The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-05-24
Thrilling Adventures with Tigers.
Dr. Wilson tells the following stories

Ihf1lling adventures with ,l1KSrS.
Dr. Wilson tells the following stories in
relation to interviews with tigers in New
Granada ''On the Magdalena rivera fellow
traveller pointed out to us his farm and also
his two dogs, which gaze at us as we pass
at some distance from the shore, and which
he assures us, are masters in the art of trail
ing the tiger and bringing him to bay while
himself and comrades surround him with
strong spears, upon which he rllshes to his
destruction. These spears have cross pieces
ut the distance Of eighteen inches from their
points, in order to keep the fierce brute at II
safe distance after he is penetrated by the
spear. The hunters here fear to attack the
tiger with the rifle, because, if not hit in Il
vital part by the first shot, they will inevi
tably destroy the hunter, because his terri
bic charge must unnerve the stOutcst heart
and stcadicst aim, 50 that il would he only
Il very lucky bullet that would arrest his
fearful onslaught The tigers have killed
thirty three cattle OH the farm Of 0ur fellow
passenger during the last two years, and he
and his assistants have killed twenty one
tigers in retaliation. Their fayorite mode
of attack upon grown cattle is to stcalthily
approach and spring upon them while sleep
ing, and bite them through the nape of the
do their prey but they often dispatch horses
and mules by Il single blow of their power
full claws upon the head, after which they
eat away the breast and neck, frequently
returning for Il second meal the following
night 1t seldom attacks man, and only when
pressed with hunger, or when the victim
is found sleeping, then he cIcavcs open his
skull with Il terrible stroke of his powerful
paw. When attacked, however,, he does
not fail to return the aggression with fear
ful carncStness.
Our captain relates one Of the former
cases that happened to his knowledge dur
the last year, viz. D.: 1t is the custom OF wood
choppers along the river, when their huts
are in isolated spots, to construct Il high scat
fold or garnet, to which they ascend to sleep
by ladder, which they draw up after them;
but one who had not yet finished his hut,
located ut the confluence of Il considerable
creek with the Magtlalena, had neglected
the usual prccaution. of building Il fire and
Keeping it burning during the night in order
to frighten away the tigers that might be
prowing about his camp. AS it was bright
moonlight night he chose. instead, to sit by
his door with his rifle, on guard, while his
wife slept. Towards morning the wife
awote, and insisted Oh relieving her hus-
band of the watch, in order that he might
get some sleep and be refreshed for the next
days labor lie consented, and when he
awote in the morning the wife was missing.
Eagerly he sought and called aloud for his
missing companion, but all in vain, till on
nearing the creek he discovered in the sand
Il trail as if something like body had been
dragged along, and tiger tracks by its side,
lent Il painful probability to his horrible s,ls-
picions. Following the trail it soon led in
to the water procuring his canoe and rifle
he struck The trail Oh the opposite side of
the creek, and not fur away, came upon the
manglcd half-levourcd remains of his mis-
sing wife, with skull crushed in, showing
that death had probably surprised her SO
instantuncously that she had no time for
outcry. Knowing the habits of the fierce
brute afscr gorging himself, the husband
pccred about in the direction of the tracks,
and soon discovered him asleep under the
edge of the jungle. Creeping to II sure dis
lance and taking careful aim he sent Il lcadcn
messenger of death crashing through its
brain. With his own hands the woodmun
performed the mournful task of gathering
the mutilatcd remains of his loved com
panion into his canoe, to which he also
dragged the body Of her slayer, and com
menccd his solemn retreat to the nearest
hamlet.
Il passenger told of another case hc'kncw,
of recent occurrence, in which man and
his son, camping for the night, had built the
usual fire, which the tigers seldom approach
wrapped themselves in their blankets and
lald themselves down to sleep with their
dog between them as guardian. Towards
morning their fire had gone out and sudden
ly, strange, rushing, bustlng and yclping
noises and cries startled them from their
slumhers. Springng to their feet and star
ing wildly about them nothing was to he
seen, except the dog was missing and, with
out doubt had paid the penalty allotted to
sleeping scntinels. At low stages Of the
water in this river, tiger tracks arc very
numerous upon the sand, and we are told
these animals arc not unfrcqucntly seen
swimming across the river. The alligatOrs
which infcst these; turbulent waters, and
which do not fail to snatch the lucklcss ho-.
mo That falls INTO them, respects the pres
cncc Of this august quadrupcd, perhaps Oh
account Of the terrible weapons with which
his powerful paws are armed Our cap
tain recently saw one of these respectable
carnivora swimming the river but a short
distance ahead of the boat, and gave him
chase with the. intention of. running him
down. The brute reached slioal water, how
ever, when the boat was very near to him,
and looked back over his shoulder nt lis
pursuers with al mir of digniflcd indiffer-
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