New-York tribune., 1896-09-01
HE WAS HUNGRY FOR DOGS.
SOUTH SHORE OPLE HAD AN EH 1T
ING TIGER HUNT
THE ANIMAL ESCAPED FROM CIRCUS IN FAR
ROCKAwAY LONG ISLAND. AND cONTENTED
HIMSELF WITH KILLING DOGS IN
NUMBER OF vILLAcEs-sHoT

IN HEMPsTEAD
Citizens OF Long Island in the neghborhood OF
Far Rockaway. Lynbrook. Rockville Centre.
Milburn. Freeport and Hampstead have just had
a new variety Of sport. which was far more ex-
citing than pleasant A big royal Bengal tiger
escaped from It's cage in Mains circus train as
II was leaving Far Rockaway late on Saturday
night. and until yesterday noon spread terror
throughout the neighbCrhood, where it roamed
at Will. Yesterday nov. rs sport came to an end.
however. at Hempstead where it was shot by
Walter Brill Just as it was about to enter the
yard of Edward Dennis. in Henry-st.
The tiger had an abnormal appetite for dog
flesh and throughout its travels or Long Island
it offered no harm to man or beast except to
each and every dog that came It's way. The AMI
mails itinerary has not been learned exactly be-
cause the reports of its ravages in the dog tribe
have poured in from dozen or more towns
with remarkable rapidty. and in such form as to
puzzle badly any person deslrous OF learning the
exact record of the animals adventures. 1t Is
known that he gained his liberty in Far Rock
away, and left the circus hands who were sent
after him far behind early in his expedition. IL
Is thought that he next visited Lynbrook. AT
that place he CALLED leopard a tiger or
a panther. but whatever he was he was fierce
and ravenous beast. The good people of Lyn-
brook declare that by the time he had reached
their town he had killed over dozen dogs.
After leaving Iynbrook the animal is supposed
to have started for Rockville Centre. He passed
through that place early on Sunday morning
attacking every dog he met, and killing several
in the lower part Of the village and at Oceanside
This is the record Of canine carnage for Rock
vile Centre Charles Cornell, two dogs; X. H.
Soper. one Henry Carman. one. and-W. II. Hass,
two.
The next heard OF the animal was at Hemp
stead. On the way from Oceansde 10 Hemp
stead the tiger, the report says. stopped at
every place where dogs were kept, but molested
no other animals Word of the animals wander
ings reached Hampstead before the animal HIM
self and the farmers were looking for him, but
they did not find him. Shotguns brought
out and made ready for action, but there was
no occasion for their use. Other reports from
Bellmore. West Hampstead, Hampstead Gardens,
Norwood. Rosedae and Valley Stream told Of
the tigers presence in those places at various
times between Sunday afternoon and yesterday
noon The tigers visit at Mburn was one Of the
most profitable in his series
Shortly after midnight on Sunday Henry
Southard. who lives on the Merrick Road east
OF 1tOCkNiue centre, was AWAKENED Dy HOWlS
and sounds OF an unusual disturbance in his
front yard. He investigated. and big
yellow animal engaged in a rough h-and-tumble
fight with his dog. Southard seized a scantling
and hurled it with all his strength at the
strange animal The tiger left the dog and
hurried away. clearing the fence at one bound.
On Sunday morning John Miller found strange
tracks in his yard. the like Of which he had
never seen left behind by any of his barnyard
family.
Further down the road to the east Charles
-ha9lr
ful dog. consisting chiefly of punches OF halr
and pools of blood. At other places along the
Milburn Road dogs attacked and killed
in every instance. some of them horribly man
gled. A large party of men went out in search
of the dog hungry beast while the women and
children the cats and dogs. were kept out OF
harms reach behind closed doors.
Three young men from Freeport reported
late on Sunday night that while returning nome
they saw a large. yellowish animal leap across
the road and enter a clump Of woods. This
was the last heard of the animal until ii ap-
peared in Hampstead yesterday. Its appear
ance In Hampstead entirely unlocked ior,
although its presence In the neighborhood was
well known. Shortly before noon ii was seen
I'm Henry-st near the house OF Edward Dennis:
Walter Brill hurriedly procured his rihe ana
laid the animal low before it had a chance 10
escape Mr. Brill saw the animal before IT had
soon as II had been shot large crowd gathered
around to have look at the strange game.
Mr. Rrls capture became known througnout
the neighboring towns within few hours. ana
the reign OF terror was at an END III Is pe
linved that at least "a score of dogs constituted
the tigers repast during his few hours or I'D
erty.