New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-10-02
THE MAN-EATERS OF INDIA
SOME STORIES ABOUT TIGERS.

Colonel c. III. Trevor. in The Wide World Maya
The most strictly accurate and graphic ac-
counts of man eating tigers in India fail to con-
vey an adequate sense Of the awful terror which
these terrible brutes inspire in the breasts Of the
unfortunate villagers, whom they haunt like
evil demons. In ordinary cases the tiger OF leop-
ard attacks the village herds more less open
ly and the herdsmen, finding that the enemy
will. a rule retreat on being shouted at with
vigor, not in bodily fear all the time al
though have known instances OF the herdsman
being killed by tiger that he had presumed to
interrupt while enjoying neal from one Of his
cattle. ...
They become more dangerous when they have
tasted the blood OF their victim. and not
usually disposed to give II up without fight I
remember the case OF survey officer in India,
who, being told of kill near his work went
to inspect il unarmed. The tiger, disturbed at
his meal, rushed out suddenly at the party and
in his headlong fight the officer. most fortu-
natey for himself. tripped and fell into some
long grass and bushes. The tigers attention be-
ing drawn to the natives, who climbing
trees like monkeys in a hurry. he made for them
allowing the officer TO crawl away in fear and
trembling quietly as he could.
But in the case Of the man-eater everything n
different. Having discovered his power TO kin
the genus homo more easily than big ape he
takes every possible advantage Of IL at every
turn. Neither by night nor by day are they
safe, and life becomes one long terror, for
whether the natives are working In the fields
or fetching frewood from the forest or water
from the well they know not at what turn they
may be seized
THE BLIND MAN AND THE TIGER
! know Of one man-eater in Mysore that was
credited with over five hundred victims and the
Government offered reward OF 800 rupees for
his skin. He bold to think nothing OF
bounding into a crowd OF travellers on the high
road in daylight, and of carrying off either a
pedestrian or the driver of a bullock-cart from
hiC VIn toni
tactics OF Selling his prey outside but used to
break into huts to get at them Two English
officers friends of mine, who went after this
! scourge, were shown hut outside a village IN
| closure where a poor Dher. lowcaste man
not allowed to dwell within the village precincts
for fear of polluting them. had lived with his
wife and infant. He was blind. and one night
being awakened by a strange noise, began 10
! crawl and grope about the hut. He put his hand
suddenly on the man-eater which had pushed the
door open, killed the woman and child, and was
drinking their blood when the mans hand was
laid upon him. Doubtless suspectng trap, he
bounded out of the hut without touching the
man. What picture for a Landseer!
But among the multitude of such stories 1
venture TO think that the following bears away
the palm for grewsome horror. and its truth has
been confirmed from many sources. ! had 1t
from a relative, the owner OF the tea estate In
Assam where il occurred s. b was, not
many years agO-and for all | know still is-the
manager Of tea garden in Assam, where
man-eater was in the habit OF carrying off the
them much less trouble than a deer pig AT
last emboldened doubt, by unhindered sue
cess in obtaining victims. he took TO carrying
off coolies who were sleeping in the verandas OF
the managers bungalow. Many traps had been
laid for him. the bodies Of his victims poisoned,
watchers with guns on the lookout over the
killed men, but so great was his cunning that
ne had escaped them all. Everything having
/ failed, things had become desperate. and B.
and some Of his planter friends determined to
sit up for the tiger in the veranda. with native
blankets Disgusting them-an exceedingly excit-
ing business for. be il remembered, lights
were allowed. and the brute cared nothing for
numbers. so that his appearance might be too
sudden for unsteady nerves. One OF the planters
after they had sat a long time in breathless sus-
pense. entered the house for something that ne
wanted and while looking for ii was startled by
a sudden terrible uproar in the veranda which
he had just left. Selling his rife, he rushed out
! to find all the party gone, but from the dark
/ tea garden he heard the voice Of s. b call.
/ ing out in agony: Help. for Gods sake, Helpi
The tigers got me! Help. help
HIS HAND IN THE TIGERS MOUTH
Fixing his bayonet he ran toward the SPOT,
and in the dim gloom made out the outline OF
| the tiger dragging b, who was walking by
/ its side. his hand in the brute's mouth. With
! out moments hesitation, he rushed UP to the
| tiger plunged the bayonet into it's side. and at
the same time pulled the trigger. The tiger fell,
releasing b. and both rushed back TO the
house: but before they could reach the steps the
tiger was upon them. and again seized poor
b. biting and clawng his back and shoulders
/ In terrible manner. IL was, mercifuliy ex-
piring effort, for the brute fell dead before il
could Kill b. 1t then transpired that the
tiger had stolen in upon the watchers like q
shadow, without the slightest warning, and had
seized the nearest one. who happened TO 10
b. by the hand. which he had raised TO de-
fend himself. and had commenced to drag him
off. In his he rose TO his feet, and after