Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1897-12-31
PRESERVING A SKIN.
Vt WAS STILL ON THE TIGER, AND
THE TIGER WASN'T DEAD.
A sportsman's VI stake Nearly Resulted In
The Loss of Human Life--After This AN
Extra Hole I'm the Hide viii Not lie
such an Important Consideration.

Arriving at the village Of Dcypoora,
thgco miles from Ruttcnghur fort we were
here told of II tiger that had lately killed
very many Lullocks, so we started with sew
cral men 20 look him up. We were taken
20 ravinc in the plains named Loonee
anil had taken up our position on IA rocky
ledge when we were recalled by man
who had seen the tiger. He directing Us
70 tho spot, we cautiously advanced, and
looking over tho steep bank of the rGyine
saw the tiger stretched lut 1T Tall loIgtb
Just three yards or less below Us lie
looked up and grinncd horribly We in
stantly gave him "a bullet each, whcreupon
he sprang into the cover below and was
out of sight even before We could get
second shot. On going down the bank we
soon found drops of blood and easily car
ried these or for some distance down the
rayinc, when all NJ once they entirely
ceased. Tho ground was bare sheet rock
Or largo Slabs of nat stones; so no foot.
prints could be Gi covered. After going
On some lice distance We met "a nan
tending n Ecrd Cf s0ats who denied hav
ing seen tho tiger pass, and indeed 1t was
but too evident from the unconcerned
manner IN which the goats brOwscd and
cropped tho bushes around that they had
seen no such formidable animal lately. So
wc rctraced out steps 10 again search for
the blood, when suddenly IA man by signs
pointed 90 II cave formed by large ledge
of rock hat hpd fallen from above. We
knew his meaning, though 1T much sur
prised us, for we had only just passed
close by this very place, looking for the
tigers prints.
All the mon, as usual, were at once or
dcrcd To a safe distance in the rear, while
placing our spare guns before us, we knelt
down 10 polish off this tiger at an unp!eas-
antly close distance, for we were prevented
by steep bank behind US from going
farther back, and "A view could not be OBJ
t,unCd from any other point. As II 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 lone, two, three being given by
ono 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
lowed, caused Us 10 congratulate cHch
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 small entrance, was
large enough inside
While talking over our lucky shots we
observed one of the tigers arms slowly
move, but a. if from mere muscular ac-
ton, caused by it's weight and the posi-
ton the beast was lying in. On noticing
this | suggested that another shot should
Ia. | Il. I q L.,
objected, on the ground that it was only
usclcssly making holes and so spelling rho
skin On this | agreed To fire where our
knives would first DO used in taking of
the victims jackct, 80 at once, while we
were looking into the cave, without put
ting my guns to my shoulder, | placed its
muzzle opposite the tigers chest and fired
the remaining loaded barrel. All this time
the men, who from distance had seen Us
so near the tigers den, came running up
toward us in "A great state Of delight at
their enemy being killed, for so they and
we both thought was indeed the case In
stead of viii j, no sooner had fired than,
with a frightful roar, ue jumped the tiger,
rs lively AZ ever. With one bound Little,
who is remarkably strong and active,
gained the top of the high ledge Of rock
kept guard with his spare loaded barre.
pointed over the mouth of the den, our
other guns we had left on he ground on
walking up 10 first look a the tiger. For
my part, in the most dreadful state II
alarm. | at once rushed through the mon
who had now como up and were crowding
round Us. upscttug three or four and
myself in so doing
E4r bp tuotppuf fhopp was tprribiq
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 other, in
their fright ran clean out Cf sight without
stopping to icok behind All hlis time the
tiger was roaring awfully. / fully be-
loved that he Vas outside the cave, killing
each man ~ he caught him, instead II
which. being much confused, he luckily
remained in the den, around and around
which he kept walking seemingly with
out being able 10 find his way out. At
last gaining my legs | snatchcd up a gun
and climbed up a small thin rec just IN
'front.' of the den. There were two men al
-eady in this slight tree, 50 its branches
bent down UnVlcaSnntly close TO the
ground with our weight. From this point
| fired - muco shots, at only ~ many
yards distance, into this tiger before he
was quiet Only his fore arm and lower
part of lis belly could be- hit every time he
appeared at the mouth of the clyo Al
now being still, we came DOM from ON
high posts and Jlis time found The beast
really dead, riGdlcd with balls The APP
poaronce OF the ground was very laugh
able Guns, drums, bows, spears shoes
turhans, were scattered ali over the place
some poor fellows were sadly bruised. II
appeared THAI 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 i'm his chest
most ciicctually revived him.
This was most extraordinary and lucky
escape for an or M, for, surprising him
quite dead. we should have begun To haul
him out OK Ine cave and at once proceeded
Co skin hun ON the spot during which
operation the bcatcrs usually all crowd
around and discuss the brute, death and
rccull the lussos hc has occa,iouod i'm his
day Taking off his skin would, uo doubt
havc revived tho tiger when the conse
qucnccs that might have cnsued are terri
1lo To conceive. Doubtless n!arc than one
$50 .y,tfId hoyg boDu lost This lfttfo uu.