Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1869-01-13
A HUNGRY TIGER

IN an article upon Nicaragua. pub
li1hed in an English Magazine. the
following exciting description of an
encounter with = black ti@eris given.
ENCOUNTER WITH 4 rIGEH.
one night, after | had been six
months on the island. / Was seated
by the fire, waiting the piantaiits
that were boiling IN the pot. jon etll-
"A was mol IN the hut, and was ak
pecttng him home 10 supper.
suddenly heard his shout outside
and the next instant lac dashed into
the hnt, banged the door to. and
threw the heavy bar across il Just
a. he liked II, and painting leaned his
sh9nider against the stout wood "a
an additional support, Il Shoci- SO
heavy that the whole hut quiN red
made the door bend Another rAI-
lowed, and then all was still.
sprang up at the first sight of
Joachim, but the scene passed 80
quickly that no word had been Spo-
Ken yet. But when, after tine second
blow on the door, the ATTEMPT seem
81 10 be abandoned on that side,
took The native by the shoulder and
shook him, Tor he seemed wild with
lear.
Halo, mani" | said. '.vhat i
tins His appearance was CHASTITY.
lie old Guatemala jacket he wore.
ms leather breeches, even his boots
81 alligator hide, We're ripped and
cut 10y the thornS Of the acaciaS. His
lace streamed with blood from many
deep scratches, and PRESENTATION
drenched his long hair
A black tiger he whispered /:
1t has chased me across the sayan-
nah, for my horse was tired out. il
Is after me. Oh, listen -
Then, IN the silence. while We held
our breath, and Joachim strained my
hand backwards and forwards. /
! heard the hard snoarink of a tiger
INST outside the door No doubt of
II The beast had singled Joachim
out, and let the horse 80 free.
W hlle We listened, the direction OF
the sound moved about, now up and
down, accompanied by raps against
the door, "a III the animal WAS rest :
ing his paws against it a. he raised
himself Oh his hind legs
Al length we heard the sound OF
scratching, aid drew NV machcte.
In "A lew seconds y black paw, armed
with terrible crooked claws. was
seen working on one side of the door.
| gave a downright cut which neatly
severed Al, and the animal, roaring
NaNagely, threw himself against the
Wood again and again in rage.
Then another pause follow cd. Very
soon a noise upon the roof showed
as we had expected. that the enemy
was directing his attack in that
direction, and ] got my old gun
ready. As soon as | saw the ami
mails iur | fired, ami wounded him.
40 doubt, for he rolled from the roof
and We heard him fall heavily.
Again and again lie returned To the
attempt, &nd every time caught a
glimpse OF Ills black Shinin. ~kfn 7
fired.
His roaring was terrible 10 hear.
and Joachim, W o never had courage
lo spare, sat ON the floor ian a corner
striving II close ms ears to the
sound.
All night the struggle lasted AT M
teryalS, ana every crack of the ht,t
WAS tried 10y this uu,iring foe. He
dashed upon the door, he bounded
upon the roof, scratching that way.
bat never disturbed nay fire he tried
the walls and the door again and
again. II was an awful night that :
the fact ami | for my part did not
recover from the nervous strain for
months.
With the dam the tigers effort
became fainter ami al length ceased.
WIen the sun Rose ] took my guu
and sailed out IL meet the creature
in fair fight. i followed his trail
for mile easily guided hy the cloutS
Of blood which stained the grass ana
socks-he was wounded 10 the death
| plainly saw. AT last | found him
dead beside the body OF Joaehin,s
horse which he must have destroyed
ia the very last effort nf hi~ rage. dy-
Jug in the act.