The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-09-03
WHY The MAJOR RESIGNED
IRv M Ouad.l

and capturing thugs, and there were
marks to his credit In other respects |
but he had one fault that was amazing
to his superiors and threatened his flu
ture. The major would argue and rea-
son with any man when sober. When |
he had taken a glass too much, all
the arguments in the world would not
move him If he had said that drum
was a shake. he would have stuck to
it even to the point Of throwing up
his commission. He once reported to
military headquarters that a certain
reservoir held 100000 gallons OF
water. 1t was found the quantity was
100000 gallons but the major refused
to revise his report even when hints
were thrown out that he might lose his
height of a certain hill. he got it at
1,260 feet and SO reported. He was 500
feet short, but he stood on his dignity
and would make no correction His
brother officers and all were agreed that
outside of this one fault or fad no bet~
ter comrade or companion could be
wished for.
The Tenth was stationed at Kurnool
down by a tiger and carried off to the
jungle. In the dusk of evening the tiger
advanced across open fields to the OUT
skirts of camp. Two men saw the ser
geant attacked and borne away, and OF
course there was a great deal Of talk
over the incident. 1t happened that
Major, Clayton had been drinking
stinancy. and he at once declared that
the men who reported the case had
lied. He not only ordered them under
punishment, but offered to wager to
that he could pass three nights In the
the jungle without being menaced by
tiger. When no one accepted the
wager, as of course no one could un-
der the circumstances, he declared that
he would spend three nights in the
jungle simply to prove, that the tiger
was a much abused animal What the
major said when tight he always backed
up when sober. No matter how drunk
he got, he always clearly remembered
the subjects of conversation. Next day
after his boast be made ready to carry
1t out. He was in command at the post,
and there was no superior to order him.
The subordinate officers. individually
and collectively, appealed to him not TO
expose his life to such peril, but lie
was firm as a rock
Il said would do II. and do it 1
| WILL was his reply. and 1t is on record
| that he did do it.
kurnool is near the foothills of the
Eastern mountains. in the province of
Madras, and tigers Were as plentiful
| in the jungles as dogs in the street In
that same year tie civi, service re;ol e i
| nifty -hve people IS aa5:ng b:eu kilis d
| by tigers. A detail OF fifteen hen was
Eent out a distance o. four miles to
cut path and make little clearing,
and before nightfall Major Clayton rode
| to the spot. He had no weapons of de-
Tense and no tent. He simply proposed
to sit at the foot of q tree all night Iona
| and take his chances.
1t is still looked upon in India as the
| biggest fool thing ever INDUCED in by
white man. Aside from tigers, the
1 jungle was infested with panthers, hy-
enas and cobras, and there did not seem
! to be one chance in ten thousand that
| the major would come off with his life.
lie DID; though. He not only passed
one night in tho tumble h1rf ,irbf 70
and he came out of 1t without a scratch.
While he made light of the dangers
| there was no doubt that his courage had
Ecen severely tested He admitted that
tigers and panthers had prowled about
| within few yards Of him and that
lie ad fought hy-nas with a club, but
he was inclined to hold the situation
Unfortunately for Major Clayton, the
papers published the details of his dar-
ing feat, and the brigadier at Mysore
thus became acquainted with them. He
forwarded sharp reprimand, backed
by threat, and the pig headed major
defended his position in report. This
brought about a breach, and the culprit
was suspended from duty pending an
investigation. He might possibly have
pulled through again but for his own
further actions. He returned to the
jungle and passed fourth night and
then boldly announced in the public
| prints his belief that no white man in
India had ever been killed by wild
beast. In the course of a couple OF
weeks he got the alternative of hand
brought to court martial, and he sent
in his papers. He had not been clear OF
the service a week when his death oc-
Cured.
On the great highways running from
kurnool to Bellary, Cuddopah and Ny
sore, as on other highways of India
there are government bungalows for the
use of travellers They are simply
q q nor CT i,I
. his own food and bedding. Major Clay
ton had started to ride to BellarY and
at midnight took up his quarters in q
, bungalow. He had a servant with him
and their servants 1t was bright
moonlight night, and after the evening
meal the major and four other men, al
Of whom were civilians and acquainted
| with his case sat on the veranda smok.
ing;
against the military authorities, as may
I be supposed. and would not admit tina
he had put himself in a false position
He thought a hungry hyena might at
tack helpless or sleeping man a
, night, but that neither tiger nor panth
: er could be brought to do 1t. All his ar
: guments and contentious were at vari
? ance with established facts and his fel
/ low travellers combated them, and tn
: dispute waxed hot. They were all talk
ing in loud tones and the major ha,
| just expressed MS contempt 1Or all sta
tistics when a tiger left the cover o
| bush under which he must have bee
crouching for some time and advance,
, at slow trot across open ground di
rectly upon the men on the veranda
His action was SO bold that he was ia
e ken for a dog. There were two men Of
z each side Of the major. but as tn
5 beast came on it leaped upon the yer
anda, seized the former soldier by tn
: right shoulder and had turned to lea
}, to the ground with him before any on
9 suspected his identity. Then one ma
kicked him and another grabbed hir
by the tail, while third broke q chat
= over his head The tiger growled an
shook his victim, but would not let q
When seized, the major cried out:
MY God it's a tiger. and have bee
IS all wrone!'
Those were his only words. In fe'
. | seconds the beast had him on til
ground and WAS gallopfue off with hin