The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1879-03-14
Face to Face With a Tiger.

One day Schmidt and another of the breth-
rem, named Bonatz, with about thirty Hotten-
tots, set out in the morning armed with load
ed guns on an excursion. When about an
hours ride from the settlement they discoy-
cred and wounded wolf, but the animal
made its escape among the bushes They
pursued it for some time, but not being able
to discover its hiding place, the two mission
aries resolved to return home They had al
ready left the Hottentots short distance,
when the latter cried out they discovered the
wolf in thicket near at hand. Schmidt i'm
mediately rode back to their assistance, but
Bonatz remained behind, as he had not his
gun with him. When they were in the midst
OF the thicket the dog started the ANIMAL
Those within did not see what it was, but
those without exclaimed, cts tiger p and
ran off, leaving the missionary and one of the
Hottentots in the middle of the thicket and
perfectly at Il loss to know by which side to
make their escape lest they should come di-
rectly upon it. They, therefore proceeded
slowly, with their guns pointed, designing to
shoot the animal the moment it should make
its appearance. On sudden the tiger sprang
upon the Hottentot, pulled him down and
began to bite his face. Schmidt, who was
close at hand, prepared to shoot the brute,
but the motions Of the Hottentot and of the
animal in rolling about and struggling were
so rapid that he was afraid to fire lest he
should kill him whom he sought to save
Immediately, however, the tiger let 90 the
Hottentot and made a spring at Schmidt
His gun being of no use at such close quar-
tiers he threw it down, and in order to shield
his face held up his arm, which the animal
instantly seized with his jaws, close to the ell
bow. Schmidt, however, was still able with
the same hand, to lay hold of one of the IT,
gers fore-feet while with the other it con-
tinued striking his breast and tearing his
clothes. Happily both fell in the struggle in
such II position that the missionary's knee
rested on the pit of the tigers stomach He
at the same time, grasped the animals
throat with his right hand and kept him down
with all his might. His face now lay directly
over the tiger, whose open mouth, from the
pressure of the windpipe, sent forth the most
hideous hoarse, convulsive cries. while his
starting eyes seemed like live Goals flashing
with fire. AS his strength was fast falling
Schmidt called to his companions to come to
his assistance; while ON the other hand, the
rage and agony of the tiger supplied it with
extraordinary strength The Hottentots
came up, and one of them snatchng up the
loaded gun, shot the tiger through the heart
causing instant death. Before it was posi-
bic to obtain medical aid, poor Schmilt's suf-
terings grew intense, the inflammation ex-
tending to an alarming extent. He had seven
or eight wounds from the elbow to the wrist
i'll some places they penetrated to the bone
and, as may be imagined from the shape of
tigers teeth and claws, the flesh was terribly
mutiated But from all his sufferings and
danger he recovered, TO the establishment of
all his friends, and returned to his labors.-
Heroes Of Br3tdtn'in Peace and War