The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-10-26
IS It AN ALLIGATOR
Strange Reptile Captured on
North Main Street
is At MANHATTAN HOTEL
Captured by Sam Miller Yes
terday Morning.
At MANHATTAN HOTEL

A fine young alligator, presumably OF
the Mississippi river variety, was cap
tured at o'clock yesterday morG'ng as
it was leisurely making its way Up the
stairway Of the Keystone hotel on North
Main street. Nothing is particularly IN
common in Kansas. This story IS no
canard. The alligator is a real alligator
or something like it and is here and in
captivity. The captor is here also with
plenty of witnesses to prove the truth Ct
his story.
About o'clock yesterday morning
Samuel c. Miller, night porter at the
Manhattan hotel, was going home, and
just as he reached the Keystone hotel he
noticed some young men getting out #
the way Of the strange reptile, which Was
then slowly moving along on the cold
stone pavement and occasionally snaD-
ping at anyone who ventured too near.
Miller was scared, and coming up di-
Tectly in front Of the alligator, caused It
to turn its course and start I'D the stair
way. Knowing that 1t could not well Pro-
tect itself on the steps of the stairway,
he got a big box, ran up by the side Of
the reptile and threw the box down on it,
thus holding it fast while one Of the
other spectators ran and got another lex.
Then they quickly turned the first bOx
over with the alligator in it and hur-
Tiedly, placed the second box on it, so
there was no longer any danger If get
ting bitten. They tied the two boxes to-
gether and held it until a lattice work
could be made for the top OF the original
box. and the young southern gentleman
IS now safely confined and is enjoying
1ife on the splendid menu at the Manhat-
tan, where he Is free for inspection to
ANYONE who wishes TO call The boys
first took him to the Summit saloon Until
they could arrange the cage for proper
transportation to the hotel.
Where the alligator comes from is the
greatest mystery connected with cap
ture. No one has thus far been able to
conjecture the place of the reptiles form
er habitatiOn or how he got to Wichita,
though everything worth having or
worthy Of mention gets here sometime
and somehow, even If they do have to
wait until after the street fair The ;.lli-
gator is about four feet long and as
large around the body as mans thigh
1t has bright eyes and sees to be FER
fectly at home in its present quarters! It
Is fed regularly on meats and eats hearth
ly although it seems to wish Tor a swim
occasionally and will get a little excited
on the every appearance of water It was
doubtless stunned from cold on the m3Iu-
ang Of its capture. which accounts for its
seeming inactivity at the Tina, and abb
sence of a merry chase, as naturally an
alligator and a colored boy don't mix
very readily. The alligator is in a box at
the Manhattan hotel.
The cooks at the Manhattan declare
The captive is a young alligator, such as
They have often seen along the Mississip-
pi river in the south. It is young. but
already the pulled spots Of the skin have
begun TO appear on its front legs Young
Miller thinks it has probably escaped
from some menagerie, and will not go to
the expense Of constructing permanent
quarters for it until he finds out whether
st is claimed by any one.
The alligator has probably Travelled
bver a good portion Of the city. Under
Sheriff Syl DunlIin says he IS pretty sure
he saw # in his yard on North Market
0SSt 4HoliudS HiSHt' puI ne uiu not KNOW
at the time what il was and paid no at
kention. The dogs kept jumping around it
and barking, while the alligator would
fight back and stood the dogs at bay.
AN alligator travelling the streets Of |
Wichita is certainly a genuine Kansas |
curiosity. and young Miller is quite proud |
Of his capture, though he does not brag
Rbout it.
Where did It come from?