New-York tribune., 1910-10-02
By Joseph c. Ably


club II the IrOcalOa marsh,
which skirts the northern shore OF Lake
Borgne. and was seated on the porch laZlly
putting my cigar. when John Cochran, my
guide on MANY . duck shoot II the lagO0ns,
aDD-gached and asked # l had ever hunted
al1gators Al night. replied II the negative;
buc remarked that from al accounts the sport
was rather exciting
Well. that's what Il IS. exactly he
drawleG, and this IS one Of the best nights
for L that We seen II Z long time. because
L IS 50 dark Out there IN the marsh and the
bav0us that YOU couldn't hear { yell fifty
feet away. It'll be easy TO shine their eyes
on . night Ike this, and this wind will hold
The mosquitoes down 50 that they won't be
pes-e-Ing. Cap, l know yOu've got steady
nerves. that vOu keep your head cool. that
.- -an SIT nrTn n . plrOgue and stand
F.- Kick without gong over. What do you
81, -o Us '1..n & hunt tonight | want 10
See raa Kill .wo OF three Of the big bullies IN
BAYOU 5ee Ba-bes.
The invitation appealed 10 my fOndness
for adventure and was promptly accepted
Good for you. Cap" he said, greatly
pleased. Get your full choke pump gun
anl box 0t number FIVE els while | fix
the --- lamps and put 4 gr-ogue in tow of
tie --a te-a.at, tgT we've got 10 go three
mikes -- The bayou. near L. a point where l
So" -- u --a..ing yesterC4.. There IS 3
bun rs lizards IN the second fork. and
--eo are mighty big and rusty, you
expressed some doubt as 70 the wisdom
oi trying 70 XII q -ull grown alligator with
a-lClu~ e-4 -- lumber FIVE shot.
an e substitution OF shells load
"lls,.ers -lr | had heard
a. -- the head u the reptile
t bullet had no more
.t than . pebble on arTnOr
Cochran merely laughed in q way to
---rv Tor my ignorance. - II
- .g--- 10 straight. as | know you
.-ere .- = crockerdile, IS some
la en-. lCt out Of business. You
a- III yo- re within twenty feet OF
nat gun II YOURS viii nip open the
the biggest bull IN the bayou.
s4lsted with this statement; for
- mad been born and raised in the
-. and was without ~ equal as hunter
-.- -rapper. In Z few moments he had
r.a all the equipment Tor the hunt in the
- and we were of for the lair Of the
game The sky was overcast with heavy
clouds. and the intense darkness, unrelieved
a" .-a- The iaintest twinkle II q star, seemed
.. settle down on US Ike = pail.
----4-- ---ylI ILD DIDLSllL Us near Inc
r----. II the second fork, where the engine
Ws- s-opped, the launch anchored, and the
plr.g1e. IN tow. pulled alongside and the
g.u and shells placed in it. The hat lamps,
small affairs u the buliseye type. were light
e1 and with the rejecting bulb TO the front,
secured. fastened to our slOuch hats by mean
~ leather strap.
Then Cochran sad, Take the front seat
u the pirogue and hold your head 50 that
the hight VIII strike the water about thirty
ieet forward Of you, while I sit back and DO
the padding. Have your gun ready, be
quiet and keep Z lookout for things III front
/ MUST confess that felt rather nervous as
Win nolseless dip and stroke Of the paddle
e pushed the plrogue up the fork, which was
ny more than twenty feet wide: but the
'ea-ing lasted only a moment or two, and [
was soon absorbed in the task Of scanning
t-e circle of water that glimmered under the
--ncentratec rays Of the lamp We had not