Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1891-07-03
TACKLED A REAL TIGER.
FACE TO FACE WITH A FIERCE
C+1ITATALA MAN-EATER.
A Monster Tiger that Terrorized an In
dian vnlage-Two Brave Young
Hunters Venture to Bring
the Beast to Bay.

inc TWO ouDo, bluLlOHGu dI
CHERRY, one of the great military can
tonments in the Nizam's dominions,
obtained a few days leave for the pur-
pose OF hunting up a man-eatiug tiger
which had for some time carried on
his depredations in q district to the
east OF the station, and had become
quite terror TO the neighborhood.
This tiger had recently carried off a
man who was driving home some cat
tie, and the brute had only been in
duced to drop his prey after being
chased by the villagers up TO the very
edge of some iron pits in which he had
taken refuge, and from the subterranean
caverns of which it would have been
useless to attempt his dislodgment
We arrived at the village of Chitatala
In the evening, and at once enlisted
the services OF sufficient number OF
Bills and others who were to act as
heaters, and who, by means OF discord-
ant noises from various kinds of un-
couth instruments and by using their
voices freely. were to brighten the
beast out of any cover he might take.
Our little plan was TO intercept him
on his return TO his lair from one of
his foraging expeditions. and so pre-
vent him from reaching the iron pits
In which he usually secreted himself
during the daytime. Our progress to
the pits was easy.
We posted ourselves upon a ridge to
the right of a small patch of Jungle,
and had not waited long before the enc
my hove in sight He was trotting along
in a somewhat unconcerned manner,
probably feeling very contented with
his nights expeditions but we saw
that he would pass some distance from
our post in his attempt to reach his
den. When he was within about 200
yards on our right we fired at him, and
although. to use an Americanism, he
''squirmed," our bullets evidently did
not touch him in vital place, for he
jumped up and roared loudly, making
dash for the iron pits, but our men,
who were posted in the vicinity, set up
a great noise, shouting and beating
their drums and cans with all their
might.
This uproar disconnected the tiger.
He turned tail and bounded into the
patch of jungle on our right. We all
knew the danger we were mourning,
but we decided TO follow the brute into
the thick grass. Keeping the men
close together Graham and l advanced
few PAGES in front, and could at once
see from the quantity OF blood on the
trail that the tiger was badly wounded.
We followed the traces through q
dense patch Of grass for several hun
dred yards, and then came TO an open
space, where all traces Of the wounded
beast ceased. While advancing theo-
ries to account for this strange fact we
were startled by loud roar which
came from small ditch on our left
l looked up and saw the tiger charg-
ing straight upon me, and had barely
time to spring aside before the infuri-
ated animal was in our midst. A gen.
eral stampede ensued and it was liter
ally every man for himself. l turned
TO fire at the beast, and was Mortified
to see that he had seized Graham by
the arm. and was dragging him away
toward a clump Of trees on the right.
Owing to the uneven nature of the
ground feared to fire at the tiger, lest
my friend should be struck also; and
unfortunately could not get steady
shot at the brute's head (the only spot
in which shot would prove fatally.
He growled continually and looked sus-
piciously at us as l and the rest OF the
men followed at a short distance. but
he seemed determined to hold his prey
ut all costs.
At last l got a shot ut the animal
without placing Graham in much dan
ger. The bullet lodged in the tigers
forehead, and he at once released his
hold of Graham and rolled over dead.
Graham was quite sensible, but the
wound in his arm caused intense pain.
A drink from the 'chogur' or leather
water bottle restored him somewhat.
We bound his arm with part of n
jacket, and the men cut down some
bamboo, out OF which. with the aid of
rites sings, handkerchiefs and turbans,
we contrived to fashion litter. Into
this litter we lifted Graham, and
started back for Chittatala. As we
neared the village the whole popula-
ton turned out to meet us, and al
though l was anxious to get Graham
back to camp as soon as posi-
BILE. we were obliged to remain some
time to allow the people to inspect the
carcass of the animal that had been so
long a terror to tho neighborhood.
Nothing could exceed the JOY Of the
villagers, and our procession was a
triumphant one. The men praised
our skill and dusky maidens galore
turned out and greeted us with floral
offerings.
We transferred Graham to the bug
gy and started for camp, which we
reached in good time. Graham's
wounds at once received the kindly
care OF the surgeon. Although seri-
Gus the doctor predicted for our friend
speedy recovery. Upon skinning
the tiger we found that it meas
ured eleven feet five inches from the
nose to the end OF the tail. Thus did
we cut short the wicked career of the
Chitatala man-eater.