St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1893-04-29
HE KILLED TIGERS.
A White Mans Adventure in Chinese
Juugles.

For years Frank Leyburn has been
known as the tiger slayer of Annoy. There
is not village along the coast of China,
no matter how remote from the great
centres of population, to which his fame
has not extended. With him the kill
ing of the great man eaters who infest
the jungles is looked upon as u pastime,
and he has shot them under almost all
imaginable circumstances.
ooh, yes,' he said in gruff tone
when asked about his experiences as a
tiger hunter. 81 have baggcd a good
many of the beasts in my day, but there
is nothing remarkable about that. With
Us, don't you know, it's merely pas
time, and we hunt the tigers for the
sport there is in it. Why, bless my soul,
can see no reason why any one should
care to hear about tiger hunting. With
us it's ordinary sport, just as deer stalk
ing is in America"
after ALL" he continued. as he
grasped his cane more firmly and planted
his feet very wide apart, ''the tigers of
China are not nearly as ferocious as those
of India, but they give good deal of
trouble to the natives at times When
|
he at once becomes fcrocious, and is
never satisfied with any other diet. They
become transformed into what are known
as man eaters, and they hunt human be-
| ings as cat does mice
"Take big man cater, for instance,
and he is pretty sure to make his lair in q
jungle close to native village, avoiding
the larger towns, and always on the alert
to make victim of some luckess human
being who may fall in lis way. It is his
habit to lurk about the outskirts of the
settlement, concealed in the edges of the
jungle, and await his opportunity to
seize victim. Moonlight nights suit
him best. At such time he is extremely
vigilant. He prowls about until he sees
some bclated straggler in the streets
This is the opportunity for which he has
waited for hours, perhaps for days
There is the flash of heavy body in the
moonlight, a cry of terror, a brief strug-
gle, and the man eater is off for his lair
in the jungle, bearing the helpless body
of human being in his massive jaws.
Months later, it may be, the bones are
found in the dense underground.
when went to China twenty wears
ago I had already some experience in
hunting big game, and l wanted to kill |
tiger. One day while in the counting
house of our firm at Annoy two natives |
came in in an excited frame of mind to |
tell that man had been carried off from
Il neighboring village the night before by
a man eater. This was just the oppor-
tunity had been waiting for. Taking
brought from London with me, l took
the two natives to act as guides and |
started out. On reaching the village |
found everything in an uproar The ma
tives, who are timid, We're paralyzed with
fear, and scarcely dared to venture out of
their houses unless in the middle of the
day
Il had already learned something about
the habits of the man eater and knew
just how to go it. From inquiry among
the natives | ascertained the exact loca-
ton of the lair of the tiger, and for a
small compensation succeeded in secur-
ing the services of coolie to guide me
to the place.
starting late in the afternoon, we
made our way slowly through the Jungle,
and just about dusk reached the spot.
Now, the night is the best time to bag
man eater, for he is then asleep. and may
be shot before he is aroused. knowing
this, | had brought with me a bull's-eye
lantern. Before night had set in fully
got everything in readiness, and waited
until it grew pitch dark Having in the
meantime located the exact position of
the lair, / left my guide, who by this
time was almost terror stricken, behind
me, and on my hands and knees crept
through the jungle. By the cautious
use of my lantern l found the lair. Turn
ing on the light, | Twas little startled to /
discover the huge beast curled I'D End
sound asleep. His head was RESTING on
his paws and squarely facing fne, AsI
prepared to level 1Fny rifle at him he
stirred uneasllyr Turning the light full
upon him, ne raised his head, but before
ne was thoroughly aroused I sent ball
from my rifle crashing through his brain.
by good! fortune l had struck him
between the eyes. There was
aeaSt of rejoicing in the village when
returned with the skin.
"Just before | left China on nv pres
emit trip, struck aman eater, who proved
to be tough customer. He was an old
fellow and had record of about twenty
victims. They sent for me and | went
after him. had with me double bar
relied rifle of large calibre. found no
in tracing him to his lair, but
he gave me a narrow cali before I sue
ceeded in finishing him. The trouble
was that when found him he was awake
and ferocious. apparently from the effects
Of hunger. | had shot so many that I
thought nothing of it and gave my tiger
one barrel out of my gun. Most unac-
missed him clean, and his ,,
eyes fairly blazed. Lashing the ground
with his tail, he sprang toward me like
flash. AS he was in the air I let 90 with I
the other barrel and struck him in the
left shoulder, the heavy ball penetrating
to his heart. He fell at my feet, and so
close was he that before he died I could &
feel his hot breath upon me- 1t was the
most narrow escape that l ever had.
When measured the tiger was found to $
be almost twelve feet in length, and his
claws were one and three quarter inches l
IN length. / had the latter mounted and q
distributed them among my friends
San Francisco Examiner.
A Woman's Remarkable Memory. S