Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1884-10-24
AREMARKABLE PHOTOGRAPH.
That of a Tiger I'm the Very Act of
killing Ru nalO.

1
A tiger photographed IN the very
act of killing buffalo is probably an
occurrence unparalled in the annals of
the camera. Yet that photograph
has actually been taken is vouched for
ia the Indian press, while the expla-
nation of the event though it does
not in the least detract from its SEN
sational character, makes it easily
credible. The artist. it appears, had
| focused on the buffalo-which was
| tied for the occasion to tree stump in
the middle of 6eld-and had just put
dry plate into the camera, when a
tiger, brought up to the spot for the
purpose, went at it, and struck down
the great horned beast with single
blow of its right paw. My instru-
ment, says the photographer, " was
about seven yards from the buffalo,
and the tiger might just as well have
come at me if he had chosen to do SO,
but he preferred the beef, and, taking
advantage of the moment he had
sprung upon his victim, l released the
spring shutter just as he had given
the buffalo his knOck-down blow. "
The negative unfortunately proved to
be somewhat defective, but it is said
to be at any rate good enough to give
an aathentic picture from the life or
the most terrible of carniyorous
beasts at the precise moment when it
had stunned its huge prey. Tbe buff
falo, though fatally struck, had not
even had time to fall before the sun
picture" of It's dying moments was fix
ed upon the faithful plate, and so there
it stands with its knees just giving
way under it, and its great head droo3-
ing in death. A quarter of second
later and it was lying on the ground
lifeless: but on the photographers
glass it remains forever III the actual
attitude of dying, and at the instant
when it is drawing its last breath.
Neither alive nor dead, the huge vic
tim is seen at the exact moment of
time when it is sinking under the
weight of its dreadful murderer.
Swifter even than deatA itself, the
sensitive plate seized the reflection of
the collapsing buffalo before it had
time to die; and though decease was,
humanity speaking, instantaneous, the
one beat of the heart that lntervened
between the awful blow of the tigers
paw and its victims positive surren-
der Of existence sufficed for the pho
tographer to catch and fix with un-
erring fidelity the attributes Of the
SLAYER and the slain. When halfway
to the ground the lens arrest the
tumbling buffalo as the tigers paw
still rests on the very spot where the
Lightning of its blow descended.
After Staying the buffalo, tbs tiger,
we read, stretched its head round
over the neck. and, slipping its mouth
down t" the buffalo's throat, lay across
it, sucking its life-blood." The fact is
an extraordinary one. for it has long
been decided, upon what were con-
Nsiderel indisputable observations, that
the tiger never, by any chance, com
menced its meal at the throat Some
times, if there was a fight, it would
wound its adversary in that spot; but,
as rule, it trusts to its first blow to
break its victims neck, and then, pull
ing it down on to the ground, begins
to devour portion of the hind quar-
ters. Nor does it generally commence
eating at once, but will drag its prey
little distance, taking precautions
against surprise while feeding.