The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-01-11
a &c. CHoICE.


-Four of the ohcers Of the Native
sixth infantry, stationed in the prov
4nce OF Bengal. had gone to the jungles
on tiger hunt. The accident that
pereu three of them on the second
DAY was curious one. The FOUR
were making their way up the dry
ped of nullah, or ravine, when q
tree growing on a high bank suddenly
eaVed into the ravines caCchlng ana
Drec> king bones for three Of them
The officers were attended by nfly
servants and beaters, and litters were
soon constructed and they were borne
back to camp
The camp had been pitched along
side small stream Of water, at least
Forty rods from the jungle. Four
great trees standing together made
ample shade, and aside from these
there was not even a bush within
pistol shot One captain had dis
located shoulder, a second broken
arm. and the major had z, broken leg.
Fortunately for them, a surgeon was
Round with another hunting party
about ten miles off, and he made
Them as comfortable as possible un-
der the circumstances. The accident
happened about noon, and it was four
o'clock in the afternoon before the
surgeon had finished his work. Ham
mOcks were suspended from the trees
Tor the sufferers, ana servants were
told off to care for them.
on the third day after the acct
cent word was brought i'm that large
tiger had visited a village four miles
away the night previous and carried
away a woman The fourth officer Of
the party. who was a Lieutenant, had
Of course given his services to his
comrades but when news of the tiger
came they insisted that he make an
attempt to kill the beast 1t was be
lieved that the feline would pay the
village a second visit, and the officer
would have to pass the night in hut
20 be ready for him. He protested.
out was OVerruled. and an hour before
dark set off with his gums and guides.
The night fell clear and starlight, and
the injured officers were doing so we'll
that they only required the services
of a single attendant. BY 10 o'clock
they were all asleep, and an hour later
the attendant also slumbered- He was
squatted on the grass with his back
to tent. and although he had been
strictly charged not to sleep, the peace
and Quietness of the night Overcame
him. The tents of the servants were
at least twenty rods away. and the
horses were picketed between the two
parties.
The major had slept for three hours
when his thirst awoke him. His ham
mock was swung very close to the
ground, and his head and shoulders
so elevated that he could see all around
him. lie saw that the servant was
asleep, and hesitated to call to him
Tor fear of awakening his brother Off
GERS. He had been awake about ten
minutes when a great tiger suddenly
appeared close beside the slice ping ma
tive. The beast must have made its
way over the clear and open ground
from the jungle. and as there was no
air stirring the horses had not scented
him. He was a male tiger, i'm his
prime and that he had come for q
victim could not be doubted. He must
have been surprised that no better
watch was kept. Had the servant
been awake he would have instantly
been seized and carried off. but his be
ing asleep puzzled the tiger. The
beast thrust forward his nose and soft
ly shifted and snuffed for a moment
and then turned to the hammOcks. He
visited the captains before he came to
the major He purred like a cat as he
stood with his nose within six inches
of their faces. and it is thing hard
to believe, but nevertheless true, that
his purrIng aWCke each in turn Meth
or 81 the men moved 50 much as an
eyelaSh While under the scrutiny Of
the beast They were men who had
hunted the jungle before. and many
dangers had hardened their nerves
When the. tiger left Captain Burton
TO purr in the ears of Captain BrOOkes
the former opened his eyes and watched
his further movements For what
seemed five minutes the terror of the
jungle stared into the face of the sleep
ing man. thrusting out his furred tongue
at intervals and licking at the splints
and bandages of the broken arm. For
funately there was no blood to excite
his appetite Then came the majors
turn. He knew it would come and had
prepared for it. but he afterward said
that il was the ordeal Of his life. The
skin of his leg had been broken and
bled freely when he received the create
hurt but luckily for him the surgeon
had treated the hurt with an antiseptic
very disagreeable to the tiger. The