Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1888-08-03


She hung her head at last and said:
II wOuder who will marry me?'
THE TIGER MAN.
When at Bombay In 1869, making preparea
tions to go up the country and fill an order
for six tigers for Amsterdam, a very singular
parsonage crossed my path. I had been in
India for two years as the agent Of the great
German animal house and had sub-agents in
a dozen districts. We were constantly for
warding serpents, jackalls, hyenas, wolves,
buffaloes, tigers, and such curiosities as fell
into our traps, and now and 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 l got ready for trip to
the northeast, among the tiger jungles. One
afternoon stranger was announced under
the name of Oval He was a tall, stiff
appearing figure, moving with all the dig
nifty of a prince, but his face was so horribly
disfgured that couldn't repress start Of
surprise. He had been born with a single
eye, and that almost in the center of 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 a freak than
Jo-Jo, the dog-faced, and would have been
great card in museum. He expected to sec
me start with surprise, and he expected me
to look at him with surprise. He gave me
plenty of time, and then, bowling very low,
he said:
II am told the sahib is hunter of beasts
"Yes,n
"You capture them aliveg'
"Yes."
81 should like to go with you. I 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,
200 miles away, and that scores Of people
would vouch for the truth of his statements.
Twice within the year I 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-first Native in
fantry. He had savage dog chained up in
the rear of the house. The brute was dan
gerous, and had not been free from his chain
for two months. The servants had to throw
him his food, and even the captain dared not
60 within reach.
''1f you are tiger man you are not afraid
of savage doga" Iqueried as he finished q
statement Of his wonderful powers.
LEAD me to the beast" he curtly replied.
The captain was at home, and I went over
and told him Of the natives presence. Then
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 e1-
pose yourself. My dog will kill you if you
go near him. 1 shall have him shot this
week"
"Your dog will COVER and whine" soberly
answered Oval.
| "Well, the risks be on your own head"
We passed around the bungalow and
through gate, and the dog, who was about
City feet away, at once sprang up and tug
| ged savagely at his chain. There could be
no doubt of his savage fury. His eyes blazed,
he frothed at the mouth, and his efforts to
break the stout chain filed me with alarm
The native waited 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 un-
fastened the collar on his neck, spoke three
| or four words In low voice, and then walked
about, and the dog followed at his heel. Such
change from savage fury to utter servility
was astounding 1t was plain that the dog
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 us look. He kept his eyes on
the ground, and we could see that he was In
tremble of fear.
SIS the sahib satisfied?' quietly asked
| Oval at the end Of ten minutes.
"Yesn
He readjusted the collar, and the dog skunk
into his box, SO cowed and overcome that a
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, I saw that he was a valuable man
for our party, and at once engaged him. He
stated that the district from which he came
was infested with many large serpents and
| wild beasts, and his suggestions as to our pro-
ceedings were very businesslike 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 u.s. 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 a
hint to me, and In some manner yet unknown,
the Tiger Man 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 hold the six tigers we had
come for. It was a case Of providing the
cage before the bird was caught, and it set
tied my belief that Gwal was what lie claimed
to be.
We received warm welcome at the vii
lage, and after little the head man told me
further about the Tiger Man. He had been
found in the forest when only couple OF
weeks old, and had ever since been regarded
as only half human. He possessed a strange
power over wild or domestic animals, and
had 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 to clear the district of Its
many dangerous pests, be explained thai
Oval, when thus magnetizing beast, wa
deprived of his physical strength to such ar
extent that he could do them no injury. THAI
evening just at shutdown we had a fair ex
ample of his wonderful powers. One Of thu
largest and fiercest hyenas had ever seer
suddenly appeared on the edge of the thicket
about 800 feet away, and stood ane
gazed at us, and bristled up with anger
Oval was called for, and he started fol
the beast at an ordinary gait. At first tn
beast acted as If 1t meant to attack him
Then it showed signs of running away
Then, as be drew nearer, it crawled upon it
belly and began to whine, and we saw that i
was terrified. The man uttered some word
| did ,>ot catch and sto~+ed r., return. ar.
iol the hyena crept at his heels, tail drag
ging on the ground, and its whole demeanor
that of abject fear. Oval walked past US
lssf. nd