Seized by an Alligator.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 246, 14 March 1888, Page 9

Seized by an Alligator.

In her book on pioneering life in South Australia, Mrs Deminic D. Daly tells the following : — The waters of Port Darwin were not free from the dreaded enemy ahvay6 to be met with in the tropics. Alligators were very numerous ; in fact, the harbour wae infested by them. One poor fellow was taken by an alligator, during my sojourn under the following painful circumstances : — Disregarding the »tanding order against bathing, a young trooper named Davie, a greatswimraer, and a smart, active man, went for a swim early one morning. He had been gome time in the water when he saw what he imagined to be a log floating quietly down the harbour with the i tide. It was a most common thing to see enormous trees and logs of wood, down the harbour with the ebb ; and to watch the same timber and debris return with the flood was somewhat of an occupation. There is a great similarity between a log and an alligator when in the water— both float, just showing the merest outline above water. Poor Davis saw to his utter horror, when he drewnearer, that itwasan alligator, but it was hopeless to escape, though he tried ' to doso, and immediately made for the shore. At this moment his danger was seen from the deck of the Gulnare, and. the men called out to him to "go back." It was, however, too late ; for, as Davis turned his face towards the shore, the monster came swiftly behind him, and stretching his cruel yawning jaws over him imprisoned the poor victim's head within their deadly clasp, and in a moment had, disappeared carrying Davis with him. Boats were lowered, and the water beaten and splashed with oars, bub no sign of the poor young fellow was to be seen. We hardly, expected.,. to find his body, although a diligent search was begun , ab,on,ce ', and a few hours* afterwards jt; Was* discovered lying^on ih,e edg§<,pf a/r,eef;a little, distance down the'harJDOur. Hl9 heel*was, broken ; the cruxle teeth of theajtygafar, had seized, his forehead, and on each temple ,was a deep punotjured wound^ 2}o farther ,injury was dope; to the (body. ,E svic}ensly s vic}en$ly $»c brute was frightened .by th,e npipe from .the .boats, , and, had , dropped * his , prey , in fallow Water, .instead ojt carrying,, as allij gaioW generally. ,dp, the tyiptiiq jnto vf a,eep waier, , to some -, lair , , of pwi}, , from whence it if never recovered. . ( , ,. " , ;< , j