The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1912-01-25
INDIAN TIGER HUNT.
An Exciting Adventure Told by One
Who Participated in II

| Z ~ A--E EASASs
! lhs-e is no subject connected wit
Indian sport which has gwen rise [
greater controversy THAN the size o
tigers; bur. in spite of all statement
10 the contrary, IL is now practically
an admitted fact, based on the Ion,
experience Of trustworthy Anglo
Iad!aH sportsmen. hat Indian tigers
whether SHOT in Bengal, Madras o
Bombay, have seldom exceeded tel
feet Ia length when stretched TO theil
FULLEST extent. Immediately after death
and measured carefully from up o
nose 10 end OF tail. all curves included
However. every rule has its exceptions
and the tiger which forms the SUP.
lect OF this tale was certainly one o
them. The writer points out tina for
some months previous to the expedition
which ended in the destruction of this
monster -uinors had reached the dis
tE!ct authorities OF Gopalgairi of the
existence OF an tiger, which
was said 10 have taken up his abode
IN a large government reserve forest
ScSse twenty miles from the civil sta
oon, 10 prey OH the cattle of the VIII
layers residing in the immediate vi
cinlty OF the forest. After giving de-
tai!s as to the organization OF the ex-
petition, and the discovery of the tt
ger, the writer adds: In crossing a
patcA OF open Mr.. Watson, the district
ohcer. who is probably the safest rifle
shot IN Bengal, aiming a full length
aaeaG Il on the ground line, fired,
rolling the animal over in his tracks.
IL was a beautiful shot, yet so fast
was the tiger going that, even with
Inc allowance made, the bullet, as we
subsequently discovered, struck wei!
behind b ribs. Picking himself up
at once, the tiger stumbled on. and.
gaining a thick bit Of wild plum Jungle,
disappeared into it,
The struggle had continued for about
IN hour, and as there seemed no i'm
mediate prospect of surrender on the
tigers part, nor n likelihood OF his
succunbing to his injuries, It was de-
terTnined 10 attack him in his strong
hold with the howdah elephants
fairly perilous undertaking considering
the state of his temper and the posi-
ton he occupied. But matters were
getting serious, and the sun unpleas-
antly warn. The howdah elephants
and two stanch tuskers were accord
ingiy formed into line, and advanced
cautiously into the cover. No sooner
had they entered than they were greet
ed by a roar so appalling in its feroc-
ity that he three elephants carrying
turned tail and fed incontinently, nor,
in spite of all threats and induce
ments- could they be persuaded to re-
turn to the attack. Watson and the
W tuskers We're accordingly left to
carry on the fight as best they might
Several attempts were made |
to force a charge, but without success.
Finally one Of the tuskers. an excep- |
tionally stanch and powerful animal
was pressed slowly forward till moth
but a few leafy branches lay be-
tween it and the tiger. Then, with an
Indifference almost incredible under
the circumstances, it seized and gently
aside the branches with its
till a patch of black and yellow
stripe was exposed to view. Watson,
who had been directing this very dan
gerous operation, quickly seized his
opportunity, and, seeing that the tiger
still refused to charge, fired a charge
Of No. 6 into the patch, hoping this
effect a change in the tigers po-
sition, and thus allow of a more GER
shot.
The effect was instantaneous, but
scarcely in accordance with the wishes
Or expectations of the sportsman, who
lad scarcely time to change his shot
for the rife when. with a mighty
the tiger sprang fairly on the
Elephants head, and, holding on with
.eeth and claws, remained clinging
Fortunately the brave old ele-
ohant, in spite of his unwelcome ad-
iition to his lead, stood like a rock,
enabling Watson 20 take a steady aim
1t the snarling brute, now literally !
ace to face with him. The binding
lash and smoke that followed OBJ
his vision for a while, but as
he las cleared off he could see the
iger stretched out below him gasp
ng away the life he had so stubborn
y defended to the end. Lying there
extended to its fullest length, he was
| sight to fill any sportsman's heart
joy. and Watson, who had shot
many a tiger in his time-in fact,
count them by the core-gaze
With wonder and delight at the huge
proportions of the beast. : . 3 The
measuring of a tiger is always an ex-
,iting moment ever when the animal
appears to be of ordinary dimensions.
imagine, then, the excitement created
~ this monster, SO obviously a giant
# his tribe. And such, in fact, he
proved to be. for when the measure
nents We're completed the following
we're the figures recorded by the tape:
length from tip of nose to root of tail,
feet; length of tall, 8 feet Z inches:
length from tip of nose to end OF
all, 10 feet Z inches; height at shout
Ter. 3 feet 4 inches; girth. i feet So
inches; upper arm. Q feet l inch; fore
Lrm, l foot tn inches.