The Shasta courier., 1864-07-23
SHASTA COURIER.
Fighting the Tiger.


widely different Here, as many OF our read
err w,l know. and perhaps too well. it con
s.sts st.expo>ing the contents of ones purse
to tbe.voracionS appetite for filthy lucre o
those gentlemen of leisure who preside Al
faro or, more tru'hfuily speaking, unfair {
hanks. where the rule is. the more YOU lay
dowa the less you take up" In India how
eye. riser lighting is a horse Of another color
There tiiey buck 1T the genuine live animal
aud. as nay lie supposed, it is one of I'll,
most exciting scenes that can be witnessed
and calls into play far different capabiitie,
and elicits altogether Cpl oslte emotion. The
following account of an actual combat be
tween man aud tiger illustrates the mo
das operandi of : bucking at the tiger in
/. dia:
~ man entered the arena. armed only
with Il Coors knife. and clothed in short trou
ser<, which a-elv covered his hips and ex
tended half way DOWN the thighs. The IN
S rument which he wieled la his right hand
was heavy blade. meihIng Ike the cnui
ter of a plonrh. but two feet long aud tuii
txo inches VIDE. gradually diminishing to-
warl the handle, with which 1t formed n
right angle. T.lls knife is used with denteF-
iiy hy the CairgS. being swung round I" the
han bef,re the blow IL Infllc ell, an then
brnu si,t in contact with the Object intended
to he struck with force and effect truly as
toni,sh!ns.
The chamnion who now presented himself
before the Il iia! about To be opposed 10
n tiger whici. he volunteered Ia enruunter.
almost NAKED, and armed only with the
weapon we have just described. IL WAS
rather tall NTH slight figure. but his chest
was deep. his arms long and mus -cular. His
l.gs were tina, vet the action of the muscles
were preaeptihle ut every movement whilst
the freedom of his gllr.and the cnntortlons he
performed preparatory To the hazardous en-
ternriSe IN which he was about 20 enpage,
shaved tha. he possessed uncommon acilv-
itv combined with no ordinary degree of
strength The expression of the cnuntenance
wlS absolutely sublime when he gave the
signal for the tiger to be let loose it was
the very concentration of a moral energy
the index Of II h gh and settled resolution
His b. Is glistenel with the oil that bal been
rubbed over it in order to promote the elaS-
ticity fhis limbs lie raised his arm for
several moments above his head when he
male the motion to adnit the enemy into the
arena The bars of large cage were in
sfantly lifted from abave u huge rayai Tiger
spr.lmg forward and stood before the Cnors.
waving his tail slowly backward an! forward
erecting The hair upon it. and urterimg sup
pressed howl The animal first l. kel III
the man. aud then at the cnurt where the
Relah and his court were seated To see the
sport, but did unt appear ut all cay IN it~
present state of freedom; it evidently
eonloupdel ut the navelty of its ppSifinn.-
After IL short survey. it turned suddenly
round and bounded in'o its cage. from which
the keepers, who -stond above beyond the
reach of mischief, tried to f'rce il, Int in
vain The bars were then dInpped. and sew
era crackers fastened to tail which ROW
projected through one OF the intervals.
A lighted m Itch was put into the hands of
the Conrg. the bars were again raised. and
the crackers isnitei The tiger now darted
into the arena with terrible yell and while
the crackers were exploding i: laaped. turn
Cd and wr.ihed. rs if in frantic state OF ex-
element 1t at length crouched in a corner,
snarling MS a eat does when charmed. Mean
while lis retr ut had been cut off hv securing
the cage. During the explosion of the crack
crs. the Coorg stood watching his enemy.and
at length advanced toward it with slow but
firm step. The tiger reused itself and re.reat-
ed. the fur on its back. being erect. and its
tail apparently dilated to twice the useal
size. 1t WAS not at Il disposed To commence
hostilitie>. hut its resolute foe WAS no, tn he
evaded. Fixing his eyes inten'ly upon the
deadly creatures. he advanced with the same
measured step. the tiger retreatng as before,
but still presenting its front to the enemy
The Coorg now stopped suddenly: then
moving slowly backward. the tiger raised 1t
self IL its full hight. curved its back To the
necessary segment fnr a spring. aad dashed
his tail evidently mediiatIng mischief. The
man continued to retire; and SO soon rs he
was at sn great distance that the fixed ex-
pression of his eve was no longer distinguish
able. the ferocious brute made n sudden
boInl forward. crouched, aud snrung with
short >harp grnwl. Its adversary. fully pre-
pared for this leap. leaped actively on one
side. aud as the tiger reached the ground,
swung round his heavy knife. and brought it
with irrcsistahle force upon the animals hind
leg. just above the Joint. The hone in.
stantly severel !. and the tiger eIicrtuallv pre-
vented from making u second spring. The
wounded beast roare1 huf turning sudden
lv on the Coarg. who had hv this time retir-
ed several yards. advanced fl rrelv upnu him,
his wntnlel ler hanging l,n>e in the skin.
showing that II was broken The tiger now
c. cited Ia u pitch OF reckless rage, rushed
fnrwarl upon his adversary. who S,nnd with
his heavy knife uprasel. calmly awaiting
the eucoanier. As Soaa as the savage crea-
ture- WAS within his reach he brought ,lown
III" plnderouS weapon upon its head with
force which nothing conld resist. laid open
tne skull from ear to enr, aEd thr van0uiShei
foe fell dead at his feet. He thea cnnllv
wiped the Snife on the anima;'S hle. made.
n al -nIiicd Salaam to the Riiaii. aud retired
nmid the loud acclamations Of the specta-
tors"