The Logan County banner. [volume] (Logan, W. Va.) 1889-1903, 1890-07-03

SFoAu anu AppiduU3.
A tiger fight in Java is fully as excit-
ing spectacle as bull fight in Spain.
Such fight which ! once witnessed, l
shall attempt to describe. Though time
has somewhat dimmed my recolleetions,
the main incidents in the formidable
combat are indelibly impressed ON my
memory.
1t was in 1868 whom I was in Banyu-
wangi, provincial capital of Java,
right opposite the large island of Bali.
AS my uncle had only lately left the ISL
and, after forty years continuous serv-
ice in the Dutch colonial army, with the
rank of Lieutenant-General and mill
tary Governor OF the island, l became
the henered guest of the resident of
Banyuwangi, at least for few days.
And it was there | saw struggle to the
death between an enormous tiger and
herbo of medium size. The tiger meas
nred over nine feet from nose to tail.
The beasts naturally ugly temper had
mot been improved by fast. The
young buffalo bull was Of mouse gray
hue entirely without hump, and to all
appearances a very good.natured, I'M
sophisticated and long suffering animal
Right in the eentenofsa large meadow
rose the circus" 1t had been hastily
but solidly constructed of giant
-.baInboo.= each as thick as mans
arm, rammed into the earth to the
depth Of three feet and standing
fifteen feet high, joined together and
further strengthened by the slender
trunks Of trees. The interstices were
probably three inches wide, and to them
were pressed the eyes of the thousands
of natives as soon as the ssfunn began.
Overlooking the arena proper and sur
rounding it in a semicircle had been
built terraeed stands for the more dis
tinguished- spectators present, made up
-inZlarge paft=ef-the- native Princes
household and retinue, with the Dutch
officials, merchants, officers, as we'll as
some Of wealthy Chinese traders. From
those stands tho battlefield lay right
below at ones feet. The tiger was in a
cage opening into the arena. The young
bull stood in it, peacefully chewing
the cud of reflection, and apparently in
-, no mood for active hostilities. The
SUMS blistering rays were moderated by
an immense awning spread over the
whole extent of the arena, and securely
tied-to a circle of posts running around
arena and stands. From this awning
some native retainers of the Prince
whose full name, by the way,~~was
Sakuronga Mohammed Radja-had been
vainly trying to annoy the ''kerbo" into
more bcllicose frame of mind, by pour
M Il mi ~ -, ,xui1H fr,i
oyer his TANKS and by whipping him
with branches OF nettle-like plant. As
to the condition of mind of the tiger
there could be no doubt His roars of
baffled rage could be heard far away, as
the rabble ''guyed" him in his cage,
calling him all sorts of pet names, such
as 'mandrong' (bloodthirsty beast) and
the like.
'Bookah piatu" (open the door,
shouted the Prince. And moment
later the tortured tiger bounded into the
arena. 1t stretched its cramped limbs
and joints till they cracked and gloried
in rcgained liberty. For that was what
the beast thought at first evidently. The
tumultuous applause that greeted its
appearance startled the tiger, though.
-eEeuehed- down, and then began d
snakelike tour of discovery, Surely,
there must be a way out of this. eau
tiouslY, stealthily. with steps that, fall
as velvet, the enormous feline seeks an
exit all the time paying no,attention to
-the buffalo, or else not deeming him
worthy,o of notice. The bull, on his part,
:. had begun to give signs of restlessness.
With lowered head he followed every
motion of his arch-foe. Yet he
does not bulge. Suddenly the conyic-
ton dawns on the tiger that he is
still a prisoner, that his cage has.
only been enlarged, that he is to be
butchered to make Jasanese holiday.
His eyes dart fearful chances up at the
stout Enclosure. He roars sullenly, or
growls and snarls, rather. Then he
~ notices pair of human orbs- looking at
HIM through the bamboo wall. With a
giant leap and roar that seems to run
down ones back he flies at the spot and
digs his claws deep intoa-the bamboo,
breaking one of tho thick timbers and
burying his teeth into another The
curious natives at that spot have fed
and must be ordered by the Prince to
drive the beast back, for it looks for a
moment as If he would force his way
out OF the breach he has made With
big iron brands and with torches they
tdrfve the ferocious monster back
into the arena. There he notices the
buffalo, whom he eyes sideways but
whom he is not inclined to modest. He
walks around the ':kerbo..3 in a
wide circle. Once more he makes .
bold break for liberty. With a thun-
derous roar, which sounds as if 1t would
alone shiyer the timbers, he leaps at
the top of the inclosure He clings to
IT, With tremendous blows Of his paws
j ne breaks OF the tips Of the bamboo pal
lngs. He crunches them with his teeth
as II theyrwere thin reeds, and through
the aperture thus formed he reaches
out, with fe1ineFgrace, for something to
grasp. Behind, but couple OF feet be-
E yona the reach of that awfulp paw, sits his
h1ghHess, the native Prince, and by his
SIDE his excellency, the Dutch Govern
OF. Both become alarmed, and the lat
Ter dispatches servant for his loaded
pistols, in case his tigership should once
more come too near him. The natives,
however, drive the beast off once more,
uealing him some smart cuts on head
ana paws. IIowlIng with pain the tiger
retreats.
Meanwhile, the buffalo has shown
sighs OF a desire to assume the Of
"hsive' oliis sluggish blood has been