The Sun.
London, England, 1863-05-22 00:00:00

FATAL ENCOUNTER WITH A TIGRESS

Mr. Harris, who was superintending the con-
struction of the Dehra and Roorke road, has been
killed by a tigress. Being a keen, devil-may-care
sportsman, he went out tigershooting on foot, some
companions being on elephants with him. "Harris
had not walked far, when, at the turn of a rock, he
saw the monster he was in search of, under the
shade of a large plant of the aloe species, with broad
fleshy leaves of a dark green colour. He fired, and
the wounded beast sprung on him, receiving the
second ball midway, but it was totally ineffective in
retarding her course. As the brute reached Harris
he held the rifle in both his hands, and extended it
horizontally between him and the tigress—a very
o f flesh about twivieceemrystothroeen sizeep s Probable
owbo
whisk
bi
canl
he
slender protection indeed, for it was wrenched
out of his grasp with the greatest ease. And
now a
hmteearrnra,iswbrolaelipyo:isissttitroounrgy.g.le ensued. Rising
on her hind legs, her fore paws resting on
Harris's shoulder she tried to knock him
down ; but this was not an easy matter, as Harris
stood firm as a rock, and it was not until the animal
went on all fours and laid hold of his leg that he
fell. It was at this time that he received his worst
wound ; apiece
man's fist was torn out of his thigh, laying bare the
inner bone. The other leg was likewise completely
smashed. Harris called out, ' Shoot the tigress--
she is killing me.' From the time that the animal
pounced upon him to the time that Harris's voice
was heard, seeking aid, about a quarter of an hour
had elapsed. If but one elephant had gone up to
the spot, Harris might have been rescued in g
moment. Some of the mounted sportsmen it seems
ordered a native shekari, a powerful, athletic man,
to go forward and shoot the tigress. The man
hesitated, but, on being threatened, started on
his perilous mission, approachintg
with the hard barrel across the head,
He seized his rifle, t
hmreetw the cautiously,
tigress
s that it was difficult
her intendedwhich had the
frightened
prhbffhihagoei
atesushntathti
itseoedts
nfht:hi
edne
pd madela
aeuc
exri
ennas inducing herWmtashepai
co
noise
0,0
Hi
as seae nleaseSodar y
ttohegettigtroetshset
wfraosmvesridyelotnogaigdreaasss
wa
si t
they
ey reference
mustidh swayingav
e
twisted e
those
furnished
et been onlyele.
there
This,l however,
indication of he
be ' •
had a clear view of what
was going on. A sort of subdued growl from the
tigress
similar to that of a dog when disturbed
h w e gnawing a bone was heard at intervals. This
il
ceas&d when the animal left Harris, a deathlike
silence prevailed, and the shekari, fancying that
the tigress had perhaps dragged him away, called
Outhpilsaced on a
name, andcogt,otwthhich wasereply, ' Here I am.' He
was
pu
and taken to his tent. He told thet on
men an elephant,
who fol-
lowed him to leave him and go after the tigress,
which he bzlieved was desperately wounded. The
first ball from his rifle struck her under one eye,
the second ball took the other clean out. It was a
cross shot, most difficult, and while the tigress was
in the act
Harris must have aimed at
h
one of the balls had hit
there it t
wouldof e
ap
have
i fig
nr;lY
crushed through the skull, and
t eforehead,
i °
extended her lifeless on the spot ; or if even after
biting the eye had taken a downward course and
touched the vertebrae, it would have disabled her,
and prevented the consequences that followed. Ai
It was, both the balls passed out behind the ear.
The tigress was shot dead the same day, shortly
twia where
erev fortnighteni
bothngh,
, i,
:_algeo.s H
after Harris reached his quarters. All this happened
Time; of India.
buriedri ts do oa ry k aboute
in e,arris was
on Saturday. He died on legs Were
ampu-
tated Son„" morning,
taken,onnda wT
ath
sou