Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1863-12-11
nlisfelIaneous Rea0ina.
Encounter with a Tiger.

In a recent letter from this station,( Bhooi
Kutch.) you were informed of the success.
full exploits of young officer who is at
tached to the first Grenadiers Native H.
fantry, who sincle-handed had killed two
panthers. These successes, however, lead
the youthful hikaree to be more daring than
prudent, and in his last engagement with a
fine panther, the struggle was the most Sc
we're | had ever heard of; nor was it de.
cided till the sportsman with five of his men
were driven from the field wounded and
bleeding, and in actual ignorance of tbs
fact that they were victors. There are
many opinions and stories as to the arrange
ment of the forces before the panther's den,
but from all / can learn, the entire party,
about eight or ten persons, drew up before
the cave, instead of selecting careful posi-
tions at the sides, and after pelting in stones
and endeavoring to add to the comfort OF
their friend inside by "smokiug him out,
he did condescend to show himself. and
some very ugly teeth, too. With hop,
step and jump, and Hoo, hoo" he was
in the centre of the beaters at almost one
bound, and vaulting from back to back, Bit
ing each in succession, giving side wipes
with his wide sprawling paws, he avenged
the death of his comrades by the infiction
of awful wounds. The youthful Nimrod
fired once or twice, but though he distinctly
heard the " thud and felt sure that day
light had been let in through the spotted
hide of the now infuriated brute, the pan
ther did not yield, but fastened to one of the
heaters, rolled with him, fixing his teeth
firmly in the mans shoulders.
1t was an exciting moment. The beat
er had drawn his sword and was freeing
his right arm to deal the drawing cut"
The sportsman had leveled his rifle and
was over anxious and excited in his aim
he fired, missed the panther, and hit the
beater on the point of the elbow. The
sword fell from the mans hand, and the
n an from the panther's jaws. The animal
turned round on his foe, who held up his
unloaded rifle in his hand, but was arrested
in his charge by a dooly-wallah. whom he
wounded. Overmatched by the agility of
the fierce quadruped, general and precip-
itate bolt alone remained for safety, and in
the rush of flight, the vanquished shikaree
fell over precipice and severely hurt him
self, so much so as TO have passed from the
jaws of the panther to the care of the med
leo. In my evening walk met one or two
of the men who were returning, much cut
and bleeding.
A dooly was sent out to bring in the Sc.
verely wounded beaters, who were sent tc
the hospital 1t is strange how close tc
camp these panthers come; this affair oc.
Cured only three or four miles off, if SC
much. As might be expected, the excite.
ment in camp was at its highest pitch. The
panther had fought royal tigers battle
and had taught lesson to those who say
d" it Is only panther" These miniature
tigers are even more dangerous than theil
giant species. Accordingly, most distin
guished party having secured the services
of one TO whom might be entrusted the deli
cate mission of just pulling the panther
whskers, they proceeded TO the spot. Blu
such " "diplomatic overtures were not nee
essary. They found the panther " stretched
/ on the yellow clay" and all returned to tn
camp most fairly sold. The skin was sen
into camp to the slayer, who had a goo
laugh in his sleeve at the expense of thos
who so kindly acted as . retrievers ant
brought in his lost game.-Iimes in Ladlo