Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-03-27
A DANGEROUS PASSENGER.
A Royal bengal Tiger Keeps
Whole City at Bay.
youths Companion)

(1Outn COHlpdNlOll')
An English nobleman was the owner Of
a superb royal Bengal tiger, Of size and
appearance really majestic. Not caring to
keep the creature longer, he sold him FOR
a large price to the famous Geological
Garden, at Antwerp. Some time after
ward the director of the Zoo received
frantic message from the captain of a
ship which had just come into the harbor,
saving that he had on board a tiger con-
signed TO the director, but that the ami
nal had several days before escaped from
his cage, and was at large on the deck.
The captain had succeeded in getting a
sort of barricade erected across the deck,
so that the sailors could go aloft and 90
other necessary work. But the whole
ship's company was under the terror OF
the animal.
The director went with all haste to the
waterside. and saw in the distance the
ship, which was, indeed, bringing 10 him
the splendid tiger of the British lord. But
the tiger was i'm charge Of the ship
rather than the reverse He could be seen
pacing the deck in a superb and lordly
way that indicated the consciousness or
possession. Not a man was to be seen on
board
The director had the ship brought up TO
the wharf The tide was low, ana the
deck was so far below the level OF the
wharf that there seemed 10 be no danger
Of the tigers escaping to land.
The director got into communication
with the captain through a portfolio, end
was informed by him that men had been
regularly sent aloft to let down meat 10
the tiger by a rope, so that the peast
was actually goTged with food. Nothing
but overlooking had kept the tiger from
failing on some horses which were
stabbed on the deck; but the poor horses
were in a place where no one dared 10
20 to them, and had had neither Iood
nor water for several days
The director and his assistants rugged
! a sort of cage or box with drop-door
held UP by a 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 SHINING at
| these from the outside the trap, walked
contemptuously 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
men?"
The Captain laughed. I'VE should have
! been glad enough TO shoot him. ne SAID
'but we have no firearms on board.
! The director was determined now to get
| the tiger off alive, II he could. He drew
up the trap and balted 1t with other
| sorts OF provisions, but the tiger refused
| 10 go near them.
A long time was spent in Intellectual at
| tempts 20 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 10 flight.
| In a few minutes the beast could easily
| leap ashore. The prospect OF having a
royal Bengal tiger loose in the streets
! Of Antwerp caused the police to wan
| the director that the animal must very
! soon be shot.
The director was at his wits end, but a
! small street boy helped him out OF the
| emergency by very simple suggestion
This boy, who had not taken to flight
| with the rest, said:
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 10 the deck. No sooner did
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 a
| prisoner
A great shout went up from the i'm
prisoned sailors on the ship. But they
did not rush forward TO help in the un-
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 Zoo. y
There his conduct has been quite ex-
emplary. The director OF this Antwerp
museum afiirms, indeed, that animals
caught in the jungle are quite as apt Ia
be mild-mannered In eaptivity-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.