The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-05-24
PRESERVING A SKIN.
IT WAS STILL ON THE QUARRY AND
THE TIGER WASN'T DEAD.

The sportsman's Mistake Nearly Resulted
In the Loss OF the Hunters Life-After
This an Extra Hole In the Hide VIII BE
the Right Thing.
- Arriving at the village of Dcypoora,
three miles from Ruttenghur fort, we were
told of tiger that had lately killed very
many bullocks, so we started with several
men to look him up. We were taken TO
ravine in the plains, named Loonee, and
had taken up our position on a rocky ledge
when we were recalled by man who had
Been tho tiger He directing us 10 the spot,
we cautiously advanced, and looking over
the steep bank of the ravine saw the tiger
stretched out Mt full length just three
yards or less below us. He looked up and
grinned horribly. We instantly gave him
bullet each, whereupon 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 carried these on for
some distance down the rayine, when all
at once they entirely ceased. The ground
was bare sheet rock or large slabs Of fat
stones, so no footprints could be discov.
cred. After going on some little distance
we met a man tendinga herd of goats, who
denied having seen the tiger pass, and in
deed it was but too evident from the un-
concerned manner In which the goats
browsed and cropped the bushes around
that they had seen no such formidable ani.
NAL lately. So we retraced our steps to
again search for the blood, when suddenly
a man by signs pointed to cave formed
by large ledge of rock that had fallen
from above We knew his meaning,
though it much surprised us, for we had
only just passed close by this very place,
looking for the tigers prints.
All the men az usual were at once or
dered to 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 a steep bank behind us from going
farther back, and a 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
signal, Zone, 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 9th
ar on our good aim. We now walked clos.
mp and saw that the cave In which this
tiger had tried to hide himself, although
1t had but a small entrance, was large
enough inside.
While talking over our lucky shots, We
observed one of the tigers arms slowly
move, but as IL from mere muscular ac
ton, caused by its weight and the position
the beast was lying in. On noticing this
i suggested that another shot should be
given to make sure, but Little slightly OBJ
jected, on the ground that it was only use
lessly making holes and 80 spelling the
skin. On this agreed to fire where ori
knives would first be used in taking OF
the victims jacket. So at once, while W
were looking into the cave, without put
ting my gun to my shoulder, placed It,
muzzle opposite the tigers chest and fred
the remaining loaded barrel. All this time
the men, who from distance had seen us
no 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 which, no sooner had fired than,
with 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 tho tigers cave. Here he
kept guard with this 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
my part in the most dreadful state OF
alarm, 1 at once rushed through the men
who had now come up and were crowding
around us, upsetting three or four and
myself in so doing.
For the moment there was a 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 clear out of sight without
stopping to look behind All this time the
tiger was roaring awfully. l fully believed
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 without being
able to find his way out. At last, gaining
my legs, l snatched up a gun and climbed
up u small, thin tree just in front of the
den. There were two men already in this
slight tree, so its branches bent down un
pleasantly close to the ground with our
weight. From this point fired 12 moro
shots, at only IL yards distance, into this
tiger before be was quiet. Only his fore
arm and lower part Of his belly could be
hit every timo 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
bullets. The appearance of the ground
was very laugbable. Guns, drums, bows,
spears, shoes, turbans, were scattered all
over the place. Some poor fellows were
sadly bruised. II appeared that our shots
had merely for the time stunned this tiger,
missing his brain, which lies in long
narrow cell directly between the eyes and
on tho 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 pro-
ceeded to skin him on the spot, during