The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1884-04-27
GAZING A TIGER At SINGAPORE

GAZING 4 TIGER At SINGAPORE
From the L0ndon Ffe'd.
Tho interest OF the community Of Snga-
pore WIS lately excited by the nnnounccnent
That "a fine tiger had been captured in II rit
situated If Chinamans gS ms, snso to tn2
deserted, became alive with spectators pro-
fe e "i,f i by Sarrage' on horssbnck or ON
The rit In which tho tiger was caught was
circular. and measured II feet deep i,y . feet
Il %n. ns n nv ssy tho
clean cut tho tiger was not able to escape by
seram6nE up r, The stua,,"p %as on tho
With others Gad been due for the I p "i " q
car,unG MS Ist These na ps "r. covered
the unspunl state OF the ground. II is pre-:
Wild PIC. or was vending his Way to an ndioln.
ing tnrmyard when no go! into TO- difficulties ~
the ser hd fallen was Sl his G
covered the mouth OF the nit with strong
planks. and ut once looked AROUND for q pur.
the Bottom OF the pit and It aitsFward cost $50
While negotiations were being carried on. spec
tators were permitted to look at the magnifi:
blanks was partially removed moved He did moi i at
Ms by rrewF and sprgng S
ment; but on one occasion nearly reached the
toF q! h nse ~! six days tho POOR captve lay in
the pit being led very spsrnSiy so as to reduce
his ,energyl. while preparations were being
hole. was dug adjacent to the nit, and it was in
tended to place cage into this hole. having
done which tho partition Of earth between the
hole and the pit was to have been knocked
away. and the tiger driven into the cage. At,er
the hole was dug this plan was, however.
and the operation Of caging the tiger was put
in the hands Of six Manys. who. as a race. are
tho habits OF animals. I. with two other officers
and IL lady Of the garrison. were the only Euro
Geans who We're fortunate enough to witness
the rare sight OF caging wild tiger. and will
attempt to describe the operation In detail.
The manner in which the Malays worked was
most complete. 30 that no Incident could in ali
human ,,Y, PROBABILITY occur. and when the dim.
Of %nr among s0h p
each OF whom seemed to know his role with OK
aptitude. and all worked like ono machine.
addition to their endeavors to bring their
lahors to successful conclusion they seemed
whom shey treated as gently as possible.
Tho frs. t thing done was to rig up strong
PEA benn az hsiEnt OF about 9ine feet over ting
uprights,. to which 1t was firmly lushsd with
yyithes, Next there, were prepared two cylin:
these baskets measured two feet in diameter
and eight feet long. Tho other was made just
luIee W W. ptSScu lHlO the EtTkeT
one for the purpose OF giving additional
strength. Ono ond of each basket was opon.
while the other was closed with The execution
use of which will be afterward explained.
Having jammod the smaller basket into the
together throughout with withes. to avoid any
chance OF, OF spIGing Fnaly, two new hemp
ference. were prepared with running nooses
Small pieces OF stick were passed through the
rope rope as stoppers to prevent the loop from run.
fork on some and pieces OF wood lashed on
others to form hooks. al was ready for tho
Tho panks covering the mouth OF the pit
We're ther ,e SLIGHTLY to admit Of the
OF ono Of the ropes was lowered on to the tigers
head. which intrusion he resisted violently;
round lis neck. wi This IS, was S'' sfrec!sa by By
poles, As soon as the moose was in position. It
ing removed by the rrdsonfr The other
cured in a similar, manner The opera.
, ,E of placing ths two nooses round
passed through the Cylindrical baskets. entsr-
s # nas the Ss o sHs and out 81 the
ward passed over the overhead BEAM and were
held by y party OF twelve coolies. ready to haul
placed mouth downward over the pit and the
planks were moved Just sufficiently to admit OF
the basket being lowered into the mouth of the
regulated by a third rope which was iashed to
It and passed over the overhead Beam and held
by one man.
When MI was secure and ready. the word to
haul was given. and tho tiger was drawn up
large enough to receive him. and thus he was
unable TO struggle with effect. AS soon as he
up and then laid on its side. when the mouth of
the basket was at once laced up. leaving moth,
siackened. 80 rs to admit OF his breathing free
" The noos ,,s WERE howeyer sin efs round
borne down the hill to tho road, where cage
six feet long By two and halt feet Sr s"H S Sa
s sgs,a v,t the ro ENDS ar which TEN EN-
in diameter. Four OF the bars at one end could
be drawn up, and served as q door. Tho mouth
Of the cage. where were the movable bars; and
thee, tho ends Of the r2pes, which were round the
passed backward over the tiger and through
the cage. where they, wero held by mon ready
TO haul me moyaGe G ,a OF the cage were
tho basket was cut by means OF a long knife.
o Yi as ths tiger seemed indisnosed to move out
ward with sticks. while the men in rear hauled
At first the backward movement was slow.
but when the tiger discovered that all was ap-
parsntly clear behind. he struggled out OF the
basket and flow to the back of the cage here lie
was checked by the bars and retained by the
with lightning speed by the Malays. who
We're evidently prepared for this movement
now replaced. and the, basket WAS cut
away AVA" from the cage. All that remained
neck. which was done by means OF hooked
sticks; and then the poor beast. finding him
sell free to move; rushed frantically about the
cage although his movements were much pre-
scriDed. Covers were then put over the bars
and this soothed him. The caga having been
ihiolsted on to bullock cart was removed to
Singapore, where the tiger is now, on view. pre-
land or America. fis is a magni iic"nt animal maj
beautifully mar ked. md in fine condition. .Ac-
oordng to such measurements as could DO
mad made rs no lay in the basket he Is pine feet
While waiting to see him taken out OF the
pit. We noticed the tracks Of other tigers. Some
Of these wore large. and probably those OF the
tigress proving about near her mate. while
quite fresh. as u thunder storm the previous
evening must have obliterated any old tracks.
In concluSion. ] must again saw that ali
praise Is due to the Malays who carried out the
tnn n tats