The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1894-03-16

4 L4DT'S ENCOUNTER
WITH 4 TIGRESS.

way up in the Nilgherry hills, invited
us on a visit, and as the heat in the
lower country was simply terrific. we
gladly excepted the invitation.
One morning the mail carrier failed
to appear, and when the little leather
pouch in which he carried his letters
and his stick of bells used to scare a.
way any wild animals in the jungle
were found in the road about eight
mile from the sanitarium, the gentle
men began to clean their guns and talk
tiger.
Several hunting parties went on t.,
but in spite of the most thorough
search, not Il single tiger could be found,
and then the excitement began to die
down. The birthday ofone of the gen
lemen was celebrated by a picnic to at
spot on the banks Of the Pycarra river,
about twelve miles from the sanitalium.
where we intended to stay a week.
The camp which consisted Of seven
tents, was set up in the widest spot
imaginable, and we had a very pleasant
time until the fourth day, when Capt.
Rays, who went out cunning with an
other gentleman, had the misfortune to
fall into hallah and injured himself
so badly that he could not get out.
His companion hurried back to camp
1or assistance, and as the scene of the
accident was not more han half mile
from the camp, all the gentlemen went
along, leaving the ladies in care Of Il
couple Of men servants.
Thinking that hot wafer might be
required when Captain Rays WAS
brought ino camp, one of the ladies
sent Anthony, one of the servants, to
the river, not more than one hundred
yards away, to fill water jar. A few
moments after the servant had started
we were startled by wild cry Of help,
and then all was quiet again.
| Thinking the mar had been attack
ed by Il jackal, seized my heaviest gun
and ran down the path toward the riv-
er. The low brush hid everything
from my slght until 1 had reached IL
point about twenty yards from the riv-
er, and there | saw something that
made ME tremble with fear
There on the bank Of the river lay
poor Authony, and by his side, licking
the blood from her paws, was Il big
tlgress. For few moments the sight
fairly froze my blood, ald then a sense
Of personal danger and the thought
tlat | should be the next victim filled
my brain.
| Up to this time | forgot that had
Il rifle in my hand, and then came a
wild desire to try my skill with the tig-
ress as a target.
All thought of what the result would
be should | shoot and miss, or only
wound the big man-eater, fled from my
mind as | saw the terrible brute pick
up the body of the servant and, after
taking few steps, pat 1t down again
and eagerly lick the blood that flowed
from the wound made by its sharp,
cruel teeth.
AS gently as possible | drew back
the hammer and raised the rifle to my
shoulder, and, taking aim directly at
the tigress's ear, pulled the trigger.
AS the report rang out it seemed to
me as ifascore of hungry tigers sprang
IL me from every bush and rock, but
this passed away in a instant, and aft
er reloaiing the rifle, took Il look at
the tigress.
She was still stretched beside the
bod Of the man, but the powerful
limbs were motionless, aud the head
was resting on the mans thigh.
That had killed the animal at the
first shot never entered my head, and |
sent a couple more shots into her body
as fast as | could, but tie first shot ad
settled the business.
Upon making sure that the animal
was dead, | turned to walk back to the
tents, when | heard scream of tiger
cat, which seemed to come from some
brush short distance up the river.
| am, perhaps, very foolish to say it
but don't think ID dozen tigers cou d
have frightened me just then, and at
once started toward the spot from
whence the cries came.
At first could see no hing, but aft
er close search, during which ok
care not to venture too close to tbs
) bushes, caught sight Of a half-grown
tiger cub crouching in the grass and
eyeins me as if waiting for me to get Il
little closer. [ was then rath r too close
for comfort, and quickly raised the
rifle and fired.
The cub was facing me- and the bUl.
f let glancel from its forehca and only
partially stunned him.
1 The tiger dropped to The ground hat
f and then rose to its feet, but instead O
rushing for me, as /! expec ed it to do
t it began to walk away.
, This gave me good show at his
: side, and fired again. The tiger fell
rose, and then tried to rush at me, hu>