Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-03-24


There is II farm here which is stocked
with Coco ailigato-s. 1t is $50 mere
curiosity shop. either. Although II
has ~ great many visitors, its chief
income 10 derived from the sale OF al
lRat"r lea her. young alli.ators AS
pets and old ones as exhibits for 200
logical gardens l. has p.i the alli-
gator on business basis
The alligator is iu many WAYS tho
easiest creature on earth To raise \
sort Of u survival OF the buried axe
OF dinosaurs. hc is practically immune
I" al the ills aud dangers Of modern
life He has no diseases and no mt
ur.i enemies except man. Ills Arnor-
like hid" deadly jaws, ,ruculcri dis
position and rcpc!lcut odor max" 'hc
entire animal world 20 out of i,s WAY
80 avoid him. He is about the only
creature ~ cNistcuc" that prcys but
is not proved upon.
Furthermore, IA" alligator j. All hut
immortal Men who have observed MI
lieators al their lives solcrunlv assert
the belief that th.v i've To be several
hundred years of age ~ any rate
an ailiEator has never been known to
die OF old age. AMI there is ono at the
farm. near here, which must HAY. TO
CURED at least 900 wears. ~ tho usual
and w"ll-knowu rate or growth to-
attain hi~ present ieviathau length Of
Of twclvc-foot youngsters tina, are
given credit Tor 2Jp and 800 years Of
age. rcSp"" lively.
With no diseases. no natural enc
mics and life line nat trails on into
the mist OF ages, tho alligator would
seem pretty woil fortified against all
the vicissitudcs Of existence: hut
there is just one thing tha, keeps his
trihc from multiplylnr unhuly Thar
Is the tendency or every alligator to
cat every other ALLIGATOR
Murder Ills EnvorItc Spor,.
For this creature has about Tho
most "indictIvo and deadly character
conceivable lie i" caunihal by
choice. ami murdcr is MS favoritc
snort His crucl,y inspires awe. II,
Is the deliberate. icGarthic, unlimited
cruelty Of cold blood Having chcwcd
leg off his mate or one of his chit
dren In moment OF hunger or irri-
taiion. unless removed from Tho in
closure h" will slowly and cnioyini.ly
dovonr his victim alive. limb by limb.
perhaps taking several days 10 finish
the feast
Although possessed az amazing row
cr and agility. The alligator il The chi
tome of lnziucss When very vouur
he displays a SORT Of sporadic rh,y-
rnincss. " pr"cVcious desire to mutt
late his brothers and sisters h,i, as
soon "s H." begins /" attain weight and
Girth T." r"tlrcs u q larr" puddle.
from which hc r"pcls all ntud.,S.
and there he STAYS 50 continuously
ma, MS back becomes entirely GOV
cred with moss. ana his person In
dinguisliablc from q stnkrn log. llrl.ys
something comes too near
In his typical posture OF ,ncditc,ivc
rcp"Sc. III" alligator looks inert. al
h'"N' helpless. Vet hc car mak" a
very respectable cash IN dry land. in
tho water Hoihng is his suucrior null
the stroke If his Jaws is Xix. thau Of
suillotine. The farm here possesses
one gator OF Irritable disposition who
can he Induced 20 strife AZ a broom
~ little tca*inc one stroke Of
MS laws might easily sever III. body
of man.
Ills long. sincwy ,ail works in cxac.
coordination with his mouth, sweep
ing IN" victim directly into it, and
I'M" Is always tho gators first move
III hunting and battle. Having secured
hold ON his victim. lie let's go for an
instant 10 obtain second and deeper
mold sinking Il yard or so OF his dcnti-
ti"n into tho ncsh. y creature Of great
agility may escape between tho holds:
hut after the second stroke Of tho
laws. whatever par, of tho alligator
has chosen TO seize. belongs TO him.
There is no such thing as escape.
Unique Fighting Methods.
Ills method Of operating after he
has gained his final grip is absolutely
unique. lie begins to turn over and
over thus converting himself into "a
living tourniuuct that quickly sewers
the neck or leg OF the largest animal.
or twists the body of Il smaller one
10 pieces If on land. this turning
process consists IN II series Of clumsy
somcrsaults. and may frequently he
seen here at the farm. In tn. water
the gator can turn with lightning
speed. and the whole process OF at
lacking and tearing mp victim Is
carried out like the stroke OF dag
ger.
There arc Instances known to the
local hunters OF men having been at
tackled by large aliGators One man
swimming in the Miami River was
seized by gator, carried to the bank.
and down one OF tho holes in which
the reptiles live. Neither he nor his
remains were ever recovered Another
man. who was very skillful swimmer.
was attacked ana bitten three times:
but each time he twisted himself out
Of the deadly jaws before the gator
could get his final grip.
That the alligator should he his own
Nemesis seems particularly fitting. in
view OF his immunity to death in most
problem in raising him for the market.
Enclosure for each OF 5000 alligators.
and giving them plenty OF room does
no good. They all crowd into one cor
ner, where they invariably murder and
mutilate each other. There is only