Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1858-03-17
ISCELLA A N Y .
Perilons Adventure with Tigress.

About d month ago, O bastard named Whit
boy Swart, residing in the Zwarte Ruggens,
went out at daylight in the morning in search
of horse, and while stroling about the neigh
borhood in which he resides, his attention was
attracted towards bush by the yelping OF three
young dogs, that had followed him from his
home. On approaching the spot to which the
sound directed him, he was startled by finding
that his canine companions had joined beau
tfully spotted tigress, that was lying on its back,
with which they appeared to be enjoying very
satisfactory romp. Upon perceiving tie man.
the animal sprang to its teet and Whitboy,
though noted hunter, and an athletic, bold, and
active man, retreated from the spot, being un
armed, except with small switch or stick; !;
the tigress pursued him, and finding that he lost
ground, be resolved on wheeling about and ia
cling the animal, which, with one blow of its
paw, tore away part of his cheek, and would.
with the violence of the conclusion, have knock
ed him to the ground, had it not been for the
support he received from small bush near him,
which prevented him from falling on his back |;
probably to this circumstance he is indebted for
his life, for with the tigress above him he would
have been perfectly powerless.
Whitbuy struck at the savage beast with the
switch in his possession, but tIlis also fell from
pugiistic attitude, when the tigress seized hold
of his arm; with his other hand he then picked
up stone, which be placed in the jaws of the
enraged brute, to prevent his arm from being
bitten in two. This done, he next seized his op-
ponent by the throat, and by his great strength
threw her down, and placed his knee on her
neck fortunately the dogs, though young, now
harassed the enraged ANIMAL and thus kept
its paws engaged The man then drew his
arm out of the jaws of the animal, but
when he had almost extricated it, the stone fell
out, and the animal seized his hand, which was
SO severely bitten as to be disabled. With the
other he now took the stone, and battered the
tigress's moss and teeth. In this position, and
in the greatest agony, he was two hours con
tending with his enemy. He had knife in his
pocket, but the other hand having been render
ed helpless, he could not open the blade; lie
now contrived by main strength TO move him
self and the tigress to the spot where his switch
lay, about six yards off The struggle of the
two combatants became quite terrtc--the
ground was trampled quite hard, and the spo1
covered with blood. Reduced TO the last ex
tre,nity, and believing the animal to be In I
similar state, he resolved on encouraging th'
dogs to attack her, while lie jumped up and raj
off.
After running for about three hundred yards
he looked round, and found the dogs coming Oh
alone. He then hastened to farmers house
to request assistance; they visited the spot ant
curously examined the small clump of trees, bu
having no dogs on which the could depend, tn.
search was soon given up, and the wounded
man conveyed to his home; his wounds were
dressed, and he lay in a very precarous STATE
for four weeks, having been twice attacked witt
lock, jaw his suferings were intense, one arm
being entirely disabled and the lower parts o
his body severely lacerated. He was engaged
altogether for two hours and halt. Hopes
were, however, INDUCED, two days before ou'
informant left the locality, that sound constl
tuition and powerful nerves wonld sustain him
and that he would ultimately recover from lnlu
ries which must have proved inevitably fatal t.
one of less physical power. The conflict o
Whitboy and the tigress will rank amongst the
most marvellous adventures with beasts OF prey
in this country Graham's 10'0n (Sou@ arr
cay Journal.