The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1853-01-25
FIGHT WITH A IAGUAR OR AMERI.
GAN TIGER.

4 correspondent OF the Galveston News
c:,es the following account Of a desperate
frht between Mr. AhsOiem Williams, who is
s.aut seventy years of age, his wife, and an
enormous Iiger. which occurred about the lst
Of December, at Mr. WIS residence:
The Tiger was first discovered on the pre-
misses OF Mr.. James Drake, sho lives in the
north portion q Jefferson county, where it en-
tered his enclosure, attacked his horses, and
kueG one, besides wOuudIng two Others
Wrile The tiger was committing lis depreda-
tio,s. = vas discovered bv Francis Drake, son
o. ire proprietor ot the premises, who hired
shot gun al II, wounding II IN the side, but not
dangerously, when il made It's escape. The
rexf G4l. while Mr.. and Mrs. Williams were
string n their house, (the rest of the family
being a5senil they were startled by strange
rcise in the ward, in front of their house. MIR.
". on gong our, discovered his dog engaged
villa a tiger, when he seized an Ox-yoke and
aimed blow al the varmint," but, missing
il, stuck hs dog. The dog then getaway
fgum the jigeE and relreated In an instant the
tiger sprung on Mr.. Williams, and, sezing
him by lie hand, jerked him about twenty
fast.
The old gentleman finding himself in the
too powerful grasp of the wild animal cOura-
geUusiy determined TO give IL the best rough
and tumble fght'' in his power, and, having
10 weapons thin reach, he seized the tiger
by the throat with his other hand, and, throw
ing his whole strength forward, crushed the
iigrr u HE yrouBd, both falling side by side.
AIt!is tine. Ars. Williams came to the rescue
with i gun, which she snapped at the tiger,
but there being no prImlDg IN the pan, II did
rot 60 off. Mr.. W. then, with one arm round
tie tigers body, and graspng its throat with
his other hand, by dn effort, dISengaged him.
self. The tiger discovering a new adversary
in the person Of Mrs. W., jumped at her, and
attempted TO grasp her head within IFS jaws,
while Il struck and l8cerated her breast with
its fore paws. She tried to avoid the monster
but was felled to the ground. The tiger made
another grasp at her head, his upper teeth
penetrating at the top of the skull and sliding
along the bone, peeled off the skin till they
met the lower teeth, which penetrated on the
light side OF her face.
lu the meantime, Dir. w. had seized the OK
yoke aguin, and, giving the tiger tremen-
dous blow, caused it to leave Mrs. W., when
II ieaped into the house and got under the bed.
The doJr was Immediately closed and the
monster was secured. Mr.. w. was exhaust
ed from the effects of his wounds, from which
the blood flowed in streams; but not so his
better haf. When she saw their mutual foe
tnus attempt TO take possession OF their house
she determined 10 finish the battle, and, not
withstanding the severity of her wounds, her
OtNco dlllOcL CHtICIy tUtu nun ICi
and covered with blood, she deliberately took
the gun, and, shaking some powder from the
barrel into the pan, placed the muZZle between
one OF the openings which the logs of the
house afforded and fred with steady and dead.
ly aim. The tiger was killed. When subse-
quent!y measured, it was found to be ts eye
teeJ from the Up OF its tail to It's nose.
DuHng all the time the fight was going on,
no one but those engaged IN ii, were within
hearing. NJ. WIS nearest neig hbor lives three
miles oil However, as Mrs. w. was washing
The blood from her person, a neighbor came
riding by, and, alarmed at her appearance, in
QulTed tie cause. The old lady, unable from
tne loss Of blood TO speak, pointed to the dead
body Of tie tiger.
The escape OF Mir. and Mrs. Williams is in
deed wonderful, and they are now recovering
gradnslty from their wounds. Mr.. w. Jokes
about Iho tiger fight, and intimates that the old
lady was most enraged when the ''varmint'
tooa possession of his bed and house. Ii need
hardly be added that Mr. Williams is a brave
uan. He fought the British at New Orleans,
and subsequently the Mexicans in the cause
OF Texas; but this last fight is, perhaps, the
EIUst singular fall. His wife, in intrepidity
and during, is worthy of him, and the two
together, are OF that courageous class thai
tave encountered forest wilds and frontier
dangers-the pioneers OF Christian civilization
and American Institutions.