Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1873-07-12
Fatal Tiger Hunt.


A fatal tiger hunt, whose details are
worthy the graphic pen of a Cummings,
occurred recently at Chudderghout,
India. The victim was Mr.. Jos. Gay, a
young man connected with the English
Public Works Department. Aman-eater
had been infesting the region where he
was stopping, and many had fallen vic
Tins.
Hearing of his depredations, Mr.
Marrett, English engineer in the place,
and a keen sportsman, started in pur-
suit, accompanied by Mr.. Gay, who was
staying with him and anxious to witness
tiger hunt. Armed each with rifle,
and assisted by four shikarees. also
armed, the party soon collected batch
of heaters and tom-tom wallahs, who
were set to work to drive the tiger out
of his hiding place.
Mr.. Marrett and one of the shikarees
took up their position under a tree,
while Mr.. Gay, who by the way, was
novice in such matters, with the other
'shikarees climbed up the tree. All were
now eagerly on the lookout, when sud-
denly the man-eater, with a terrible
growl, made a spring from an adjacent
thicket at Mr.. Marrett, who had Just
sufficient time to drop on his knee and
fire, the ball striking the animal on the
lower jaw, which it completely shat
| tered q ~ -.. ~ 81. ~
Before Mr.. Marrett could rise the
tiger was upon him. A desperate strug-
gle was the consequence, and the tiger,
Mr.. Marrett and shikaree all rolled over
each other in the melee.
Mr.. Gay, who was perched upon the
tree exactly overhead, while trying to
change his position in order to have a
better shot at the tiger, lost his foot
ing, and fell straight upon the back of
the Infatuated animal, which immedi-
ately turned upon him most savagely,
attacking him with his claws alone, as
his under jawwas rendered useless from
the shot he had received from Mr.. Mar
rett's rife. FL
I On Mr.. Marrett regaining conscious
ness, he found he was deserted by all
except the shikaree who was knocked
down with him in the encounter, but
who was not much hurt and a few pace,
off was the man-eater, still engaged in
mauling and mangling his helpless
victim.
His first impulse was to seize his rifle
but this was found to be perfectly use
less, it having been considerably dam
aged during the struggle with the tiger
The brute now seeing Mr.. Marrett move
about, left Mr.. Gay and retired short
distance, apparently waiting to see
what his intentions were.
Mr.. Marrett-who, strange to say,
was only slightly wounded-and his
faithful shikaree ran up at once to the
rescue of Mr.. Gay; but no sooner haC
they approached the PROSTATE form
than the monster made a dash at them
and once more took possession of hiI
victim, standing right across the almos
lifeless body and looking around will
an air of conscious strength and def
ance, and challenging as it were any ont
to approach him.
The heaters and others who had al
this time remained inactive and silen
spectators of what was being enacted a
distance, now gradually approached
and after a great deal of persuasion
Mr.. Marrett induced them to charge
the brute in body, and with the aid o
tom-toms, &c. ,ssucceededin frightening
him away to a neighboring hill, where
he was soon lost sight of.
Mr.. Gay was taken home and for
time seemed to progress favorably, bu
a choking sensation at last seized hin
, and he expired, victim of his first tige
, hunt.