The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-07-29
FELL ON ALLIGATOR,
BUT CAPTURED HIM
Amphibian Monster and Clam
motif Terrified in
Turn.
LANDED HIM WITH Wit HOOKS (:
Second Attempt Caught Animal,
and Crowds Cheer Mighty
Angler.
LANDED HIM WITH HOOKS

Deeply versed In all the lore of tha
deep. and a fond follower OF 1zaak
Walton, whose "Compleat Angler" ls
had atud!ously read, Frank Giannotti.
tho ahlest fisherman In Richmond. was
successful yesterday morning in catch
ing the amphibian monster that had
long disturbed the residents along the
lower banks Of the James. Aiming
himself with nets. hooks a foot long.
and all other implements known to.
the art, Mr.. Giannotti yesterday swore
that he would catch the alligator and
thus end the anxiety Of the James
River inhabitants, or die in the at
tempt. Ever since no had first heard
that the 5elligator was }disporting him
self In the James, Mr.. Giannotti had
dreamed OF it. 1t had annoyed him at
breakfast, dinner and supper, He
could not drive the thought OF the
monster from his mind. and at last
no became so filled with the thought.
Oft that there was naught to do but
go a-hshng for him
Bright and early, then, yesterday
morning he aroused himself to the
important task he had undertsken;
and never knight went forth In drawer
mood to do battle with dragon than
Frank to angle for this curious mon
ster Of the deep.
Fell Over on the Gator.
Arrived on thesbanks Of the noble
- eems," Frank first tried what sue
iphibian was too willy for that, how.
ever, and he avoided it with almost
human Intelligence. Then the knight
got In a boat, and tried a drag-net
Several times he succeeded In get.
ting the monster into the net, but
every time the alligator would plunge
out again, back into tho water. SEEM
did the young man. Despairing OF
being able to effect the capture of
the alligator in this way. Frank then
tried a hand net.
He managed to get the alligator in
several times. but Just as he was about
to land him, the weight of the mon
ster, struggling and jerking In the
Slnp-dash, he went right on top Of the
alligator. 1t was hard to tell which
was the more frightened of the two,
the alligator or the young man. Each
scrambled out of the way of the other,
the man into the boat, and the ALI
gator into deeper water.
Hooked Him In the jaw.
Not to be frustrated In his attempt,
Trank then hit upon another plan He
tied three big hooks together and then
tied them to a piece of stout cord
Then he set to work again. and at
last got the hooks uader the jaw of
the four-legged fish. Tying the string
to the stern of the boat, he rowed to
shore, the alligator following, all eff
forts to break away only driving the
hooks deeper In and increasing the
pain, After getting his boat ashore,
Frank took hold of the cord and gently
dragged the alligator to the land.
The animal could not help but Fol.
low, and he was safely landed; and
followed by large. eager, curious.
eyed crowd, Mr.. Glannotti, with the aid
OF friend proceeded to carry his
prize home One took the head and
the other the tail of the alligator, and
In that manner the procession headed
up Main Street. People craned their
necks to see what it was all about
and then fell in line. The crowd grew
larger With The distance passed, and
before Mr.. Giannotti reached his home
he was being followed by nearly two
hundred people. The alligator will be
placed on exhibition o-day In Louis
store, at No, 9o6 East Main
Street. 3s6 sqttiss isIaiNt ~ 4 -sls VIZ. VI