Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1892-07-03
TIGER AND boa FIGHT
i DUEL TO THE DEATH BETWEEN TIE
TWO.
MSouth American Forests Beast and Reptile Meet
in Deadly Encounter and Are Watched by a
Huntsr-Ths Fierce Grappls Of the
Angry Pair Of Fighters
M.,r York Dispateh.

This is story of duel to the death
between two wild creatures In the
remote forests of South America. The
battle was watched from beginning to
end by Manuel, the tiger hunter. The
duel was between spotted tiger and a
boa-cons trictor.
1t was In the afternoon Of hot day
that Manuel walked softly down to the
path that led to the camp, but upon
this occasion he was creeping along with
unusual stealthiness, for he had pretty
clear idea that tiger was walking along
the path short distance In front OF him.
At the proper time he would attract the
tigers attention and offer him battle.
Within few hundred yards OF his hut
the hunter became aware, from subtle
animal instinct, that the tiger had
stopped in the path.
The hunter paused and listened.
There was rustling in the leaves and
stirring in the underground that he
did not quite understand. Undoubtedly
the tiger had found something that at
tracted his attention. The rustling
ceased for moment. but began again
trit1e more vigorously. Then came a
low, muffied growl and thrashing among
the leaves, as though the tiger was
showing his teeth and swinging his tall
from side to side. The hunter crept
forward like shadow. At curve In
the path he stopped short A strange
thing was going on in the narrow path
few yards before him.
A tiger was pacing back and forth,
with his tail waving and his hair orist-
ling in sudden anger. In front OF him
lay a huge boa constructor, coiled ready
for spring. The big snakes eyes
shone like diamonds in the sun. and his
tongue darted in and out like forked
lightning. His great coils were culver
ing with rage and fury. What had
stirred up those two wild creatures to a
pitch OF anger Manuel was unable to
say. The snake had probably been in
the path, about to seize some small an
imal, when the tiger appeared and
broke the spell. The tiger wanted the
right Of way, or, at least, the chance TO
pass on one side; but the snake had
only sightened its coils and stood its
ground, with unmistakable signs OF an
aroused fighting disposition.
This annoyed the quadruped to such
an extent that he showed his teeth,
growled and thrashed his tail. 1t was
at this instant that the hunter came
along the path aud stopped. Neither
the snake nor the tiger saw him, and
he stepped quickly behind cactus
bush to await his opportunity OF being
In at the death.
1t very soon became apparent that
there was TO be a fight. Both creatures
grew more angry each moment, and.
watching it all with intense interest,
the hunter smiled as one might smile
who noted the condition Of favorite
gladiator.
While Manuel thought these thoughts
these two wild things in the path NOV
ed back and forth, as though sparring
for an opening. The snake was alert
with sullen anger, his glistening head
darting here and there like flashes OF
light. The tiger was not so vindictively
savage, but his spotted hide Quivered
with wave upon wave of rising anger.
At length the tiger, unable to restrain
his rage, leaped at the serpent's sway
ing head like dazzle of light, but the
snakes head was not there. The tiger
landed in the path on the other side of
the snake, but almost before he had
touched the ground glistening coil had
been thrown over him. he gave
thrilling cry and leaped fully dozen
feet in the air He landed safe and un-
harmed on his own side OF the path, a
little shaken up, perhaps, but still full
of good fighting blood.
The snake was back In an instant,
coled ready for defense. The tiger
crouched in the path as II about to
spring. The snake quivered with
nervous preparations. The hunter
AhlA