Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-08-02
KILLING TWO TIGERS.
i Hunter Nearly Loses His Life Before the
Second Brute Dies


Youths Companion.
1 had my double barreled express rifle
with me, and making wide circuit, |
came round TO the opposite edge Of the
hollow and lay down IN the grass near
the body of the dead OK.
ley there an hour Or more waiting.
Suddenly, without any warning sound, /
saw dark form loom up in front Of me
on the opposite edge of the little hollow.
The tiger stood there a second, slowly
and piciously shifting the breeze, and
then descended quietly and quickly to
the body of the OK. As he approached it
he grew more distinct, and as he threw
up his mead in call or challenge, before
commencing his meal, he looked superb.
He was broad side oD, and, not hesitating
a second, put d bullet behind his should
er.
He turned, with horrible groWl, and
was Just on the point of springiDg when
[ put the other ball between lis eyes and
killed him.
Without stopping to reload my rife, I
was so excited at my success, ran for
ward to look at my quarry. ] stretched
him out, debating whether TO skin him
there or 20 up TO the house and fetch
Hans to help me, when l heard a noise
behind me, and, looking up, saw another
tiger, presumably his mate, who, attract
ed By his call and the sound of firing, mad
Just arrived in time to catch me unpre
pared. Scarce q moment for thought
did she give me, but sprang straight for
ward, her eyes afame.
Clubbing my rife, [ avoided her by
jumping to one side, dealing her ter
rife blow on the lOins as she passed that
snapped the stock from my barrels as
short as though it had been carrot.
she fell on her side, apparently injured
by thu blow; then arose, and in half
Iimping manner, came at me again. In
avoiding her the second time my foot
slipped, and her left paw caught me on
the shoulder, tore it open, and threw me
to the ground. Before I could rise, be-
ing partly stunned by the fall, the brute
came at me again, and, as I raised my
ARA 60 protect myself, she seized it in
her mouth. 49,
Just then dark body passed between
my face and her, an animals foot trod
On my cheek, scratching it badly and the
brute let go of my arm. sound of
growing and scufiiug ragged above me
for q moment, then came a heavy blow,
and a friendly hand dragged me from IN
der the cOmbatants.
It was Hans Potgieter and his dog.
The dog, according to his custom, had
flown at the tigers throat and engaged
her until his master could drop his heavy
knot-kerrie on the tigers skull, crushing
it like nutshell.
Say! Bn6s!" cried Hans, edo You want
to get killed? It looks like it! Didn't
tell you there would be two tigers about,
if not more, and you 60 off alone, with
out dogs, with only two shots between you
and DEATH
LIE Roux dressed my wounds with some
remedies of his own, remarking in mis-
quaint colonial Dutch patois: "Now rest,
ind get veil; dere will be some more
tigers around here ind den I will show
you my vayw
In week or two another depreciation
occurred, bat LIE Roux took the matter
very calmly.
| 81 viii set drap!' he said, and calling
| several of the HOttentots, proceeded to
where the tiger had carried an OK it had
killed, knowing it would return there
rather than 10 the horses.
They surrounded the fence OF mimosa
thorn branches, leaving only one small
opening about four feet wide. Here four
posts We're driven into the ground, two
on each side of the opening, in such a
manner that rifle shot could be attached
10 each of the two inner ones, covering
any animal that entered the opening
| Then strings were attached to the rrig
| gers and passing round the other posts
were carried across the opening about two
feet from the ground; then the rifles
were covered with thorn branches and the
| trap was completed. About two hours af
ter sunset the report of rifles was heard
and LIE Roux and went with a lantern tC
inspect the trap. There lay the tiger
quite dead; the right-hand rifle had done
the work and put ball fair into the
brute's heart.