The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1865-10-25
The Famished Tiger


regiment was ordered down into the In
dian territory, SO wished to leave. At
Jefferson City I fell in with Pelby's Me.
nagerie. Tom Pelby: the owner, was an
old friend of mine, and when he found
out l was out of business, he asked me to
go with him. He knew that was not
only an experienced horseman, but that |
was something of horse doctor; and the
wages he offered tempted me to join him.
His menagerie was good one, his col
lection of animals being quite extensive,
and the specimens better than the aver
age Of those usually Oh exhibition.
He had come from st. Louis and meant
to reach the Mississippi again by the
great atSteelville and Pennington Highway
During the first week of my engagement
took charge of four performing horses,
when on the road, riding one and leading
the others. At Steelville we remained
three days, and when we got ready to move
from that place I was called to new po-
sition. Jack Garvey, the man who had
formerly had charge of the performing
horses, had been laid up by a sprained
shoulder, but he had recovered, and when
we left Steelyille he was able to take his
post again. 1 was placed in charge Of
the caravan, or cage, containing the Ben
galgtiger.
From Steelville to CALEDONIA we stop
ped three times, taking six days in the
passage. l not only drove the team which
took the tiger over the road but was very
soon called to purchase food for the ami
mails. [ had some experience in trading
in that section of country, and Pelby fan
cied that I could buy to better advantage
than the former caterer had done. On
the fourth day from Caledonia we stopped
at small settlement where arrangements
had been, made for an exhibition. We
pitched onr tent at the cross roads and we
had full house. That night Mr.. Pelby
informed me that he had delivered out the
last of the meat, and that he should want
more in the morning. [ knew that the
meat was gone, ana had already been
looking around for fresh supply.
You must understand that this settle
ment was not much of village. A store,
smiths shop, and two or three mean
dwellings were all the buildings in the
place; but the Surrounding country was
fertile and well settled, and people flock
ed into our show from far and near. /
won't to the man who kept the store, and
he promised that he would have an OK
ready for me in the morning. Morning
came, but no OK. The man declared he
could not find one; but he said We should
be able to obtain meat at the next cross
road, which was only ten miles distant
Pelby was quite uneasy. The animals hac
been fed very lightly on the day previous
and he feared they would become restivt
if they went much longer hungry.
We started at eight o clock in the NOR
ming, and at eleven we reached the settle
ment where we were informed that mea
could be obtained; but not scrap coult
be obtained. There was not an OK in thu
place, and only two cows. But we were
assured that few miles further on W,
should find what we wanted. So on w
went, and the afternoon crcpt half away
! without bringing us in sight Of any thins
} which we could kill. lj
The day was a very warm one, and tn
matches on the tops of the cages wer
J open to give good circulation of air fol
! the animals. My tiger was uneasy enough
J He growled and scratched at his bars, ant
ever and anon be leaped against the sid
of his narrow house with force tha
shook me in my seat. At a brook wher
} we stopped to water our horses spok
} with Pelby about the tiger. told hir
the beast was becoming savage.
"Neyer mind" said he; "wen fin
something before night. The first ami
NAL we see by the wayside we'll take,
we have to steal it.
81 But this did not satisfy me. The tige
was full grown one, and almost as pow
erful as he might have been in his nativ
$ jungle. suggested that we had bette
J kill one of the dogs. But Pelby woul
: not listen to this. He knew that the lal
: ger beasts were hungry, and that the
] would kick up great fuss, but he belie'
e ed they would stand it for some hours.
/ 1t was not so much of the welfare ,
/ the animals that I thought of as my ow
d welfare. suggested to Pelby that tt
|, cage l drove was not one of the strong
d est.
Il He laughed at me.
i. "Why," said he, "the tiger might bun
's away month in that cage ,and he couldn
re start bar.
h But / was not SO sure of that. | b
ut lieved that some of the bars were alrea6
= started. The jolting of the caravan ov
: the rough roads had gradually loosen'
: the hold of wood upon iron; and | to
a Mr.. Pelby that if he could hear the ia
ring which had heard, he would not
quite SO confident of the tigers powerles
a ness.
"Pooh!" said he, laughing at me;
you are SO easily frightened as that, y
will never do to drive leading carava
I'll put you on to the monkeys"
didn't relish that kind Of threat
all, and / told Mr. Pelby that I'd drive
tiger as long as he had a tiger to dri'
unless / found something better to do.
4 We started on again. Jackson's |
was twenty miles distant, and was our ne
place Of exhibition. 1t was now past thr
ry in the afternoon, ,and as the road was We
I'd rough, we had good chance Of being
ad the move until after dark. Mr.. Pelby
ne the column with four-horse carav;
he next followed the cage containing a p,