The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1924-02-28
THRILLING TUG or
WAR WITH GATOR
English Army Officer Has Marrow
Escape From Death.

Croc0diles are extraordinary rep
tiles !; men who have had dealings
with them tell almost incredible
stories about them. AS an example
we quote from the Wide World Maya
zine this extract from an article b,
Lieut.. Col Gordon Casserly:
One afternoon the column halted
by the river as usual and prepared
to camp. When the men had cleared
the ground and set the pickets they
fell out to get their food and rest. A
captain. unslinglng his empty water
bottle, went to the river to fill 1t.
At that spot the bank was perhaps
four feet high and rose straight up
II curved In sharp bend, and the
water close In shore was shallow.
There was no current near the bank,
but only few yards out the deep and
mighty stream swept along like a
mill race.
lowering the bottle by Its long strap,
turned his head to speak to sub
hadar (native company commander)
near him. Half dozen sepoys. some
holding their rifles, were standing
close by.
Suddenly out Of the still water I'M
der the bank came monstrous head,
and like trout rising to ny huge
crocodile snapped at the white mans
outstretched hand The great jaws
closed on 1t, and In twinkling the
officer was down in the river
AS he fell the astounded soldiers
gasped In horror. Then without hesi-
tation two or three leaped In after
him. Standing waist deep, they
clutched the captains body and strove
to pull him away from the giant rep
tile, which was backing out Into deep
er water.
The Englishman, with his hand In
the crocodile's mouth, was too dazed
to struggle and submitted passivsly
to be pulled this way and that In the
grim tug Of war. The native officer
snatched rifle from a man beside
him and, jumping into the water
fred at the monster at yards range.
A sepoy followed his example, but
neither man thought of aiming at the
eyes, and so their shots had no effect
an old crocodile's hide is impenetrable
to bullets except in the throat, the
belly and behind the shoulders.
The weight and strength of the
brute was too much for the united
nf hn IN. xrnfx d4xe
their heels into the yielding sand and
pulled with all their might and main.
Slowly, remorselessly, the officer was
drawn farther out; the sepoys cling
Ing to him were dragged with him.
The Englishman seemed doomed.
The crocodile was swimming now tail
foremost out into the swift-racing
food.
Then miracle happened When 1t
seemed that nothing could save the
man the strong current caught the
with full force and swept
i away, and by marvellous stroke
" luck the officers hand was torn
from Its mouth.
The irregular teeth Of crocodile
fortunately do not fit close together.
SO little injured was the captain that
utter the doctor had bound up his
hand he was able to attend to his
iuties Immediately When his com
AIDES asked what his feeling had been
Turing the terrible ordeal he said:
II felt nothing. 1t was as If my
land had been tied to railway en-
zine that was slowly dragging me
through the water painlessly but ir-
'esistibly. The power drawing me
vas so great that there was no ques-
ion of struggling against 1t. L
imply went with It, that's all. No,
felt no fear or suffering"