The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-06-10
PRESERVING A SKIN.
1T 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 he
the Right Thing.

In the Loss of the Hunters Life-After
This AN Extra Hole Iu the Hide VIII lie
the Right Thing.
Arriving at the village of Deypoora,
three miles from Ruttenghur fort, we were
told of Il tiger that had lately killed very
many bullocks, so we started with several
men 10 look him up. We were taken to
raVine I'm the plains, named Loonee, and
had taken upour position on rocky ledge
when we were recalled Ivy man who had
! seen the tiger. He directing us to the spot,
| we cautiously advanced, and looking over
| the steep bank of the ravne saw the tiger
stretched out at full length just three
! yards or less below rs. He looked up and
! grinned horribly. We instantly gave him
a bullet each, whereupon he sprang into
the cover below and was out of sight even
before we could get a second shot. On
going down the bank we soon found drops
of blood and easily carried 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 footprints could be discov-
cred. After going on some little distance
we met Il man tendinga herd of goats, who
denied having seen the tiger pass and in
|
concerned manner in which the goats
browsed and cropped the bushes around
that they had seen no such formidable ami
NAL lately. So we retraced our steps to
again search for the blood, when suddenly
a man by signs pointed to II cave formed
by a large ledge of rock that had fallen
from above We knew his meaning,
! though IL much surprised us, 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 off this tiger at an unpleas-
antly close distance, for we were prevented
by steep bank behind us from going
farther back, and u view could not be OBJ
tanned from any other point. AS it was,
all we could make out were the tiger S
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
or OH our good aim We now walked close
up and saw that the cave in which this
tiger had tried to hide himself, although
I 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 as if from mere muscular ac-
ton, caused by its weight and the position
the beast was lying in. On noticing this
l suggested that another shot should be
given to make sure, hut Little slightly OBJ
, jected, on the ground that 10 was only use
lessly making holes and so spelling the
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
muzzle opposite the tigers chest and fired
; the remaining loaded barrel All this time
the men, who from distance had seen us
i, so near the tigers den, came running M
toward us in great state of delight al
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 n 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 this spare loaded barrel
pointed over the mouth of the den; oui
; other guns we had left on the ground OF
walking up to first look at the tiger. Foi
my part, in the most dreadful state OF
!, alarm, at once rushed through the mer
who had now come up and were crowdine
around us, upsetting three or four and
myself in so doing.
&lxn thnr., 4
panic, and, the ground being very uneven
and stony, everybody seemed to fall ovei
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 tn,
tiger was roaring awfully. i fully believed
that he was outside the cave killing each
U 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
n able to find his way out. AT last, gaining
r my legs snatched up gun and climbed
{ ups small, thin tree just in front of thu
I. den. There were two men already in this
!, slight tree, so it's branches bent down un
!. pleasantly close to the ground with oul
l weight. From this point fired IL more
t shots, at only IL yards distance, into this
!, | Tiger DeIOre ne WIS uulcb. Oniy Ills ioiS
@ arm and lower part of his belly could b.
: hit every time he appeared at the mouth
5 of the cave. All now being still, we came
down from our high posts and this time
= found the beast really dead, riddled will
y bullets. The appearance of the grount
J. was very laughable. Guns, drums, bows
Il spears, shoes, turbans, were scattered al
!, over the place. Some poor fellows wer
s sadly bruised 1t appeared that our shot
d had merely for the time stunned this tiger
o missing his brain, which lies in Ions
Il narrow cell directly between the eyes ant
J. on the extreme top of the forehead. Tn
J. shot in his chest most effectually revive'
him.
# This was n most extraordinary ant
t. lucky escape for all of us, for, supposini
It him quite dead, we should have begun 4
y haul him out of the cave and at once pro
= ceeded to skin him on the spot, during
l. | which opcration the bcaters usually nj