Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1868-06-25
Exciting scene---A Tiger Mt Large
f7s, i'm Antwerp.
[From the Escaut, June s.l

GFrom the Escaut, June 6l
A frightful ,mishap. accompanied by
the most tragic circumstances, spread
terror on Sunday morning last through
the district of ST. Jacques. The Zoolog
ical Garden has for long time been in
possession of two magnificent Bengal IT,
gers, one of which was to be forwarded
to London. TO, avoid accident, the ami
NAL was placed in wagon secured with
strong iron bars. The greatest precau-
tion was therefore taken to avoid catas-
trophe. At $3.50 in the morning the rail
way servants perceived an enormous an
imal clearing at bound the wall which
separates the geological gardens from the
railway station. The tiger had, in fact,
escaped, having bent and broken two of
the on'bars of his cage. The first OBJ
ject of his fury was a cart-horse of a
nightman, which happened to be pass
ing. The tiger bounded on the unfortu-
nate horse, biting him in the flank, and
tearing the straps which attached him
to the cart. The driver, who at first
sought safety on the horses back,
hid himself under the cart, but not be-
fore receiving wound in the leg from
the tigers paw. Meantime the horse,
mad with terror and pain, galloped furi-
ously towards the market of St. Jacques
pursued by the tiger. Here another de-
plorable event occurred. A gardener,
who was passing the street, attracted
the fury of the beast. The tiger sprang
at him, tearing his breast, legs and neck
in a fearful manner. Having finished
his victim the animal dragged the body
some distance; he then abandoned it
and rushed into ST. Anne's court, where
his presence caused indescribable terror.
M. .Vekemans, the director of the Zoo
logical Garden, having been informed of
the escape, proceeded with his staff in
pursuit, and came up with, the animal at
the corner of st. Jacques street, near
the house Verstrepen, A night watch
man and three or four other persons took
refuge in small shop opposite this
house. The tiger spied them and stood
for a moment as though he intended to
rush at them through the window. He
pursued his course, however, through
the market. NJ. Vekemans, with his as
sistants, after the animal got into St.
Anne's court, barricaded the entrance
and placed trap in it with view of
taking him alive. They then got into
the houses of the court in order to fright
EN- him into this trap. The tiger lay
couched against the door of the atezie7.
of M. De Braekeleer, the sculptor, but
perceiving one of the men in pursuit on
the roof of house, he leaped on the
roof of a lower house, and assumed, a
most menacing position. M. Vekeman's
De Braekeleer, Werbponk and Verhov-
en- We're armed with guns. The tiger
having perceived them, descended from
the roof, evidently bent on making the
attack, and when about four metres off
he couched to make his spring. The
order to fire was given, and three guns
were discharged in succession. The
first shot appeared to have missed, the
second struck the animal, the third in
ficted mortal wound. He tottered
back to the entrance of the court, where
M. De Braekeleer, finished him with
fourth shot. These gentlemen behaved
with great intrepidity, and but for their
GOODNESS and the measures they adopted
much greater injury would have been
done. The gardener who was attacked
never spoke,5 and died in the hospital
the same morning. @ ' -a''A -