Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-07-08
THE TIGER MAN.
An East INDIAN WHO RAGHErIzED
WILD BEssrs.
Hs Contracts to Capture six Tigers for
Hundred Dollars, aud Carries out
Bis Agreement.


preparations to 90 up the country and
| I'LL an order for six tigers for Amster-
dam, a very singular personpge crossed
my path, says q writer IN the New YORK
San. 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 forward
ing serpents, jackals. hyenas, wolves,
buffaloes, tigers, and such curiosities as
fell into our traps, and now and then re-
ceiyed an extra order. The order
for "six Wild, fuii-grown tigers,
males preferred" came from Egypt.
Messages were sent to sub-aSenis,
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 tall,
stiff.appearing figure, moving with all
the dignity of prince, but his face was
SO horribly dis6gured that | couldn't
repress start Of surprise. He had been
born with single eye, and that almost
in the centre of his face. His nose was
like that OF a dog, and his mouth was
wide, almost without lips, and iun OF
fanes he was more of n freak than Jo-
10. the dog-faced. and would have been
n great card in the museum. he ex-
pected 10 sec me start with surprise, and
he expected me to look at him with sur
prise. He gave me plenty OF time, and
then. bowling very low, he said
ii am told the sahib is hunter Of
beasts"
Eyes"
"You capture them alive?"
yes"
al should like to go with you l am
called the Tiger Man. am not afraid
of any wild beast. No animal dares at
tack me-"
He informed me that he bad come
from a village called Johpur, on the Ga
davery river, two hundred miles away,
and that scores of people would youch
for the truth of his statements. Twice
within the wear / 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
creation he soon gave me proofs. Inc
next bungalow on the right was occupied
by Captain Richard Tayler, OF the Fifty
first native infantry. He had savage
dog chained up in the rear OF the house.
The brute was dangerous, and had not
been free from his chain for two months.
The servants had to throw him his food,
and even the Captain dared notgo within
reach.
eff you are a tiger man you are not
afraid of savage dog ?" | queried, as
he finished q statement of his wonder
full powers. ,,,
LEAD me to the beast" he CURLY re-
piled. ,.
The CAPTAIN was at home. and | went
over and told him of the natives pres.
ence. Then we called the man over, and
after the Captain had satisfied his curl
osity he said to him:
"You may be brave man, but do not
expose yourself. My dog will Kill you
if YOU 20 near him. 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 fifty feet away, at once sprang up
and tugged 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
filled me with alarm. The native waited
n minute before showing himself. AS
soon as he stepped in front of us there
was a change in the dogs demeanor.
Indeed. he seemed to dodge rs if mis-
sile 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 utterlne
whines for mercy. Oval unfasttned 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. lie
auproacbed us, and as he came close ur
the dog never raised his eyes to give US
a look. He kept his eyes on the ground
and we could see that he was IN trem'
BILE OF fear.
ais the sahib satisfed?" quietly
asked Oval at the end of ten minutes.
"Yes."
He readiusted the collar, and the dog
SUNK into his box, so cOwed and over
come that a child might have used 9
whip on him. While this adventure with
the dog did not prove that Oval would
have equal success with wild beasts L saw
that he was valuable man for eur 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 ia
our proceedings were very business-like
and valuable. Besides the six OF u
regularly engaged in the traffic
Maisr Lawrence, of tho Eighth light
cavalry; Colonel Shaw, of the Nine
teent6 regiment, and Captain Smith, com
handing a battery attached to the
Seventh native regiment, were allowed
to accompany us, they having permits o.
absence and desiring to go on hunt
We occupied twelve days on the journey
which we're without startling incident
and one afternoon arrived in good shape
at the village of Johpur. Without him
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 81,
tigers we had come for. 1t was q case O
providing the cage before the bird wal
caught, and it settled my belief tina
Oval was what he claimed 10 be.
We received warm welcome at the
village, and after little the head mar
told me further about the Tiger Man
He had been found in the forest wher
only couple of weeks old, and had evel
since been regarded as only half human
He possessed strange power over wild
or domestic animals, and several times
compelled man-eating tigers to follow
him into and about the village like a dog
When asked why he had not used THU
power to clear the district of its many
dangerous pests, he explained that Oval
when thus magnetizing beast, was de
prived of his physical strength to such al
extent that he could do them no injury
That evening inst at shutdown we had