Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1853-02-11
Daanerate Fight with a Jaguar or Amer.
F~7Fa5 II can Tiger. - J-~

=
gives the following account of a desperate
fight between Mr. Absalom Williams, who is
about seventy years of age, his wife, and an
enormous tiger, which occurred about the
Ist of December at Mr.. Williams residence.
The Tiger was first discovered on the prem
Uses of James Drake who lives in the north
portion of Jefferson county, where it entered
his enclosure, attacked his horses, and killed
one, besides wounding two others While
the tiger was commltslng its depredations it
was discovered by Francis Drake, son of the
proprietor OF the premises, who fred shot
gun at it, wounded it in the side, but not
dangerously, when it made its escape The
next day, while Mr. and Mrs. Williams were
sitting in their house, (the rest of the family
being ABSENT they were startled by strange
noise in the yard, III front of the house. Mr..
W. on going out, discovered his dog engaged
with a tiger, when he seized an OK yoke and
aimed a blow at the 'varmint,' but, missinoit
struck his dog. The dog then got away from
the tiger and retreated. In an instant the IT,
ger sprung on Mr.. Williams, and, Selling him
by the hand jerked him about twenty feet
The old gentleman finding himself in the
too powerful grasp Of the wild animal, cCur-
ageously determined to give it the best rough
and tumble fight in his power, and having
no weapons within his reach, seized the tiger
10y the throat with the other hand, and throw
ing his whole strength forward, crushed the
tiger to the ground, both falling side by side.
At this time Mrs. Williams came to the res
cue, with gun which she snapped at the t.
ger but, there being no printing in the pan,
it did not 60 off. Mr.. w. then, with one
arm round the tigers body, and grasping its
throat by the other, by ar effort disengaged
himself, The tiger discovering new enemy
in the person Of Mrs. w, jumped at her and
attempted to grasp her head with its jaws,
while 1t tore and lacerated her breast with
its fore paws. She tried to avoid the mon
ster, but was fellcd to the ground: The tt
ger made another grasp at her head, his up
per teeth penetrating at the top of her skull
and sliding along the bone, peeled of the skin
until they met the lower teeth, which pene-
trated on the right side of her face
In the meantime Mr.. w. had seized the
OK yoke again, and giving the tiger ire
mendous blow caused it to leave Mrs. w,
when it leaped into the house and got under
the bel. The door was Immediately closed
and the monster secured. Mr. w. was OK
hausted from the effects of his wounds; but
not SO his better half. When she saw their
mutual foe thus attempt to take possession
OF their house sh3 determined to to finish the
battle, and notwithstanding the severity of
her wounds, her dress torn almost entirely
from her person, and covered with blood, she
deliberately took the gun, and shaking some
powder into the pan, placed the gun between
one Of the openings which the logs of the
house afforded and fired with steady and
deadly aim. The tiger was killed. When
subsequently measured, it was found to be
twelve feet from the tip of its tail to its nose
During all the time the fight was going on,
no one but those engaged in it were within
hearing. Mr.. WIS nearest neighbor lives
three miles off, However, as Mrs. w. was
wa hing the blood from her person, a neigh
Dor came riding by, and alarmed at her APP
pearance enquired the cause. The old lady,
unable from the loss of blood to speak, point
el to the dead body of the tiger.
The escape of Mr.. and Mrs. Williams is
indeed wonderful, and they are now recover
ing gradually from their wounds Mr. W.
Jokes about the tiger fight, and intmates that
the old lady was most enraged when the var
mint took possession Of his house and bed.
1t need hardly be added that Mr.. Williams
is a brave man. He fought the British at
New Orleans, and subsequently the Moxicans
in the cause Of Texas; but the last fight is
perhaps the most singular of all. His wife,
IN intrepidity is worthy of him, and the two
together, are Of that courageous class that
hive encountered forest wilds and frontier
dmgars-the pioneers Of Christian civiliza-
ton and American institutions.