Evening star., 1898-05-21
TOOK CHARGE OF THE SHIP.
Royal Bengal Tiger Kept EveryOn,
on Board at Bay.

ftOSal bengal Tiger Kept Everyone
on Board at Bay.
From Youths Companion.
An English nobleman was the owner Of
superb royal Bengal tiger, of size and
appearance really majestic Not caring to
keep the creature longer, he sold him for
large price 70 the famous geological gar
den at Antwerp. Some time afterward the
director of the ZOO received a frantic
message from the captain of ship which
had just come into the harbor, saying that
ne had on board tiger consigned to the
director, but that the animal had several
days before escaped from his cage and was
at large on the deck. The captain had sue
ceeded in getting a sort of barricade erect
ed across the deck, so that the sailors
could go aloft and do other necessary
work But the whole ships company was
Under the terror of the animal.
The director went with all haste to the
water side, 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 rather
than the reverse. He could be seen pacing
the deck in u superb and lordly way that
Indicated the consciousness Of possession.
Not a man was to be seen on board.
The director had the ship brought I'D 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
tiger escaping TO land. The director got
into communication with the captain
through port hole and was informed NV
him that men had been regularly sent aloft
to let down meat to the tiger by a rope SO
that the beast vas actually gorged with
food. Nothing but overfeeding had kept
the tiger from falling on some horses which
were stabbed on the deck, but the Door
hcrses were In place where no one dared
to go to them, and had neither food nor
water for several days.
The director and his assistants rigged a
sort OF cage or box with a drop door held
up by string, which they lowered to the
deck OF the ship, having first furnished it
with tempting bits of fresh meat. But
the tiger, after shifting at these from the
outside Of 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. 1--WE should have
been glad enough to shoot him. he said,
but We have no firearms on board"
The director was determined now to get
the tiger on alive II 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 ineffectuaI
attempts to coax the tiger into the trap.
Meantime the tide rose, bringing the deck
of the vessel almost Irp 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 royal Bengal
tiger loose in the streets of Antwerp
caused the police to warn 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 a 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.
tub Of water was placed in the cage and
lowered to 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 . prisoner.