River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1879-11-13
TIGER HUNT IN PENNSYLVANIA,
Escape Of Tiger from Menagerie--
Startling Discovery IN Field-Ral-
lying of the fiilagers-How The AMI.
mal was Killed.

Escape OIL n Tiger from u Mpnagerip--
startling Discovery III IA Field-Ral-
lying Of the fiilagers-How the AMI.
mai was Killed.
A most exciting affair occurred up in
Torresdalc, on the New York branch of
the Philadelphia railroad, fourteen
miles from Philadelphia, early yester-
day morning. About five o'clock, and
while 1t was yet very dark, Andrew
Hoffa eyer, stone mason, was awaR-
ened from his sleep by hearing means
proceeding from some point not far from
the house. At length he aroused his
wife and both listened The sounds
would break out at intervals ana con-
tinue short time and them cease.
Presently, when the sounds were renew
ed, Hotfmeyer sprang out of bed, de-
clarlng that he knew it was some one
IN distress. Dressing himself hastily he
went out in the darkness in the dIrec-
zion whence the noise proceeded. 1t
came froms the field ola neighbor
Walking across the field he presently
through the darkness discerned what
appeared to be the body OF an animal
lying close against fence. HoHmeyer
thought it was COW suffering from
some hurt. and full of good intentions
advanced closer, until he bad got within
a few steps of the recumbent form of
the animal, when he became concious
OF two firev eyes glaring at him out of
the darkness with an expression that be-
longed to no branch of the COW species
under the sun. To say that Hoffmeyer
got out of the way quickly is to do in
justice TO the remarkable physical &C
tivity which he brought to bear on the
matter at that critical moment. There
was tree not far distant, and in his
progress toward this desirable point the
grass never felt the touch of his feet.
Having reached the tree and seeing
that he was not followed, he deliberat-
ed moment, then ran toward a shop
where lights were glimmering at that
early hour. 1t was Mr. States butcher
shop. Bursting into the place, whel e
States and two or three hired men were
at work, he informed them breathlessly
of what had happened At first they
were disposed to discredit his story.
They, however were joined by a man
named Eckert, and all going to the
place, discovered that the animal was
a real tiger. Exert went back to the
house and got an immence double-bar-
relied gun used for duck-shooting, and
heavily loaded with No. shot. Armed
with this effective weapon, and accom-
panied again by the others, armed with
small bird guns, which not one of them
would venture to fire, they got down to
the fence again. Bv this time it was
O'Clock. When they reached the place
the animal had risen from the spot and
was walking slowly along the other
side of the fence.
TWAS a tiger, and very large one.
He moved along the fence slowly until
he came to point opposite the place
where the men were standing. Here
he stopped moment, and, placing his
paws against rail looked over The
men proceeded to give him more lati-
tude, retreating to the nearest house,
which was occupied bv family named
Clary. Eckert requested Mrs. Clary to
leave the door open, SO that in the
event of his shot missing its object he
could retreat inside. The animal mean.
time had taken himself off the fence
and was leisureIy pursuing his way.
Going down within about thirty feet of
him Eckert leveled his gun at him. Just
as he was about to fire he was stopped
by yell from some Of the party who
advised him not TO risk it, as, If he miss
ed and only served to rouse his Tiger
ship, some of them would lose their
lives. Without needing their request
he went little closer and while the
animal stopped to look at him, took de-
liberate aim for the region of the left
shoulder and fired. The tiger jumped
five or six feet into the air and fell dead
without groan. The men with the
bird guns promptly rushed up and
emptied the contents of each and every
additional gun into the dead tigers
head, being evidently determined that
he should not come back to life again
Having done this and still having
doubts as to whether the work was COM
plete. MIR. States came forward with his
axe and battered the animals head al
most into jelly, after which there APP
peared to be but little doubt that he was
dead
The carcass weighed 205 pounds, and
was feet 8 inches long and over 3 feet
high. 1t measured 49, inches around
the forearm. The animal escaped from
Forepaugh's menagerle, which las been
in Frankfort for The past two days. 1t
could not have been at large long as
Hoffmeyer was the first man, by ali
accounts. to discover it. The distance
from Frankfort to Torresdale is about
six miles. 1t had probably been in the
woods all night, until driven by hunger
into the fields.