The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1912-08-24
EWIIOIZ7NG 4 Sun AZY

hide Of an alligator must not be mu-
tilated if it is to bring a dollar or two
to the hunters, and for that reason
there was not a spear in the camp
such as one of the party had expected
to see.
In Muck and Mire.
Maybe so we can seem catch ga
tor" remarked our guide Maybe so
you offer 'em money an go catch one
while you here"
The guide was authorized to conduct
negotiations.
With several dollars in his hands
he approached the two hunters who
at first turned away without appar-
emily even glancing at the money
More cash was added to the little heap
in the hands of the guide. and then
the gator hunters took notice and be
gan to show signs of life
One Of them spoke.
Big bull gator out yon," he said.
pointing out on the sea of waving saw
grass. 81 know his hiding place
Come on
Jim and Jack, carrying the rife. the
long steel rod and the gaff, led the
way. Through the prairie slush the
little party walked for possibly a mile
"Here!" and Jim pointed to what
appeared to be a mud hole. where cat
tie or hogs had, to all appearances.
been wallowing.
While the party stood around, won
dering what caused the strong. musky
odor that filed the air, Jack f1shed
around in the wallow with the big
gaff. For half an hour he poked, with
out results. Handing the gaff to Jim,
he seized the steel rod and began
stabbing the prairie around the wal
low, burying the weapon deep in the
soft muck time and time again.
"Ah!" he shouted as the rod struck
against a hard body deep in the mire-
Then he began to push and prod. nut
tering oaths under his breath the
while.
Suddenly there was a burst Of mud
and water. and from the center of the
wallow rushed a gator six feet long
or more. With a snap of his powerful
Jaws and below the reptile threshed
around in the muck and mire, throw
ing the saw grass and the water in all
directions. With his roaring and bel
lowing came an increased odor OF
musk
For an instant the saurian paused
in his mad fioundering. Instantly
there came a crash from the rifle held
by Jim and the monster rolled over.
shot through the right eye Before
the body could sink from sight in the
watery muck Jack got busy with the
gan. which he inserted in the mouth
of the reptile. and in less time than
1t takes to tell it the gator was lying
out on the prairie, ready for the skin
ming knives of his captors.
Instances have been known in
which large gators have attacked and
killed or severely injured hunters who
have not been lucky enough to Kill al
the first shot or have been caught IN
awares while crossing the 'glades
There is a tradition Of an Indian hunt
er who, after his legs were bitten on
saw the same gator make a meal OF
his two children. who had accom-
panied him on the trip
The gator was dragged back to the
camp by Jim and Jack. who there pro-
ceeded to skin their victim An in
cision was made along the belly. from
the head to the tail, and the hide
drawn on backward, over the tail, in
order that the head might not be in
| jured.
But gator hunting is no more prof
table. The canals have drained
much of the Everglades, which will
soon be only a memory. and where
once these creatures wallowed in 81
lent security the truck farmer win be
fore long be tiIling the rich muck
soil