The Portland daily press., 1898-03-25
A pANeERoUw PASSENGER.
A Royal Bengal Tiger Keeps the Whole
City of Antwerp at Bay for Several
Hours.
youths Companion. }

An EngllSl nODleIudu WAS Uu0 OWu0r VI
superb royal Bengal tiger, of size and
appearance really majestic. Not caring
to keep the creature longer, he sold him
for large price to the famous Geological
Garden at Antwerp. Some time after
ward the director Of the Goo received
frantic message from the captain of a
ship which had just come into the har-
Dor, saying that he had on board tiger
consigned to the director, but that the
animal had several days before esoa ped
from his cage, and was at large on the
deck. The captain had succeeded in get
ting q sort of barricade erected across the
decK, SO that the sailors could go aloft
and do other necessary work. But the
whole ships company was under the ter
ror of the animal.
The director went with all haste to the
waterside. and saw In the distance the
ship which was indeed bringing to him
the splendid tiger of the British lord. But
the tiger was in charge of the ship, rath-
er than the reverse. He could be seen
way that indicated the consciousness of
possession. Not q man was to be seen on
board. ~ f
The director had the ship brought up to
the wharf. The tide was low, and the
deck was so far below the level of the
wharf that there seemed to be no danger
of the tigers escaping to land.
The director got into communication
with the captain through portfolio, and
was informed by him that men had been
regularly sent aloft to let down meat to
the tiger by a rope, so that the beast was
actually gorged with food. Nothing but
overlooking had kept the tiger from fall
ing on some horses which were stabbed
on the deck; but the poor horses were in
~rybo no npp darad t0 t0 them
and had had neither food nor water for
several days
The director and his assistants rugged
a sort of cage or box with drop-door
held up by string, which they lowered
to the deck of the ship, having first fur
nished it with tempting bits OF fresh
meat. But the tiger. after shifting at
these from outside the trap, walked con-
temptuously away. He did not want
anything to eat.
Meantime the director said to the cap
tain, "Why didn't you shoot the tiger,
rather than endanger the lives OF your
menu"
The captain laughed. "We should have
been glad enough to shoot him" he said.
s.but we have no firearms on board"
The director was determined now to
get the tiger off alive if he could. He
drew up the trap and baited it with other
sorts of provisions, but the tiger refused
to go near them.
A long time was spent in Intellectual
attempts to coax the tiger into the trap.
Meantime the tide rose, bringing the deck
Of the vessel almost up to the level OF the
wharf. The crowd took to flight In a
few minutes the beast could easily leap
ashore. The prospect of having a royal
Bengal tiger loose in the streets OF Ant
werp caused the police to warn the direc-
tor that the animal must very soon be
shot.
The director was at his wits end, but a
small street boy hnlped him out OF tho
emergency by very simple suggestion.
This boy, who had not taken to light
with the rest, said:
1.-The tiger isn't hungry but perhaps he
might be thirsty!'
The suggestion was acted on instantly.
A tub of water was placed in the cage
and lowered to the deck. No sooner ala
the tiger, who had had no water for some
time, see the tub than he rushed into the
trap and began drinking eagerly. Then
the door was dropped, and he was prls-
oner.
A great shout went up from the i'm
prisoned sailors on the ship. But they
did not rush forward to help in the nm
loading Of their troublesome freight until
they were quite sure that the tiger could
not get out. This assurance obtained.
they quickly set him on the wharf, and
ere long he was in his place in the $500. :"
There his conduct has been quite exem-
plary. The director of this Antwerp
museum affirms, indeed, that animals
caught in the jungle are quite as apt to
be mild hammered in captivity-if they are
only captured when young enough-as
those born in cages. Some of the most
dangerous and rebellious beasts in the
museum were born in captivity.