Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1879-08-06
HOW WE SHOT THE TIGERS.

slsvers have convinced people that the
snort is not only dangerous one, but
that the presence Of an experienced
hunter amongst the party is essential.
In the days speak of no such theory
existed. We considered that we had
nothing more to do than to walk up
elephants were beneath us) and shoot
the beast chang in the head" and then
have him carried in triumph to our
tents. Our party consisting of myself
and two other ,'oung subalterns) thought
so, and we started 20 do SO.
Forty-five minutes by train, and
stiff walk of two hours, brought us 10
our tents.
The ground had not been hunted for
wears, and was situated in the centre Of
the Bhore ghauts. The spot selected
for our first encampment was a solitary
village shut in on every side by tower
ing mountains, clothed with impenetra-
BILE cover" Our shikarees native
hunters) told us that these mountains
were full Of tigers, bisons, bears, pan
Tiers, and every conceivable kind of
game. AS we sat listening around the
camp fire that night, there was not one
amongst us who did not feel certain in
his own heart that the morrow would
see him fairly on the road to fame. In
this state of excitement, if we slept at
all, it was certainly due to the effects of
the brandy punch, in which we duly
drank success to our first trip.
Behold us, then, the following morn
ing, fully equipped, in our own estima-
ton, for the hunt. AS far as l remem-
Der at this distance of time, we had six
rifles and one gun between us, borrowed
from every quarter, aud each of a diff
ferent bore. One OF mine was single
barrelled Jacob" the lock of which
possessed the unhappy knack of work
ing when not required.
We had been told that pebbles were
very useful in the mouth to allay thirst;
so determined to be practical, we put
three each in our pockets, and dis
pensed with two out of three chaguls
water bags and thus we started.
Oyerladen with useless ammunition,
pulled up with kind af uGUict7s feeling,
and wearing ill-fitting and inferior boots,
queer party we must have looked.
a tigress had killed pig overnight,
and we felt that such an outrage must
be quickly revenged. Up hill and down
dale, sliding, slipping, jumping, run
ming, we went for about two hours, dur
ing which time we had elected our
pebbles, and the water bag was empty.
However, we eventually reached our
sta.l0n-a bare little hill with slope,
at the bottom small ravine about
SIX or seven feet wide and as many
deep, and beyond that the hillside
along which the tigress was to be
driven. We seated ourselves in row
on the barest spot we could find, lest
anything should divert our aim, and
duce us to fire until the animal had
Jumped in the ravine. The drive COM
menced, and we had not long to wait
Irotting calmly along the hillside
straight toward US came the tigress
On the other side Of the ravine, and
about 80 yards from it, was one soil
tary bush; all the rest of the hillside
was short grass. At about 200 yards
the tlgress of course viewed us, and
stopped for minute to look about.
The excitement was intense. We had
never contemplated VIVA. we were to
do IN such an emergency, and we con-
sequeltly all acted independently, and
poured in a voley. The tigress now
rushed into the bush, and we, without
knowing why, opened a running fire
upon 1t. This could not last long, and
some stray shot having reused the ami
maj, she left her cover and charged
straight for us. Never shall forget the
scene that followed. We, perfectly con.
'nced that now was the time, seized
our guns, and ran heter-sk TO meet
'ne ugress, and fired at her promiscu-
olsly Our shikarees and gun-bearers
yelled to US from behind to stop, the
1sfess roared in front, and the men
WIG mad driven Aer out scuttled in
very direction. In this manner we
arFYed on our side Of the ravine, and
N'e 'gress on hers, when luckily two
fray shots disabled her, and sent her
Iieadlong and elpless into it. We now
discovered that our only loaded piece
was the old Jacob" and after three
unsuccessful efforts the handle conde-
sseended 70 come down, and make our
~, 'ger an accomplished fact.
larry next morning we received news
.-a' TWO tigers were sitting under some
ices well up in the gorge in the ehauts:
anu we positively made arrangements
nat we should do with them when
'1 E; should be brought in that evening.
Inc road was difficult and steep. and
nhdlng there was no available place at
- .ae south end of the ravine, we went
14uha and seated ourselves on the TOP
- = bank commanding the path by
IL @IIgh the tigers were said to be in the
-1g5' OF coming and going.
me beaters mad directions Ia drive