The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-03-04
Tackling a Tiger.

In the afternoon we continued on our
march, but with no signs of being likely
to meet with sport, and about four
o clock we turned toward our camp.
We marched along carelessly, without
observing order or caution, and were
not prepared to take advantage of Ak
bar warning when he exclaimed: BE
ware, Sahibn' and a full-grown tiger
went past us at gallop. A struggling
volley was fired after it, and, although
evidently not struck, the beast stopped,
and rearing itself on its hind legs clawed
the bark OF tree just asa cat scratches
the leg of a chair or table. Mr.. Grant
and myself fired simultaneously, but
without effect, and before a thought of
the creatures intention had time to flash
through my mind, was down under its
claws.
Selling me by the left thigh, the tiger
then growing horribly, dragged me at
a tremendous rate through the thick un-
dergrowth of the forest. | heard the
frightened shouts of my companions,
and the report of several shots, and then
a dizziness came over me, but | did not
lose consciousness. AS | was jostled
through the forest several times caught
hold of the trees, but the tiger, growl-
ing tiercely, shook. me free in an instant.
All this time, though quite calm and
collected, | felt a strong desire to pre-
ment experienced that apathy with re-
gard to my danger that some persons
have described under very similar cir
cumstances.
How long was in the jaws of this
brute l can not tell. 1t seemed to me
an age before the creature stopped. My
companions afterward declared that
had been dragged at least half mile.
They followed as fast as they could
run, and although | was unaware of it
at the time, never lost sight of the beast.
To this circumstance undoubtedly owe
my life; for had there been any delay in
rendering me assistance it must have
been fatal to me.
The moment the tiger halted it re-
leased my thigh, and seemed to be at
tracted by the approach of my compan-
ions, though, as yet, | did not see them
myself. Taking advantage of this release,
l tried to creep to the shelter of some
tall bushes near at hand. In an in
slant, and with terrible roar, the
creature bounced upon me, Selling me
this time by the shoulder, and decorating
my chest with his claws. A shot was
fired and l heard the bullet whistle over
head. Fear of hitting me had caused
them to fire so high.
The second and. third shots were
equally unsuccessful, and the tiger,
again releasing me. began to lick up
the blood which oozed through my
jacket. began to feel very faint, and
could not repress groan. Several
times the tiger dabbed his paws, appar-
emily in play, about my face, but did
not use its claws, very fortunate for
me. Presently the beast seemed to be
seized with a sudden rage, and com.
menced to spit like. an angry cat at some
one approaching, whose footsteps l
could hear, but could not see him, for
wasi lying fiat on my back. There
was the sharp bang of a rifle close to
my head, heavy weight fell across
me, and then comprehended that my
brave friend Grant was pulling me from
under the dead body of the tiger.
Captain Lucy and some of the natives
came up and proceeded to stanch the
flow of blood from my wounds. that
on my thigh was the worst. The flesh
was bitten and torn to such an extent
that the bone was visible.
The wounds on the chest were also
severe, but my, shoulder was not very
much injured. When the bleeding was
stopped tainted, and. upon recover
ing consciousness, found 4, was being
carried along on rough litter formed
of boughs. | suffered great pain. es
pecially in the leg, and was exceeding.
lily thankful when we arrived at ou
camping place.
As soon as the news spread about
Shallangat that a tiger had been slain
the people came crowding around ou
tent to see it. The hub-bub .they
created was horrible. There was shout
ing, singing, beating Of tom-toms ans
drums, blowing of reeds, dancing ant
exulting over the dead animal In m,
weak state the noise was particularly
irritating; and as twas in vain to APP
lpeal to the sympathies of these people
the dead beast was removed to dis
lance, where the rejoicing continued al
night. s5I..auv .a'r VI .GaN, 81
The following day fever set In, an,
toward noon j became delirious. Witt
a few lucid intervals, was in this stat,
for five days. From "John Brqdlel
in Barmak. . 80 ,H e.41 az tlt
DIR. James McCosh, the President o
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