Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-04-04

BY FREDERIC J. HAsKIN.

Ut AUGUSTINE, Fla, March 21-There is farm
- here which stocked with 5000 alligators 1t is
~ no mere curiosity shop, either. Although it has
great many visitors it's chief income is derived from
the sale of alligator leather young aigators pets
and old exhibits for geological gardens. 1t
has put the alligator on business basis.
The alligator is in many ways easiest creature
raise. A sort a survival
of dinosaurs, S practically immune all the
ills and dangers of modern life. He has diseases,
and natural enemies except His armor-like
hide, deadly jaws truculent disposition and repelent
odor make the entire animal world out of its
to avoid MIN. He is about the only creature in
istence that preys but is not preyed upon.
Furthermore, the alligator all but immortal Men
who have alligators all solemnly
years of At alligator has never been
known to die of old and there is at the farm
mere which required least 400 years,
at the usual and we-known growth
his present leviathan length of fourteen
are also couple of tweIvefoot youngsters that
given credit Tor zoo and 800 of respectively
With diseases no natural enemies and life line
that trails off into the mist of ages, the alligator
would pretty we'll fortified against
tudes of existence; but there is just thing
keeps his tribe from multiplying unduy. That is the
tendency of every alligator to eat other ali
gator.
For this has about the most vindctive
deadly character conceivable. He is a cannba by
choice, and murder is mis- favorite sport His cruelty
inspires 1t is the deliberate lehargic, unlimited
cruelty of cold blood. Having chewed a leg off his
mate or one of his children in moment of hunger
irritation, unless from enclosure he will
slowly and enjoyingly devour his victim alive, limb
by limb, perhaps taking several days to finish the
feast
Although possessed of amazing and agility,
the alligator is the epitome of lazIness When
young he displays a of sporadic playfulness,
precocous desire mutiate his brothers and sisters
but he begins to attain weight and girth ne
retires a large puddle from which he repels all
truders and there he stays continuously that his
back becomes entirely covered with moss, per-
indistinguishable from sunken log-unless
thing comes too
In his typical posture of medtative repose, the
alligator looks inert almost helpless he can make
very respectable dry in the water moth
ing is his superior, and the jaws like
that of guillotne. The here possesses one
gator of irritable disposition be induced to
strike at broom by little teasing stroke of
his jaws might easily sever the body of a man.
His long, snewy tail works in exact coordination
with his mouth, sweeping victim directly into it,
and this is always gators first move in hunting
and battle. Having secured a hold his victim he
lets go for instant obtain a second and deeper
nold sinking yard of his dentition into the
flesh creature of great agility may escape between
holds but after the stroke jaws whatever
part the alligator has chosen seize belongs
There is no such thing
His method of operating after he has gained his
final grip absolutely unique. He begins to turn
over, thus converting himself a living
tourniquet that quickly the neck leg of the
largest animal. twists body a smaller to
pieces. If land this turning process consists in
series of clumsy somersaults and may frequently be
here at the farm. In the the
turn with lightning speed and the whole process of
attacking and tearing up victim like
the stroke of dagger.
There instances known to the local hunters of
men having been attacked by large aigators. One
man svvim the Miami river, seized by a
the bank, and down of the holes
in which the reptiles live Neither he his remains
were ever recovered Another man, who a very
sillful swimmer attacked and bitten three times
but each time he twisted himself of the deadly
Jaws before the gator could get his final grip.