Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-20
ALLIGATOR FARMING.
Tom Fuckers Artful Method Of Hook
ing Saurians.

ing Saur1ans.
From the Munchener Medcinische WOchenschrfft,
in the Post Graduate Magazine.
On our return we stopped at the farm of
the champion alligator snatcher. 1t is q
peculiar convolute of dams. long huts and
palm leaf pavilions in the midst of rubber
trees and cocoa palms. regiment of
stuffed crocodiles. among them q giant
gagged at 100 years of age by an expert is
lined up near the picturesque entrance.
The real farm begins Immediately behind
the exhibition hall. There is a declivity by
the shore of the lake. the lower portion of
which dips into the water while the upper
portion is dry and Is planted with palms
and bushes. The entire spot is surrounded
by a wooden fence and divided into COM
partments. In the first of these about sixty
crocOdiles lie about in terrifying state of
quiet. From afar they seem as one with
the sand banks on which they lie.
I was anxious to gather a large group
within the radius of my lens and endeav-
ored to find suitable position on the fence.
Alligator Joe exclaimed. We'll fix that all
right" and took a long plank and tickled
the ribs of one of the LATEST most vigor-
ously and unceremoniously. Thereupon the
exasperated beast gave vent to peculiar
Kissing note. similar to the snoring of a
locomotive as the steam escapes. Grad
ually she began to move. while Joe con-
tinued to poke at her rear elevation. In
this manner he succeeded in gathering a
few prize specimens into a circle where
they stood in a group with wide thrown
jaws l was able to perpetuate fifteen OF
these ungainly inhabitants on my plate.
Alligator Joe is a likely man of middle
age. He has made quit a fortune by
catching and rearing his kindergarten. On
the average he receives 500 for every full
grown saurian: but as it is gained so 1t Is
lost again. 1t is a thirsty trade which the
brave mentor practices. and when he re-
turns from his p.llage to Mosquito bay,
whittier: the finest specimens are drawn
from the tip Of the Florida finger. he in
vites all Of West Palm Beach to gigantic
treat a la Rodenstein and chases. his entire
profit down parched threats in a few days.
Alligator Joe has never been bitten or
wounded although this has often happened
to others. He walks about In his alligator
room without fear. He stands and sits
upon the largest of them, even rides on
them while embracing their chests The
general belief is that he has studied the
antics of the beast so well that he is al
ways prepared for the next move. The
bite should not be as dangerous as blow
from their powerfully welded tails.
Joe does not disclose the secret Of his art
Many declare that he catches the gators by
means of the lasso; others believe that he
strikes them below the tail with harpoon
But he is silent as the Sphinx. Among his
accomplishments is that Of telling tales. as
many as one has patience or desire to listen
to. One of them. for the verac!ty of which
I cannot vouch. concerns certain Tom
Fucker who for several years enjoyed
most universal respect and envy for gath
ering in more saurians than all the other
nimrods combined. One and all tried hard
to explain his unheard of success, and for a
long time endeavored to get on to his tricks.
At last a peddler espied Tom one day on
Dunn creek as he was lying on huge log
which reached out into the stream. One of
Toms legs was hanging into the water.
Presently the peddler noticed him pulling
TN his leg. while a large alligator stirred
up the mud into thick cream with mighty
thrashing Of his tail near by. Toms leg
was partially concealed in the beasts
throat. but this did not seem to cause the
bitten one much worry. On the contrary.
he drew a large bowie and drove 1t into
the soft parts of the bitter. Then he calmly
proceeded to unscrew his leg. He was the
proud possessor Of a wooden leg the ex-
terror of which was studded with nails.
AS soon as the alligator bit into 1t the nails
penetrated the Jaw and held his prisoner.
Thus the practical Tom served as his own
bait