The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1902-05-20
THREE SUCCESSIVE
l ~EMOTIONS
lOriginal.l

(Originall
When I secured a contract on one Of
the largest railroads in India, I took
my wife and little daughter with me
and established them in a bungalow
on the liQe. 1 was away all day. some
times FOR days together. but l left
plenty of servants at the house and
felt no concern as to the safety Of my
family. My wife, who was troubled
with insomnia, slept alone. and our lit
tie girl, seven years cid, slept in a
room with me. In that hot climate IT
is impossible to keep the doors and
windows closed, and when l came in
late at night had no trouble in enter
ing.
One night I went home and. finding
the door closed, climbed into my room
through an open window. As I did
not care to waken Rosie, who slept in
q crib in one corner. | took of my
shoes before entering and stepped
nOiselessly. Undressing with the same
asleep.
l was awakened by a low growL
Thinking that my big dog Bruin had
come into the room. l was about to
get up and put him out when I was
startled by another growl. unlike that
Of dog. but strangely resembling
some one of the wild animals with
which the country abounds- But what
sent a thrill of horror through me was
that it came from Rosie's crib.
The chamber door opened near my
bed-that is. it opened toward me in
stead of away from me. Here was
, possible exit for me, If indeed gave
mp my child for lost and chose to make
an attempt to save my own life.
might slip out Of bed and through the
door. 1t il said that self preservation
is the first law of nature, and I confess
III practically illustrated the saying.
Catching sight of two glaring eyes In
the corner in which the crib stood
lost Consciousness Of I'll but one thing
my own immediate threatened death
Springing from the bed. l pulled open
the door, which fortunately stood
slightly ajar. slipped through and pull
ed it shut behind me. At the same in
slant l heard the sound of a heavy
body striking against it. and a terrible
growl. which I now recognized as that
of the man enter (the tiger of India
There was nothing TO do but bold
the door. True, the tiger would not
unlatch it, but l did not care to take
even the most remote chance of letting
him into that portion of the house oc-
cupied by my wife and the servants.
There was a transom above. and very
Isoon glass shattered by the tigers paw
fell on my head. Looking up. | saw
his nose protrUding. but fortunately
the space was too small to pass him
Realizing the fact, he abandoned this
point Of egress. and | heard the thud
OF his fore paws on the floor. I ex-
Ipected he would go out at the window,
but he did not seem inclined to do so.
Hearing step behind me. | turned.
and there stood my wife in her night
Iclothes.
"Rosie" I moaned.
"What Of her?'
4 Lost"
l Without a word the mother sank In
la swoon.
/ Now comes a surprise in my story,
for which. whenever l think of it.
lift my eyes to heaven and utter q
Thank God" Rosie herself came run
ming along the hallway. A few hasty
Iquestions and answers explained her
Ipresence. She had heard low growls
from the tiger under the window be-
fore he entered and. terrified. fed to
her mothers room and got into bed
beside her without awakening her.
Then came servants. but so great is
the terror of the man eater among the
natives that when ! explained that
had left one in my room most Of them
fed. My wife revived. saw her daugh-
ter and swooned again. this time
Through excess of joy.
One feeling now took possession of
me. a desire to have the blood Of the
Icreature that had so terrified me. that
might have killed my child Directing
the servants to take my wife and
daughter TO their sleeping room and
Hook them in. | called for my repeating
rife and. going into the yard. took po-
sitiOn near the window through which
the tiger had entered There was nc
Isign Of him. and | feared he had gone
when I saw a BIT of yellow fur above
the window sill. 1t was the ridge of
his back. ] should have waited till be
Iput his paws on the sill preparatory to
Jumping through the window, but
could not brook the delay | called to
the servants to bring me something on
which to stand so that | could see into
the room. but none of them dared ap
Iproach. Finally one hraver than the
rest threw me box. Taking ii tG
within a few yards of the window.
mounted it in time to see the beast put
his fore paws on Rosjes crib and in
this elevated position stand lookin:
about him. There was no time tG
tspare. He would soon see me ant
come for me. l have never before OF
since known the perfect poise of nerve
with which | pointed my rife at him
. Iaimed behind the shoulder and fired
The tiger sprang to the ceiling. theI
fell back dead.
What has since puzzled me are my
, Iown changes and feelings. first horror
at the supposed fare of my child. mex
the all pervading sense of my own dan
ger and lastly fear giving place to
desire for revenge. The most pieascrs
; BILE sensation | have ever experienced
? WAS the sight of the beast springing uI
Iand falling dead. dislike TO thinl
, that at the bottom of us nature has i'm
PLANTED the same brutal instinct rage