The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1898-11-10
FIELDS OF ADVENTURE.
THRILLING INCIDENTS AND DARING
DEEDS ON LAND AND SEA.

Killed STOCK at camps III NeueZueld
where | was staying writes traveller
in the New York Sun, "and once
herdsman in my party was killed by
one OF these beasts within hundred
yards OF the campfire. His body we
found, partly eaten, a quarter OF
mile from the place where he was
struck down. Only once 1 had q
brush with one of these animals. The
encounter was startling one, and for
some minutes things looked squally
for ME and my native guide. But we
escaped unhurt. and, as the affair
turned out the joke was on the tiger.
1t came about in this way. Antonio
and 1, in travelling on by-trail out of
the mountains, had stopped for the
night in deserted hut built against
the hillside. The hut was large one
plastered with mud, and it had one
door, with an unglazed window, about
foot and half square, set very high
in the wall. | had killed deer that
day, and when we went to sleep on
the floor a quarter of venison was
hanging on hook on the side of the
wall opposite the window. 1t was
this that attracted the tiger. The
first that We knew Of his presence he
came through the window like shot
from gun, passing directly over me
and landing under the venison on the
other side of the room. l heard him
strike on the floor and instantly rear
and tear down the meat from the
hook. Not knowing for the moment
what had brooken loose, [ wrapped
nv blankets round me for protection,
grabbed up my rife and sidled along,
keeping close to the wall, to where
Antonio had made his bed. 1t was
pitchy dark, but L could tell that he
was standing in the corner with his
machete in his right hand and his
blanket wrapped round his lett arm to
serve as a shield. He was standing
steady, but his eyes were fairly ablaze
with excitement.
"What is it, Antonio?" 1 asked.
ga tiger?"
&c Yes, senior. He has come for
venison and cannot get out. No, do
not fire senior. for we are dead men if
you fail to kill him. Give me lum-
bre (matchl, pray you.'
eve could hear the tiger trying to
leap up to the window, with the quar-
ter of venison held in his teeth, and
falling back to the floor. Whenever
he turned his head toward us his eyes
were like balls OF red fire, but he did
not offer to touch us, his whole aim
seeming to be to get out at the window
with his plunder. l found match
and gave it to Antonio. He picked
up handful of the dried grass that
his blankets had been spread on,
twisted it into torch and lighted 1t
with the match. By its light we could
see the tiger standing under the
window glaring at us over the haunch
of venison, which he plainly meant TO
stay by. :,
"'Come, senior, said Antonio, and
we edged along the wall toward the
door. The tiger turned so as con-
tinually to face US as we proceeded,
and growled, but, afraid of the fire,
did not approach us. Now, quickly,
senior, Antonio said as we came to the
door. Open it just wide enough that
you may slip out and will follow.
81 opened the door few inches and
squeezed through sidewise, with An
tonic crowding behind me. He
dropped his torch within as he
slammed the door to and latched it.
"'Now we can breathe easy, senior,
he said. we have ell tigre captured.
eve could hear the tiger within the
hut leaping up at the window and
sometimes scratching at the door.
Evidently his whole aim now was to
get out, but it seemed impossible that
he could escape through the window,
the opening being so small and the
mud wall within affording no hold for
his claws. That he had been able to
get into the hut through so small an
opening seemed wonderful, but for
that he had the advantage Of the hill
side from which he could spring at
the level almost of the window. AS
we waited for daylight, when [ in
tended to shoot him, l heard the
tiger spring once more, and this time
his forepaws and head appeared at
the window, while he struggled to
draw his body up through the open
ing. With my rifle muzzle not three
feet from his ear shot him in the
head, and the tiger, slackening his
hold, slipped back into the hut before
I could pull back the lever and fire
again. We found him dead on the
floor under the window at daylight,
and after all that had happenedwe had
veuison steaks for breakfast.