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Shooting An Alligator

Shooting An Alligator image
Parent Issue
Day
12
Month
July
Year
1893
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

One day after diimer, says a traveler I in Queensland, who has recorded hia experienees under the title: "Misaing Friends," we found that an alligator had taken away one of the working bullocks. whicli was lying down a íew liundrad yards from the house. The tracks showed plainly that the animal must have taken its victim by the hindquarters and dragged it along. for the earth was plowed up where the bullock ïad been back with its head and forelegs. It had been dra.q-jred to the river's and there killed and partlyeaten. s we approached the bank we saw he alligator by the carcass, still fecdiijT. but it dropped into the water like & stone at sight of us. My employer, Mr. A , turned to me with sparkllng eyes. "Now is .mr ohanoo," hs crie l. "Tonight and to-morrow nifrht it will come kgain and eat of the bullock. Then vt can shoot it." The next evening we sought the spot as soon as darkness began to fall. rhe river bank neareat the water was very steep for about thirty yards; then there was a gentle slope for another twenty yards, and on that slope the carcass of the bullock was now lying. We were careful to have the wind against us, as the alligator is shy, and vould never ascend the bank if it should smell us. We lay down flat on the ground beïind the bushes, and it was agreed that I was not on any account to flre until Mr. A should give me the signal by means of a toucii. Then I was to flre into the mouth of the alligator, while he at the same moment tried to send a ball through its eye. We lay in this position until midnight, and then carne a heavy body creeping up the hill, distinctly audible, though out of sight. Now and then the noise would cease for a minute or two. then it would come on again, and at last we saw the dark mass of the alligator come crawling up to the bullock and begin tearing at it. I dared not move sufficiently to look at Mr. A , but I nervously awaited the signal to fire. The alligator turfted this way and that; at one moment it almost seemed as if its powerful tail might sweep us away. At length we heard another alligat tor crawling up the bank, and the first one began snapping its jaws ferociously. Then came the signal. Bang! went the rifles. The beast did not move a muscle. It was quite dead, and we could hear the other one tearing and rolling down into the water ag-ain.

Article

Subjects
Old News
Ann Arbor Courier