Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1862-01-03
A Tiger Killed by Balloons.

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The following account ola tiger clase ID
extracted from the Norh Lincoh .sythynr,
a rcsimena paper published at Graham's
Town, Cape Of Cool Hope. The writer,
after alluding to his sporting experierces
Of all kinds, and in all quarters Of tire glSbe;
declares that be never witnessed so novel
or intensely interesting chase as that ab.
out to be dcscrib d:
. Net long ago | spent few days at Fort
Brawr, small military post on the banks
of The Gseat Fish river, where my find w.
was stationed. One evsning, as my friend
and we're returning home after some
hat iaiigung days buck shooting, we were
startled by hearing the most extraordinary
noises not far from Us. 1t seemed a. if all
tie demons IN the internal regions had been
unclaimed, and were amusing themselves
by lry ing 10 frighten US poor mortals by
their horrid yelling We stood in breathe
less expectation, not knowing what could
possibly he tile cause Of this eiebolical row,
with all sorts Of strange conjectufes fash
| ing across our minds.
Nearer and nearer the yelling and scream
ing approached, and presently the cause be,
came visible to our astonishcd eyes. Some
three or four HUNDRED yards 10 our right,
upon the brow of small hill, a spotted
leopard Commonly called in this country
tiger, though much smaller than the.lord Of
the Indian junsles,) came in view bound
ing along with all The speed and energy Of
despair, while close behind him followed an
enormous pack of balloons, from whose
throats proceeded the demon'acal sounds
that had few seconds before startled us.
Our excitement in the chase, as you may
suppose, was intense. On went the tiger.
making for the river, the balloons following
like avenging demons, and evidt ntly gain-s
ing ground upon their exhausted foe, though
their exultant yels seemed each moment TO
increase his terror and speed. They re-
|. ached the stream, the tiger,siill. in advance,
and with tremendous bound he cast him
self into its muddy waters and made for
: the opposite bank. Tie next moment his
pursaers, in admirable confusion, were
STRUGGLING after him, and as the tiger. now
fearlully exhausted, clambered on. the land
again, the largest and strongest of the bab-
! oons were close at his heels, though many
, of the pack (the old, the very young and
weakly we're sill struggling in the water.
In few moments all had passed from
our sight behind the brow Of The opposite
bank; but their increased yelling, now
stationary behind the hill, told US that the
tiger had met his doom, and their strong
artns and jaws 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 in at the death
but, next morning, a few and scattered frag-
ments of flesh and skin showed what had
been the tigers fate. On our return home
we were told by some Dutch gentlemen
that such hunts are not uncommon when q
tiger is rash enough TO attack the young
balloons, which often happens. All these
creatures for miles around assemble. and
pursue their enemy with relentless fury to
his death-Sometmes the chase lasts for
days but il invariably closes with the de-
struciion of the tiger--a striking instance
that the idea of retributive justice is not
confined to man alone.'