Smyrna times., 1908-03-18
| PECULIAR MONSTER
The Fierce Man Eating Crocodile
of Australia.
A PATIENT, CUNNING BRUTE.

Length, Will Tackle Anything From
a Sheep to a Half Ton Bullock.
The crocodile Of the Nile differs very
little from that of Australia, which is
generally termed alligator" though in
reality true crocodile. The head of
a true alligator is brOade" and shorter
than that of the crocodile, There is
also considerable difference in the teeth
and their disposition in the jaws. The |
teeth of an alligator are unequal, and |
the larger of the lower canine enters a
cavity in the upper jaw. while that OF |
a crocodile simply fits into a groove on |
the outside of the upper jaw, leaving |
the tooth clearly visible when the |
mouth of the monster is closed. There
are also differences in the webbing of
the toes and the form of the legs,
though to the general observer there is
little or no difference.
The crOcodiles no doubt feed largely
upon fish, but as they grow older and
stronger and require great quantities of
food they will when hungry attack
anything from sheep or kangaroo to
a bullock, a big crocodile making short
work of bullock weighing over half a
ton. Some of these monsters measure
as much as twenty-seven feet in length
and possess immense strength besides
wonderful cunning and patience. One
will lie in wait at any watering place
freQuented by animals, hardly dis
tlnguishable from log of wood, so
still and impassive it has become. The
animal coming down to drink is seized
in the crOcOdile's huge jaws and drawn
into the water and drowned.
At other times the tail is used to
sweep the animal into deep water
where, even though its prey may be
heavy bullock, it has little or no chance
against its enemy, which is specially
provided by nature with an arrange
ment that prevents the water rushing
down its huge tIrost even though its
jaws are fully distended through hold
ing its prey. thus after Il few brief
seconds the unequal struggle is over.
and the saurian takes the carcass in
tow to some favored locality where he
can enjoy it a his leisure
In the early days at Port Darwin,
South Australia, bathing in the open
sea was forbidden owing to the danger
from crocodile, there and nearly cv-
erywhere else in Australia called alli-
gators, though in reality no true ALI
gators exist in Australia. \ young
trooper named Davis, Il fine swimmer
disregarded the general order and on"
morning early went for Il swim. Far
out in the harbor he noticed what he
and others took to be a floating log
Many of the northern trees float AMI
are washed down in the wet season to
the open sea. Out went the strong
swimmer, nearer and nearer to the
supposed log. until too late he recOg-
niZed his mistake and that he was ap-
preaching instead of Il log a huge and
apparently listless crocodile.
But the knowledge came too late t.
be of any service to poor Davis, though
some men called out to him from a
small craft close by to "Go back. Go
Eackw and Davis did make an attempt
to retreat and was swimming manful-
ly shoreward when the huge brute
flashed down upon him at a terrific
speed and. opening his great jaws tC
their utmost capacity, came down Will
a smack that was heard even to the
shore. and inside their cruel grasp was
Trooper Davis head. Then, with thC
Ouickness common to the saurian, j
had Disappeared with it's victim.
Crocodiles at nighttime low and be!
low lust Ike cattle especially liz
bulls. and | have spent some night
In an open boat in Cambridge gull
northwestern Australia. where III
whole place seemed to he alive Wit
them. and what with their splashes AM
cries. The weirdness o. the whole seen
and their close proximity as they a
times rocked the boat sleep was impos
s3blo for there are several instance
OH record where crocOIiles have take
OF have attempted TO take men froi
cut Of camps and boats.
A uoor fellow nan'ed Reed, the MAJ
or second mate of the Gulnan. ha
gone in his vessel to some river
Carpentaria gulf believe the Rope
The vessel was at anchor near u
month of the river The mate, Rec
had been dispatched in charge OF
watering party ana was some ui
tance up the river in large 09'
boat. Water had Been obtained III
they were all ready for Il return 10 u
ship. All Icing made snug, the ur'
fellows turned in. having made the
camp in the boat. The night was
very fine one. the moon shining brlgL
" when toward midnight the slee
ing camp was aroused by some terri
shrieks. These were the cries OF 20
Reed, who, enveloped in his beddi
and mosquito curtains, was pen
borne off by crocodile.
It is said by those who knew IL
well and accompanied him on TINS a
other previous trips that he had
habit Of sleeping with his foot on !,
gunwale Of the boat, and no douDt u