AN ALLIGATOR STORY.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVII, Issue 39, 16 June 1915, Page 6

AN ALLIGATOR STORY.

LUBRA'S PITIFUL DEATH. A remarkable story, on the authority o Mr J. T. Beckett, Chief Inspector of Aborigines, comes from Melville Island. About a week ago, a number of natives were waiting for a:canoe to come •and boat them acrdss the Victoria Creek on Melville Island, While waiting, two young lubras (young native women) set out to swim, the stream. When they were about midway a huge alligator was seen to rise and sush at. Coodjealongamow, the lttbra -who was some distance behind the leader, whose name was Alanar. ayu. The. rush of the brute appears to have been so rapid that he missed Coodjealongamow with his teeth, but caught her with a mighty swish of his 'tail, and almost threw her into his jaws. The blow stunned the girl, but she managed to get to the shore move chfad than alive. 'Meanwhile, the alligattor saw the leader, Alanarayu almost reaching the bank, and, dashed at the girl. The onlookers were horrified to see both disappear- together. Immediately afterwards they were utterly startled to see the girl come above the water astride the huge monster, and still holding a small iron bar used for digging yams 'with which the unfortunnate girl had entered the water. Seeing that she was f;o some extent armied, her people called to her to blind the monster' by goiighing out its eyes. But although "the girl was above the water on the back of the monster for some considerable time, she appeared utterly dazed and powerless to act as advised. Finally, amidst the distressing.scenes among the nativrsi Alanarayu was heard to say, 'Goodbye, my sister ; good-bye everybody ; the alligator take me now," and disappeared. The- last sign of her was the small crowbar which she waved frantically above the water as she passed below.

Asked how it was that she did not leave the back of the alligator the natives who witnessed the tragedy told Mr Beckett that the brute ii'ii 1 apparently held her legs fast with his huge claws so that she was powerless. Moreover, she was utterly paralysed with fear. None can offer any explanation, however, as to how the girl was fixed in such a position. Mr Becket states that, although alligator tragedies are not very frequent, this is the third which has occurred in the same creek during the past three years. When asked if he thought the public would believe his story, Mr Beckett offered to produce several natives now in Darwin, who were witnesses to the tragedy. j