Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-10-10
PRESERVING A SKIN.
It WAS sTILL ON THE TIGER. AND
THE TIGER WASN'T DEAD.

a SpOrtemons MISTAKE Neariy 1csu1teu Al
the Loss Of Human Life-AfteE This an
Extra Hole In the Hide VIII Not lie
Such an Important Consideration.
Arriving at the village Of Deypoora,
three miles from Ruttenghur fort, we were
here told Of tiger that had lately killed
very many bullocks, so we started with sew
eral men to look him up. We were taken
20 O ravine in the plains named Loonee
and had taken up our position on rocky
ledge when we were recalled by man
who had seen the tiger. He directing us
to the spot, we cautiously advanced, and
looking over the steep bank Of the ravine
saw the tiger stretched out at full length
just three yards or less below Us. He
looked up and grinned horribly. We in
stantly gave him bullet each, whereupon
he sprang into the cover below and was
out Of sight even before we could get q
second shot On going down the bank we
soon found drops Of blood and easily car
ried these on for some distance down the
ravine, when all at once they entirely
ceased. The ground was bare sheet rock,
or large slabs Of fiat stones; so no foot
prints could be discovered. After going
on some little distance We met man
tending herd OF goats who denied nav
ing seen the tiger pass, and indeed IL was
but too evident from the unconcerned
manner In which the goats browsed ana
cropped the bushes around that they had
seen no such formidable animal lately. 30
We retraced out steps to again search for
the blood. when suddenly a man by signs
pointed to q cave formed by large ledge
OF rock that had fallen from above. We
knew his meaning, though 1t much sur
prised u.s. for We had only just passed
close by this very place, looking for the
tigers prints.
All the men, as usual, were at once Or
dered to a safe distance in the rear, while,
placing our spare guns before us, we knelt
down to polish of this tiger at an unpleas-
antly close distance, for we were prevented
by steep bank behind us from going
farther back, and view could not be OBJ
tanned from any other point. AS 1t was,
all We could make out were the tigers
eyes shining very clearly in the dark cave
with an indistinct outline of his face. We
silently agreed to fire together on the
word, "One, two, three" being given by
one OF us. On the smoke clearing away,
we were delighted to see our foe stretched
out stiff on his back, the white of his belly
being uppermost and very visible. On GO
ing nearer, two small holes, one over each
eyebrow, from which streams of blood
flowed caused us to congratulate each
other on our good aim. We now walked
close up and saw that the cave in which
this tiger had tried to hide himself, al
though it had but a small entrance, was
large enough inside.
While talking over our lucky shots we
~ a1., L.,
move but as If from mere muscular ac-
ton, caused by its weight and the posi-
ton the beast was lying in. On noticing
this l suggested that another shot should
be given to make sure, but Little slightly
objected, on the ground that 1t was only
uselessly making holes and so spelling tho
skin. On this l agreed to fire where our
knives would first be used in taking off
the victims jacket so at once while we
were looking into the cave, without put
ting my gun to my shoulder, placed its
uzzle opposite tho tigers chest and fired
the remaining loaded barrel. All this time
tho men, who from distance had seen us
SO near the tigers den, came running up
toward us In great state Of delight at
their enemy being killed, for so they and
we both thought was indeed the case. In
with "a frightful roar, up jumped the tiger,
as lively as ever. With one bound Little,
who is remarkably strong and active,
gained the top of the high ledge of rock
that formed the tigers cave. Here he
kept guard with his spare loaded barrel
pointed over the mouth of the den; our
other guns we had left on the ground on
walking up to first look at the tiger. For
rf n ha dreadful Stn pf
alarm, at once rushed through the men
who had now come up and were orowding
around us, upsetting three or four and
myself in so doing.
For tho moment there was q terrible
panic and, the ground being very uneven
and stony, everybody seemed to fall over
and trip up everybody else. Some climbed
small trees like monkeys while others in
their fright ran clean out of sight without
stopping to look behind. All this time the
tiger was roaring awfully. l fully be-
lieved that he was outside the cave, killing
each man as he caught him, instead Of
which, being much confused, he luckily
remained In the den, around and around
which he kept walking, seemingly with
out being able to find his way out. At
last, gaining my legs l snatched up gun
and climbed up small thin tree just In
front of the den. There were two men al
ready in this slight tree, SO its branches
bent down unpleasantly close to the
ground with our weight. From this point
l fired 10 moro shots, at only as many
yards distance, into this tiger before be
was quiet. Only his fore arm and lower
part Of his belly could be hit every time he
appeared at the mouth of the cave. All
now being still, we came down from our
high posts and this time found the beast
really dead, riddled with balls. The ap-
pearance of the ground was very laugh
able. Guns, drums, bows, spears, shoes,
turbans We're scattered all over the place.
Some poor fellows were sadly bruised 1t
appeared that our shots had merely for the
time stunned this tiger, missing his brain,
which lies In a long narrow cell directly
between the eyes and on the extreme top
Of the forehead. The shot in his chest
most effectually revived him.
This was most extraordinary and lucky
escape for all OF us, for, supposing him
quite dead, we should have begun to haul
him out Of the cave and at once proceeded
TO skin him on the spot, during which
operation the heaters usually all crowd
around and discuss the brute's death and