Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-07-15
THE TIGER MAN.

! for six tigers for Amsterdam, a very singular
parsonage crossed my path had been in
India for two years as the agent of the great
German animal house and had sub-agents in
dozen districts We were constantly for
warding serpents, jackalls, hyenas, wolves,
buffaloes, tigers, and such curiosities as fell
into our traps, and now end then received
an extra order. The order for ''six
wild, full grown tigers, males preferred"
came from Egypt. Messages were sent
to sub-agents. and got ready for trip to
the northeast, among the tiger jungles. One
afternoon stranger was announced under
the name OF Oval He was a tail, stiff
appearing figure, moving with all the dig
nifty Of q prince, but his face was so horribly
disfgured that couldn't repress start Of
surprise. He had been born with single
eye, and that almost in the center CT his
face. His nose was like that Of dog, and
his mouth was wide, almost without lips, and
full of fangs He was more of freak than
Jo-Jo, the dog-faced, and would have been
great card in museum He expected to see
me start with surprise, and he expected me
to look at him with surprise He gave me
plenty Of ting, and then, bowling very low,
he said:
II am tcld the sahib is hunter Of beasts."
eyes"
"You capture them aliveF"
"Yes."
81 should like to go with you. am
called the Tiger Man. lam not afraid Of
any wild beast. No animal dares attack me-"
| He informed me that he had come from
village called Johpur, on the Gadavery river,
I nj fkotc n 10
would vouch for the truth of his statements.
Twice within the year l had heard of this
man and his wonderful doings, but had put
no faith in the stories. That he possessed
wonderful magnetism over the animal crea-
ton he soon gave me proofs. The next bunga-
low on the right was occupied by Capt
Richard Taylor, of the Fifty-tirs Native in
fantry. He had savage dog chained up in
the rear Of the house. The brute was dan
gerous, and had not bcsn free from his chain
for two months. The servants had to throw
him his food, and even the captain dared not
go within reach
''If you are tiger man you are not afraid
of a savage dogP lqueried as he finished
statement Of his wonderful powers.
| Lead me to the beast" he CURLY replied.
! The captain YVES at home, and | went over
we called the man over, and after the cap
tain had satisfied his curiosity he said to
him:
you may be brave man, but do not ex-
pose yourself. My dog will kill you if yo,
go near him l shall have him shot this
week"
answered Oval.
IN IL, = -. =!
We passed around the bungalow and
through a gate, and the dog, who was about
fifty feet away, at once sprang up and tug
ged savagely at his chain. There could be
10 doubt of his savage fury. His eyes blazed,
be frothed at the mouth, and his efforts to
break the stout chain filed me with alarm.
The native waited a minute before showing
himself. AS soon as he stepped in front of
Us there was change in the dogs demeanor.
Indeed, he seemed to dodge, as if missile
had passed close to his ear The native slowly
approached, and before he was within ten
feet of him the dog was down on his belly
and uttering whines for mercy. Oval IN
fastened the collar on his neck, spoke three
or four words in a low voice and then walked
about, and the dog followed at bis heel Such
a change from savage fury to utter servility
was cowed and afraid, and that Oval had
wonderful powers. He approached us and
as he came close up the dog never raised his
eyes to give a look. He kept his eyes on
the ground, and we could see that he was in
a trernble Of fear.
SIS the sahib satisfiedg' quietly asked
Oval at the end of ten minutes.
eyes"
H. ~. Al. l.. u.
into his box, coNed and overcome that
child might have used whip on him. While
this adventure with the dog did not prove
that Oval would have equal success with
wild beasts saw that he was a valuable man
for our party, and at once engaged him. He
stated that the district from which be came
was infested with many large serpents and
wild beasts, and his suggestions as to our pro-
ceedings were very businesslke and valuable
Besides the six Of US regularly engaged in the
traffic, Maj. Lawrence, of the Eighth Light
cavalry; Col. Shaw, of the Nineteenth regi-
ment, and Capt Smith, commanding bat
terry attached to the Eleventh native regi-
ment, were allowed TO accompany Us, they
having permits of absence and desiring to go
On hunt. We occupied twelve days on the
journey, which were without startling Incl
dent, and one afternoon arrived in good
shape at the village Of Johpur. Without
hint to me, and in some manner yet unknown,
the Tiger Map had sent word on ahead, and
the first thing we saw on entering the village
were six stout cages which the natives had
constructed TO bold the six tigers We had
come for 1t was case Of providing the
cage before the bird was caught, and it set
tied nv belief that Gwal was what he claimed
to be.
We received warm welcome at the vii
lsge and after q little the head man told me
further about the Tiger Man. He had been
found in the forest when oniy couple Of
weeks old. and had ever since been regarded
as only half human. He possessed q strange
power over wild or domestic animals, and
bad several times compelled man eating
tigers to follow him into and about the vii
lage like dog. When / asked why he had
not used this power 70 clear the district Of its
many dangerous pests, he explained that
Oval, when thus nlagnetiziog q beast, was
deprived Of his physical strength to such an
extent that he could 90 them no injury. That
evening just at shutdown we lad g fair ex-
ample of his wonderful powers One of tie
largest and iercest hyenas l had ever seen
suddenly appeared on the edge Of the thicket,
about 500 feet away, and stood and
gazed at Us, and bristled up with anger.
Oval was called for, and he started for
the beast at an ordinary gait At first the
beast acted as IL it meant 10 attack him
Then il showed signs Of running away.
Then. as he drew nearer, II crawled upon is
hsaily and baran 70 whiuo ard we saw that i;