The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1892-09-30
BEAST AND REPTILE.
A Titanic Contest Between Tiger
and Constructor.
Terminated at Last by the Trusty Knife
of an Interested Spectator-Thrilliny
Hunting Adventure in South
American Wilds.
Especial Panama &C, Az Let,er.l

Especial Panama &C. Az Letterl
Some months ago whilst journeying
to the gold mining region of British
Guiana, which is situated right in the
very penetralia of the vast forests that
stretch from the Cordilleran Andes to
the Atlantic, | encountered one of
the most singular experiences of life
in the tropical wilderness that has
ever been observed by explorer. had
left the Sunday camp far behind me in
the excitement Of the chase after the
infrequent game that prolonged dry
season was driving to the distant
water courses, and suddenly came up
on very picturesque spot where, from
all appearances, | had a right to ex-
pect to find some game-and got it.
But it is necessary that l here describe
the scene ere relating the singular adj
venture that followed. The trees, no.
where very d1nse in this locality, here
stood widely apart, as though planted
thus to leave clear space for cliffy
little hin that rose right across the
PAIN pCtlt AOlAoNillS ahu dtllN
the fern and moss-covered face -
which dashed a sparkling cascade in
three graceful leaps. At the foot of
the hill this fall formed wide basin
that spread to the buttresses and tor
tuous roots of giant silk cotton tree
whose widc-cast shade covered half the
surface of the pool even at noon. From
this lakelet a tiny stream now, but
probably great water course in the
rainy season, went gurgling away over
its pebbly bottom into the depths of
the forest.
Ere could well take in the view a
superb deer came bounding out of the
underground, evidently under the inau-
ence of extreme terror. As he sighted
me he swerved, and my bullet brought
him down with shattered shoulder.
AT the same instant the largest speci-
men of the tiger family that had ever
seen on this continent came tearing
after, and flung himself on the pros
trate animal, tearing and chewing the
yet palpitating flesh with an eager fe-
rocity that was sickening to behold.
This would never do. The poor brute
had possibly been enduring protractcd
fast, and would concede him the point
of having beaten up the quarry; but
what sportsman, let alone haitian.
iShed explorer, would stay to moralize
over the legal rights of beast OF prey?
My argument was distracting, If not
an immediately conclusive one, for the
bullet, instead of piercing his head,
only plowed a strip of aesh from his
shoulder.
AS in answer to the first shot, / had
been conscious of a rustling in the thick
foliage above; it had now become tu-
multuous, but ere | could glance up.
ward to ascertain the cause the wound
cd tiger launched itself at me. Stimuli
tancously gigantic black body, sinu-
Gus as a cable and terminating in hid
eous head, descended a yard or two be-
fore my face. 1t was an anaconda, ana
the sight fairly paralyzcd me with the
hypnotic fascination of the evil-glow-
ing eyes, and the dreadful suggestive
ness of the yawning, slime-reeking
fangs, to which may be added the fetid
breath that came in kissing gasps from
the writing throat Even as the rep
tile swung down, however, the tiger
came up and both met in mid air! A
terrific blow on face and chest lifted me
clear off my feet and hurled me back
ward into the pool, TO the very bottom
of whose fathom-decp basin sank,
much to the dismay of its fnny denizens.
Not at all hurt and but temporarily
demoralized by this rough experience,
speedily pulled myself together and
anSiously glanced ashore to see how