The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1900-07-12
LIVE TIGER BAIT.
How Sir Arthur Hewitt Was Made
Useful By Savages.

How Sir Arthur Hewitt Was Made
Useful By savages.
Sir Arthur Hewitt was once used as
live bait for tiger trap.
1T happened in Birmania," he said tc
q correspondent Of the New York Herald
between Prone and Rangun. The
country was ravaged at that time by the
predatory bands Of Nung Gung Geen, the
6ercest native chief we ever had to con
tend with. l headed a scouting party
and, being overtaken by night at some
distance ff;m camp, we lighted fires and
lay down 70 sleep. Some hours later
felt myself lifted bodily from the ground
had been bound and gagged and in a
short time was prisoner in the strong
hold of Gung himself.
1.-THE next morning they brought me
before Gung. The moment he saw me he
leered hideously.
AT last said he, here is one of those
English who are invading our country
and would reduce us to slavery
"Gung's followers now blindfolded me
was thus forced some five miles
through the jungle and beaten with
sticks all the way. Finally they came
to halt. The bandage was removed
from my eyes. Growing accustomed tc
the light, l discovered a tiger traI
ahead. l did not Immediately compre
bend the purpose of my captors. But my
uncertainty did not last long.
The tiger trap was constructed OF
bamboo. One section Of it was cut from
the rest by network Of bamboo rods
This formed the receptacle for the bait
The bait was myself. They stripped
me of my clothing, thrust me In and
bound me with thongs. Then they made
of.
II did not feel very uneasy at first.
For two hours l worked for freedom
but in the end l was forced to admit
the hopelessness of the task. Insects
alighted on my skin and bit the flesh
raw. The sun beat down on my head
and into my eyes. l grew faint. Sud
denly it occurred to me that a tiger
might appear at any moment. However,
there was some hope, although the hope
was slender A little native girl had, at
the risk Of her life, given me drink of
water the day before. This was at a
spot near Gung's camp. l babe her hur-
ry off and apprise Captain D'Oyley of
my peril. But as the hours wore on
grew Respondent. Would the little girl
have understood?
"My reflections were interrupted by a
light football. 1t was for all the world
like that of timid child When the
sound first reached my ears, no suspicion
of tigers entered my head. Suddenly a
gorgeous shoulder flashed its stripes
through the bamboo. One of the largest
tigers l had ever seen, and ! had seen
many, confronted me- The animal must
have weighed 500 pounds. As we
gazed into each others face | was over
come with q peculiar feeling of respect
for this specimen Of physical perfection.
ut flashed across my mind that this
might not be a man eating tiger In that
event it would sniff about the trap and
do me no harm. One gigantic paw was
raised against the outer door Of the trap
The door lifted and fell. The tiger was
caught. Only bamboo paling separated
us. The bulky mass advanced toward
me. Then the animal stood perfectly
motionless.
my whole body had turned cold, ex-
cept where the insects left their stings.
Those raw spots glowed like so many
tiny Goals. l stared straight into the
tigers face, not daring to wink an eye
lid. felt that the first movement should
come from the enemy. 1t did. With a
roar, the tiger dashed her whole weight
against the bamboo rods. The great
claws were thrust through and barely