Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1899-02-02


making an enjoyable programme which
lasted till 2 o'clock in the afternoon.
The event of the day was then an
nounced, and the assembled sports
men, settling comfortably in their
cushioned chairs, waited for the mighty
struggle.
IN THE ARENA.
Each beast had been transferred
from his pen to wooden cage, and
these cages were now rolled into the
arena. Ropes were now attached to
the fastenings of the doors, and the
Gaekwar, perched on high in the roy
al box with the English Resident and
several other dignitaries, took the ropes
in hand. Waiting till the Rajput at
tendants were safely out of the ring,
the Prince rose, hauled strongly on the
ropes and opened both the cages.
The tiger was the first to emerge,
darting into the ring with a tHghttuI
snarl. There was a shout of terror
and admiration as the great beast
brown and black and yellow, went rae
ing round the inclosure, springing high
against the wooden walls and rattling
his claws against the impenetrable iron.
No such tiger had ever been seen in
Baroda, and the English hunters pres
ent declared that the animal was as
large a man-eater as was ever caught
in the whole of India. He was evil
dently more than ten feet long, over
fourteen tail and ALL and over four
feet tall at the shoulder His teeth
were long and white, his claws of tre-
mendous length and his shoulders
great masses OF tendons, moving with
supple grace beneath the striped skin.
Three to one on the tiger = shout
ed Colonel Maitland,an English officer
The Gaekwar raised his hand.
I'll take that-for 5000 rupees.
Done Make it SCOOP"
Before the Prince could answer a
great yellow head came through the
door of the second cage, and the lion
leisurely descended into the arena
Another cry Of surprise and admira-
ton shook the building. If the tiger
was the personifCation Of graceful
strength and supple energy, the lion
was the embodiment of massive power
and adamantine muscle. Carrying his
great head more proudly than the IT,
ger, he looked taller, while his heavy
name gave him an appearance of great
er size-an appearance made more con-
elusive by the evidently large diane
ter of the huge legs and the bulk Of
the enormous paws.
Double your three to one p asked
the Gaekwar, smiling.
Colonel Maitland shook his head
"I'll think about it, your Highness,
III think about it. What monster
the lion is; big enough to eat an ele-
phant, tusks and all :
There was little time for further
speculation, for the tiger was crawling
forward, crouched almost fiat upon the
ground and evidently measuring the
distance for spring, while the lion,
lashing his sides with his heavy tail,
emitted a deep-voiced roar and stood
firmly braced awaiting the onslaught.
The tiger got his distance gauged and
rose in the air like a great yellow rock
ct. AS he shot through space the lion
rose on his hind legs and received him
even as the Highlanders at Waterloo
took Napoleon's cavalry upon their
bayonets. There was crash, chorus
of horrible yells and blood-curdhng
snarls, and then two great bodies rolled
over and over in a cloud Of sand.
The mighty fighters regained their
feet and shook themselves free. As
they parted from the clinch the lion
swung his right paw squarely on the
tigers head. The blow shot in 60 fast
that even the supple cat could not
avoid the stroke, and the huge claws
ripped away an ear and tore the skin
of the tigers head IL frightful fashion.
Over in heap rolled the tiger, and
the lion rushed in to complete his VIC
tory. His claws tore only dust, for
the tiger, regaining his presence OF
mind, twisted lithely aside and escap-
ed annihilation.
A DESPERATE COMBAT.
Even money that the lion lands
clean Knockout blow - cried a Bonn
bay merchant in an upper box. There
were no takers and tiger money be-
came extremely scarce around the ring
side. The lion advanced, growing,