River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1896-08-06
FIGHT WITH A TIGER
BY W. THOMSON.

flOated to the port of the same name
for shipment 10 Europe.
Though this valuable timber more
particularly abounds in the billy. semi
mountainous regions of the country.
exceedingly large individual trees are
occasionally found in the densely wood
ed valleys, and these giant specimens
are 50 highly priced that il often pays
20 cut special road through the
tangled. vine-enlaced forest to each one.
Now il one time happened that the
Liverpool dealers 70 whom my ship
ments were usually consigned request
ed me to send them at any cost as many
Of these eNtra-sized logs as | could oh
tain up TO a certain date. Such were
not TO be found in the immediate neigh
Lorhood Of our camp, however. Hence
] one morning mounted my favorite
saddle mule ana rode toward II
Drmonio valley. some ten / les away.
which my half-preed fore man assured
me contained consid RI ri number II
extraordinarily fire, though scatter
ing. trees.
This place. ] was told. had been
christened II Demonio (the deviD va
lev by the superstitious natives, not
only because Of its gloomy, wild-heast
infested character. but also because
there was connected Herewith an old
blOod-curdling legend as 10 the cont
plete and sudden humiliation of its
ancient iuhabitants-a gruesome and.
probably, wholly aPOcrvphal tale, too
long tn repeat here.
After a weary ride over rugged hills
and through lonely, brush-encumbered
ravines, / arrived at the edge of the
valley, and. securing my mule by a
trebIed. unbreakable lariat 10 a tree.
in a comparatively open spot, set QUO
TO explore the forest. which in some
places was SO matted and intergrNwn
with cIinging Parasites as TO be almost
impervious to human passage, and alb
Eolutely So to the suns cheering rays.
In this region of nearly constant rain.
the sweltering. torrid heat of the low
lying valley was so oppressive that to
asoid the labor of carrying il, / very
fOolishly left my repeating rifle
strung 10 the saddle. and took with me
only the revolver belted TO my waist, a
flask of water and light AK; the lat
ter for the double purpose of putting
presumption marks on selected trees AMI
"blazing" line by which l might.
when ready to leave. find my way out Of
tins wondrous wilderness of semi
tropical growth.
For nearly thr.e hours. occasionally
climbing a lofty tree To gain better
view of my surroundings. 1 toiled
through those terrible woods. and did
succeed in finding q remarkably large,
straight mahoganies, the least of which.
when brought Ia port, would be worth
hundreds of dollars Then, fearfulii
tired. and hungry as a wolf. | turned
back TO rejoin the mule. in whose pan
nier was stored G, nervous supply of
food.
So far no rain had fallen this day, but
now heavy. black clouds obscured the
sky, and knew by the deadly stiffness
of the sitting atmosphere that ] should
shortly be caught in one of those ire
mendous doWnpours characteristic of
the country. Though a good drenching
was not likely 10 hurt me at all, the
ram would inevitably fill the open
mouthed havcrsack. and reduce to a
pulp the bread-and biscuit part of my
lunch. besides spelling the modicUm of
tea and sugarwhichI had brought along
with the intention Of building a little
fire and brewing pauuillin Of refresh
ing drink 10 60 with my meal. Hence.
pressed with desperate energy through
the thick underground. hoping 10 reach
the mule in time to cover those perish
able articles with waterproof cloak.
which was strapped behind the saddle.
In those forest depths the light had
been dim enough even when the sky was
clear. but now. though il was only two
o'clock in the afternoon. SO dark pail
settled down upon the scene that ]
could hardly distinguish. among their
countless fellows. the hlazed saplines
which were my only guide out of the
labyrinth.
In addition TO this untimely gloom
there broOded over all silence 50 pro
found that not few Wild denizens Of
the woods. believing that night hal
come. began To steal softly from their
lairs in search Of prey. Several Of the.
creatures approached 81 close as to
catch a glimpse of my intruding form.
whereupon they noiselesSly skunk away:
hut was fated To discover that all these
nocturnal providers were not So timid.
While the threatening deluge was vet
In allowance, I came Ia the edge of the
small. open space where stood the mule.
and saw, 10 my surprise. that the usual
IL doCile animal WIS. with fright-dis-
tended eyes. straining franticaIly back
ward on his tether. as If bound to break
away Surprising that he, thus left
alone. was merely alarmed 10y the Omin
Gus weather signs. cheerily called
out:
Whoa. Petel Whoa. good fellow; its
al right"
On hearing my voice. the sagacicus
beast ceySed 10 pull. end stood quletIv.
though stu gazing intently ahead, aud
trembling IN every limb. Obviously
something mnre serious than the com
ing shower had scared him.
Peering about To ascertain the cause
Of his fear. l presently caught sight Of
two LUMINOSITY shining balls in the
edge Of the bTushwood. scarcely 20
feet beyond him. and behind these ]
could now dimly see the siuuOus, slow
creeping form Of On immense iaguar.
who was evidently bent upon making
En easily won meal Oft poor Pete. fast
bound between himself and me.
Unfortunately I was fully 81 feet
away from and on the wrong side Of the
terrified beast on whose saddle hung nv
precious rifle. No use making 4 rush
for it. Fl tigre (as the native Hondurian
calls the jaguarl could reach his expect
I'd prey in a single bound, for which he
was already crouching. Hurriedly
thrusting hand behind me 70 draw my
revolver. il came in contact with an
empty holster. The pistol was gone.
doubtless jerked out while was show
ing myself feet foremost. through
some vine-E1und aperture. too narrow
20 at once Admit my shoulders, and. pre-
occupied by other matters, had never
missed il.
So there I was. armed only with a
two-pOund AK and hunting-knife. face
20 face with full-grown male jaguar.
by far the largest and most ferocious of
all American <elidae. n beast compared
20 which the sc-called mountain lion
(puma) i mere kitten.
There wa no time for celebration
Knowing the generally cowardly ma