The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1899-01-29
BATTLE ROYAL BEFORE
AN indian PRINCE
Tiger and African Lion in
Deadly Conflict.
Supremacy of the Cat Tribe Fairly
Established.
So-CaIlcd Siui: OF Bcasts Saaauisi.cd
After Fierce Combnt-Brutc
strength and Courage.


iect often debated and never Settled-it
has been the question of relative strength
between the lion and the tiger. East In
dian shkarries, or native hunters, and
mighty English nimrods of Bengal have
maintained that the tiger is the true king
of the cat family and able to thrash any
lion that ever roared by nightfall. Other
Englishmen who have hunted in South Al
rica as stoutly declare that the lion is
what the picture books have ever made
bim-monarch of all beasts and an over
match for any tiger that might question
his royal dignity. Menagerie keepers say
that it takes seven men to throw, hold
down and handle a captive tiger. while
five can easily attend TO a lion, but admit
that the tiger exercises more and keeps his
natural strength much better in fact than
a lion. who is of sedentary disposition
when once lodged behind iron bars. They
also say that a tiger would whip lion By
reason of its natural ferocity as COM
pared with the lions more lofty DISPOSE
ton. Put tiger and a lion together"
says an old circus man, and the tiger
would jump right at the lions throat, while
the lion would be holding out his paw as
much as to say. How are you, old fellow?
Glad to see you
The Asiatic lion-or at least, the yell
low beast Of Hindustan-is acknowledged
TO be too small and too timorous to cope
with the Bengal tiger, while the tiger
does not inhabit Africa, the home of the
gigantic blackmaned and crested lions,
largest Of their family. A meeting on
her a
an African lion would be the only really
satisfactory test of the powers of the two
great cats, and, until a few weeks ago,
such meeting had never occurred.
A fairly fought battle between lion and
tiger, however, has been decided at last,
and the combat took place at the court
of that well-known sport and royal good
fellow. the Gaekwar (Raiput King of Ba-
roda, one of the numerous protected"
monarchies still existing under the shad-
ow of the British crown in Hinduism.
On several occasions Indian lions had
been matched against Bengal tigers before
the assembled guests of the Gaekwar. and
the tiger had invariably come off victor.
English visitors, menagarie keepers, and
other competent authorities assured the
Gaekwar that the tiger was the stronger
and more dangerous creature, but the
prince declined to accept the verdict The
African lion, he declared, was the ac-
knowledged king Of beasts, and needed
only a fair trial 10 prove himself the mas
ter Of the tiger. He said:
Il will get possession of an African
lion some day, and will give a public
battle that shall be worth going miles
10 look upon"
The Gaekwar's opportunity came at last.
Nearly year ago a party of Arab hunt
ers, ranging along the Atlas Mountains
between Morocco and Algeria, succeeded
in capturing a magnificent specimen of the
crested or Mount Atlas lion-the largest
and most formidable of all African felidae
and much superior to the black named
lions of South Africa in bulk and bravery.
They managed TO get the animal unnjured
into strongly constructed cage and sold
him to some French showmen, who soon
after took their menagerie 10 Alexandria.
Captain Walters. an English officer who
had frequently been a guest of the Gaek-
war, and knew Of his earnest desire for
an African lion, happened to be in Alex
andria and made the Frenchmen a sub
staniial offer for their crested prisoner
The Frenchmen, who were in money diff
culties. gladly parted with the lion, and
the next English steamer for Bombay bore
the monarch of Mount Atlas as an unwilI-
ing passenger.
The Gaekwar was as delighted as child
with new toy when he received the
monster. He gave orders TO put the lion
into a roomy enclosure and TO feed him as
befitted a lion Of his size and dignity. At
las, as the giant was named, quickly re-
covered from the fatigue of his travels
ate heartily, and roared so furiously at
night that many of the Gaekwar's visitors
unable 10 sleep on account of the noise
retired TO the suburbs of Baroda.
The Gaekwars next step was to send hi.
shikarries out in all directions, with or
ders to get the largest tiger that none!
could buy or their arts make prisoner II,
then sent invitations TO scores of British
officers and Hindu potentates announcing
that grand trial of the strength OF tn
lion and tiger would take place at Barodi
on November 10, as the chief feature of
long and varied programme. Guests begal
10 pour in. and Baroda was soon crowde,
with the sporting blood of India, all cage
10 see the coming battle and prodigal witt
ready wagers.
The Gaekwar's shikarries had been un
able to scare up any tigers in the Barod
country, but an English sportsman at Sim
la wishing to help his old friend along
built trap and captured veteran man
eater. long regarded as one of the mos
terrible tigers OF the Himalaya region
This beast arrived at Baroda on October
20. and the betting, which had been 2 to
on the lion. At once began TO turn the 9th
er way. The Simla tiger was demonica
creature in appearance middle-aget
brute Of enormous bulk. immeasurabl
strength, and a cruel, crafty eye. TIL
Gaekwar was oyerioyed.
On November the brutes were put o,
half rations, and this supply was cut il
two twenty-four hours later. Meanwhile
the Princes carpenters had been busy pre-
pairing the amphitheatre-a vast structur
OF heavy logs. open 10 the sky and encir
cling pit or arena about so feet in diam
eter. A belt feet wide, topping the inne
circumference Of the arena. was lined viii
sheet iron, thus making II impossible TO
the animals 10 climb out of the enclosure
while tier on tier of cushioned seats an
private boxes were made ready TO receiy
the visitors.
Betting continued lively. The guest
were permitted 10 walk freely about tn
pens in which the combatants were Gagged
and ample opportunity was given for in
spection and comparison Of the monsters
The Gaekwari true TO his original conyic
tons was ready to back the lion. an
found no difficulty in obtaining takers 70
his every offer. Many Englishmen CAV
him odds. and one of the many Raipu
princes who had gathered TO the carniva
wagered 10000 rupees on the tiger tn
Gaekwar putting up 10000 rupees on tn
lion.
On the morning OF November 10 both an
finals were reported Wild with hunger an
in prime condition for the fray. Every
body fastened 20 the arena, and there 70
hours they were entertained royalty by tn
prince. who as is well known in Indis
spares neither money nor diligence in pro
yidlng pleasure for those whom he favor
with the freedom Of his palace. There wer
wrestling matches. exhibitions of jugglin,
and unlimited nautch dancing. making a
enjoyable programme. which lasted till