready TO gObble me up, ] had no
time TO use my knife on either no course
in fact. but the humiiiating one OF get
ting 10 shore as quickly as possible;
greater experience had enabled him 10
despatch the wounded reptile.
" A doggOne close shave. remarked
Dick. as / scrambled TO dry land. Must
be a taste in the Caloosahatch ter-day
that makes the creeters caLtanFerOus.
Yanders the other Teller. Mr. Hosmer
You'd better femme draw my bead on
him.
"'Something-was II man or woman?-
threw itself on the rife. IL wore the
wreck of a poor woman's dress. but the
long, thin legs, seen plainly through the
Sits Of the petticoat' were Enthusiastically
masculine 81 ..--E- eys---
Don't shoot. It's my gator; IT'S
Devil this creature cried. IN send him
back 10 his pool. He amt done his work
yet when he has. | don't care who rips
off his hide. Go back. Devil: IL ain Z
quite feedin' time I'll fetch you some
squirrels fer supper. Go back. sir
"He pointed down the river. waving his
arms in a peculiar fashion that the al
ligator seemed to understand and obey.
" 'Geemenetty! exclaimed Dick. 10
whom this performance was always q
novelty. Did you ever see the like? |
don't want ter shoot yer pet; there ain
no harm in him that | knows Of Less
all go back ter the camp.
Hell 20 with me, his heads cut.
said the nOndescript. indicating me. and
starting off as, If sure | would follow
" Well said Dick, starting after him;
that's the first time he ever invited
anybody home with him. What does II
mean? | wouldn't go. Mr.. hosmer
there amt no tellin' what's In tnat con-
sarned old head o. his'n.
" rs he as crazy as he looks?' asked
Gator Toe Who T. he anyhow?
"'Why, he's the Sherman Of the Ca
loosahatchie.' said Dick. US boys called
him that when he tookened ter wearin
his dead wifes cloes N it's stuck 10
him, specially as we don't know any 9th
err name fer him. He's got sense enough
to make a Twin n take his own part.
n that's all he needs or "oursf' NJ, n.
when his old uns wore out. His trousers
went fust, n he put on skirt; then
some kind Of q waist replaced his shirts.
When his hats give clean out he ripped
the trimmin' ofi'n hern. n has finally
come down ter sunbonnets. There never
was anything so ridiculous. but there
amt nerve enough on this river TO make
fun of him to his face. one look outen
then furnin block ewes o. hisn "a dash
most anybody! Besides, he's made US re-
spscl IN. t0re y V~akiy h~!f crrH =
as be looks. he's alters had a ready hand
ter help-lhough he won't have none Of
our help-a hst that could floor the
strongest, a feet foot. N honestly above
suspicion. The fust time he sppesrtd In