Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1868-07-03
A Tiger at Large Terrible Scene.

The Escaut, of Antwerp, gives the fol-
lowing: "A frightful mishap, accompanied
by the most tragic circumstances, spread
terror on Sunday morning last through the
district of St. jacques. The Geological
Garden has for a long time been III posses
sion of two magnificent Bengal tigers, one
of which was to be forwarded to London.
To avoid accident the animal was placed in
a wagon secured with strong iron bars =
The greatest precaution was therefore taken
to avoid catastrophe. AT half-past three
in the morning the railway servants per-
ceived an enormous animal clearing at a
bound the wall which separates the Zoolog-
zeal Garden from the railway station. The
tiger had in fact escaped, having bent and
broken two of the iron bars OF his cage
The first object of his fury was the cart
horse of a nightman, which happened
to be passing. The tiger bounded
on the unfortunate horse, biting him
in the flank, and tearing the straps that at
tached him to the cart, The driver, who
at first sought safety on the horses back,
hid himself under the cart, but not before
receiving wound in the leg from the IT,
gers paw. Meantime the horse, mad with
terror and pain, galloped furiously towards
the market of ST James, pursued by the
tiger Here another deplorable event oc-
CURED. 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 il
and rushed into St. Anne's Court, where
his presence caused Undesirable terror.
NJ Vekemans, Of the Geological Garden,
| having been informed of the escape, pro.
ceeded with his staff in pursuit, and came
up to the animal at the corner OF st. Jac
| CUES street, near the house. of Verstrepen
! A night Waterman and three or four Others
| took refuge in a small shop opposite this
house. The tiger spied them, and stood
/ for moment as though he intended to rush
at them through the window He pursued
his course, however, through the market
NJ Vekemans, with his assistants, after the
animal got into st. Anne's Court, barricad
ed the entrance and placed trap in it, with
view of taking him alive. They
then got into the houses of the court IL
order to frighten him into this trap. The
| tiger lay couched against the door OF the
atelieT OF NJ. De Braekleer, the sculptor, bu
perceiving one of the men in pursuit OF
| the roof Of house, he leaped on the roo
of lower house, and assumed a most men
acing position. NM. Vekeman, De Braek
leer, Werbronk and Verhoven were armed
with guns. The tiger having perceived
them slowly descended from the roof, evi
IDENTIFY bent on making an attack, and whel
about four metres of he couched Il
make his spring. The order to fire wal
given, and three guns were discharged il
succession The first shot appeared Il
have missed the second struck the animal,
and the third inflicted a mortal wound
He tottered back to the entrance of the
court, where Mr.. De Brackeleer finished
him with a fourth shot. These gentlemen
behaved with great intrepidity, and but TO
their GOODNESS and the measures they adopt
ed much greater injury would have beer
done. The gardner who was attacked neye
spoke, and he died in the hospital the SAM
morning at 6 o'clock.