Rensselaer Union, Volume 7, Number 9, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 November 1874 — Alligators in Florida. [ARTICLE]

Alligators in Florida.

Sailing back, writes Edward King in Scribner's, we were treated to the sight of an alligator, fifteen feet long, sunning bin:self on a hammock of yellow grass. The wrinkling under his lower jaw gave him a good-humored look and seemed actually to smile as the bullets hissed around jiim. The alligator is by no means a trifling enemy; and the Floridian tells strange stories of the creature’s strength, fleetness, and strategy. An alligator hunter in Jacksonville gave me an idea of these characteristics, somewhat after the following fashion: “ The ’gaiter, sir, is ez quick ez lightnin’, and ez nasty. He kin outswim a deer, and he hez dun it, too; he swims more ’n two-thirds out o’ w’ater, and when he ketches you, sir, he jest wabbles you right over ’n over, a hundred times, or mo’, sir, ez quick ez the wind; and you’re dead in no time, sir. When a dog sees one he alius begins to yelp, sir, for a ’gaiter is mighty fond of a’dog and a nigger, sir. Nobody can’t tell how old them fellows is, sir; I reckon nigh on to a hundred years, them biggest ones. Thar’s some old devils in them lagoons you see off the St. John’s; they lie thar very quiet, you sfee. but it would be a good tussle if one of vou was out thar in a small boat, sir. They won’t always fight; sometimes they run away jery meek; the best way tokill ’em is to put a ball in the eye, sir; thar’s no use in wasting shot on a gaiter’s hide. When the boys want sport, sir, they get a long green pole and sharpen it; ’n then they find a ’gaiter’s hole in the marsh, and put the pole down it, then the gaiter he snaps at it, ’n hangs on to it, ’n the boys get together, ’n pull him out, ’n put a rope aroun’ his neck, and set him to fighting with another ’gaiter. I reckon’t would make yo’ har curl to see the tails fly.” -