Alligators in the Sewers

[davemarc]

Those interested in the "history" of the tale of Alligators in the Sewers
may want to note the following from the listserv of the American Dialect
Society.  Word hound Barry Popik has apparently found an "Alligator in the
Sewer" New York Times citation that dates back to July 21, 1907--nearly 30
years earlier than one documented by Barbara Mikkelson of snopes.com.  I
encourage anyone who refers to this earlier citation to give credit to
Barry.

d.

----- Original Message -----
From: <Bapopik at AOL.COM>
Sent: Friday, September 06, 2002 3:11 AM

[snip header material]

> ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER
>
>    Alligators in the sewer?  Where are you from?  Certainly not New York.
> There are no alligators in the sewer.  THE METS are in the sewer!
>    Barbara Mikkelson (www.snopes.com/critters/lurkers/gator.htm)
researched
> the NEW YORK TIMES and found exactly ONE story about alligators in the
sewer.
>  It's 10 February 1935.  You can read this story on the web.
>    Mikkelson missed an earlier story:
>
>    21 July 1907, NEW YORK TIMES, pg. 9:
> _ALLIGATOR IN THE SEWER_
> _Quite a Baby, But it Nipped the Hand of the Finder._
>
[snip other citations not related to Alligator in the Sewer]