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A Colored Mftn'n Sensation* While Serving ms Alligator llatt.We went out to a Mississippi swamp accompanied by soveral negroes, and as the Colonel had promised two bits to the first black man who should sight an alligator thoro was a feeling of rivalry among them. The day was awful hot, and though alligators were as plenty as frogs, we beat around for an hour without getting sight of one. It was their hour for sleep. As we finally gathered on a long spit of saud which projected out into the bayou for two hundred feet, the Colonel called up one of the blacks and said:“Come, Mose3, it you'll swim for it I’ll make the prize half a dollar.1'“Sure I won’t be cotchcd, massa?, “Oh, there’s no danger. Here aro five rifles to protect you.. The negro went half way down the spit, and then had deep, dark water on each side of him. He closely scanned the surfaco in all directions, and then speedily disrobed and plunged in with a great splash.“He’s baiting 'em! whispered the Colonel.“But suppose ono of the reptiles seizes him? *“Then I’ll give tho money to his widow!• Tho black swam out about thirty feet, kicking and splashing, and wo walked slowly down the spit All of a sudden ho screamed out and turned for the shore, and as we looked we saw from ten to fifteen great saurlans making a bee line for him from as many different directions. Everybody opened firerand tho reports of rifles, tlie yells of tho Swimmer and the shouts of tho other blaoks made n:i exciting scene. Two of us took a big alligator which was directly ip the man’s wake, and, though wo fired ten or twelve shots at his snout at close range, he was within three feet of themegro when the swimmer was pulled out. lie rau his fore feet in the bank, opened his mouth like a barn door, and, as he snapped his jaws together, a piece of stick or tooth flew clear over our heads. Tho five of us kent tiring away, but he turned and sailed off as if the bullets were so many peas. When the battle ended two of the reptilos were floating belly up, anti they were hauled ashore and left to be skinned. « _“How did you Fcfcl? I asked of tho! swimmer when he lmd.dresscd.“Didn’t have no feelings t’all, sab, he replied. “It was jlst Jlke my arms an’ legs war’ try in’ to swim a piece of ice back yere.—Detroit Free Press.
Newspaper Details
The Hope Pioneer
Hope, North Dakota, US
Fri, Aug 27, 1886
Page 4
Full Page
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Anonymous
CA 17 Sep 2023
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The Hope Pioneer
