The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1902-09-12


release, but the train came suddenly
TO an irresolute stop, although making
hercuean efforts TO keep going
"The incline had but begun. TO start
the train was impossible.
IL lighted a pine torch, sprang from
the cab TO ascertain the situation. and
had passed several cars when the most
terrible yells echoed through the for
est The men from the rear OF the
train were shouting at me. II was i'm
possible TO distinguish what they were
saying because of the yells which were
rising apparently between me and
them. These did not alarm me much
for the creature screamed Ike "A wild
cat, n reckless but not dangerous, night
prowler. So on | walked toward the
rear Of the train.
approaching the trainmen ! heard
them shout, Look out for the jaguar,
Powers
Now, no wild creature is more dan
gerous TO man by night than a Jaguar.
| halted and stared | could now see
the glaring eyes Of the fierce brute as
he paved the lfelcss pig. These eyes
followed me with such hostile intent
that FASTENED bnck 10 the cab for the
fireman and my Winchester.
"Of course one OF us had 10 stay
with the engine, so left my fireman
in charge and returned alone, with
torch in hand and rifle ready The
trainmen came toward Inc from around
the rear Of the train. They told me
that the jaguar must have been crouch
ing on the overspreading limb, and
having heard the squeals of the pig,
must have leaped recklessly into the
passing train for his prey. The train
men had discovered him when they
started 10 answer my signal of brakes
Off The brute held them at bay
They were In the rear ear. the jaguar
was in the next one, and they could
not pass over the train 10 release the
brakes The eighteen loaded ears,
most of them having frightened brakes
had stopped No. 13 on the incline.
II must either give up hope of
getting TO the port in time for loading
away the jaguar The fire of his eyes
was intensified by the nickering light
of the torch. II was not a pleasant gri
mace when the brute suggcstively
wiped his lips ana tongue with those
huge paws.
The engine gave sudden lurCh
My fireman must have been mPddling
II threw the animal from it's balance.
Ills tail lashed, Handing the torch to
4 man | raised my Winchester. The
beast glarcd ferociously, and meas
nrcd the distance to the ground. Some
Of the men ran As the animal seemed
lbou. To jump | took hasty aim and
pulled the trigger Apparently the ia
guar was unharmed, but he had
his opinion about the jump,
and calmly trotted along the tops of
the bananas toward the engine |
aimed at him again and pulled the trig-
ger. Then | remembered that the only
in the Winchester was the
one | had fired.
IL shouted to the fireman, but before
could make him understand the COW
nrdly fellow jumped from the cab and
scampered into the forest Luckily
there was no other jaguar awaiting
him.
II went toward the cab, expecting to
find the jaguar i'm possession, and de-
tcrmined TO club him out with the butt
blew brakes off, and casually looked
around. On the floor of the tender,
among the wood and casks of water
stretched out at full length and appar.
cntly crouching for spring, | saw the
jaguar jumped from the engine
The thought of the freman's cowardcc
did not then amuse me. AS fast as pos.
sible ran toward the rear Of the train.
Ten o'clock was approaching. The
ship could not receive her fruit unless
we started Immediately In my haste
| had left the rifle In the cab, now |
took n crowbar which one of the brake.
men handed me. But the plan from
which hoped most was his suggestion
that | should climb upon the engine
from the front of :he cab and then
reach in To open the steam valve. on
the chance that the escape OF the hiss
ing steam would frighten the brute TO
the point OF fleeing from the train.
IL opened the valve-the jaguar never
II then reached heavy iron wrench
and threw II nj the beast with all my
strength. Ii struck him upon the head.
hut he did not stir. was startled.
Climbing TO the fancicd security of the
top of the cab pokod him with n long
handled rod. but could see no sign of
life.
After n close watch | dcsccned 20
the floor of the cab and opened the fur
mace door to have more light. The ja-
guar was dead. There was hole
through his head caused by the lucky
shot from my Winchester. He had
walked TO the tender in a daze and
died there.
II blew the whistle vigorously. II
was q welcome sound 10 the trainmen
The brakes were speedily released
The fireman came scrambling back |
opened the throttle and slowly the train
went up the incline toward Porto Cor
tcz
AT little after 10 o'clock that night
the whistling Of No IL approaching
with her load Of bananas summoned
the crew Of the Breakwater whose
captain congratulated the officials of
Ig.tt.Htttaa 81. IL.