Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1861-04-18
Tiger Chase bY Balloons.

The following account of a tiger chase
/ is extracted from the North Sphinx, a
reglmemtal paper, published at Graham s
Town. The writer, after alluding to his
| sporting experiences Of all kinds, and in
all quarters Of the globe, declares that he
never witnessed SO novel or intensely ex-
citing a chase as that about to b. dcscrif,.
ed
Not long ago | spent few DAYS at Fort
Brown, a small military post on the banks
Of the Great Fish river, where my friend
v. was stationed. One evening, as nv
friend and | were returning home, after a
somewhat fatiguing days buck shooting,
we were startled 10y hearing the most ex-
traordinary noises, not far from US. 1t
seemed as if all The demons in the infer
nal regions had been unclaimed, and were
trying to frighten Us Poor mortals by their
horrid yelling. We stood in breathless ex-
poctation, not knowing what could posi-
bly, be the cause of this diabolical row.
with all sorts Of coniectures flashing across
our minds. Nearer and nearer the yelling
and screaming approached, and presently
the cause became visible to our astoniShed
eyes Some three or four hundred yards
to our right upon the brow Of small hill,
spotted leopard Commonly called in this
country a tiger, though much smaller than
the lord Of the Indian jungles,) came in
view, bounding along with all the speed
and energy of despair, while close behind
him followed an enormous pack Of baboons,
from whose throats proceeded the demoni-
sounds that ha1 n oononl, boFo-o
startled US. Our excitement in the chase,
as you may suppose, was intense. On went
the tiger, making ftr the river, the balloons
following like aVen@ing demons, and evi-
IDENTITY gaining ground upon their nearly
exhausted foe, though their exulting yelIs
seemed each moment to increase his terror
and speed. They reached the stream, the
tiger still few yards IN advance, and with
a tremendous bound, he cast himself into
the muddy waters and made for the oppo-
site bank. The next moment his pursu-
ers, in admirable confusion, were struggling
after him, and as the tiger, now fearfully
exhausted, clambered on the land again,
the largest and strongest of the baboons
were close at his heels, though many of
the pack (the old, the very young, and the
weak ones, were all struggling il the wa
ter. In few moments all had passed
from our sight, behind the brow of the op-
posite bank; but their increased yelling,
now stationary behind the hill, told US that
the tiger had met his doom, and that their
strong jaws and arms were tearing him
limb from limb. As the evening was far
advanced, and we were still some miles
from home, we did not cross the river to be
I'm at the death;' but next morning few
bones and scattered fragments of flesh and
skin showed what had been the tigers
tate. On our return home we we're told BY
some Dutch gentlemen that such chases
are not uncommon when tiger is rash
enough to attack the young baboons,
which often happens
Ill these creatures for miles around as
semble and pursue their enemy with re-
len5less fury to his death. Sometimes the
chasa lasts for days, but ii invariably clo-
Sc III the destruction of the tiger-a
striking instance that the idea OF retribu-
tive justice is not confined to man alone