The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1912-02-23
AN ADVENTURE
WITH A TIGER
Terrifying Experience In an
Indian Bungalow.

the largest railroads in India ! took
my wife and little daughter with me
and established them In a bungalow
on the line. was away all day, some
times for days together, but left
plenty Of servants at the house and
felt no concern as to the safety Of my
family. Ny wife, who was troubled
with insomnia. slept alone. and our lit
tie girl. seven years old, slept In q
room with me. In that hot climate It
is impossible to keep the doors and
| windows closed. and when came in
late at night had no trouble in enter
/ ing.
One night went home and. finding
the door closed. climbed into my room
through an open window. As did not
care to waken Rosie. who slept in a
crib IN one corner. took OF my shoes
before entering and stepped noiselessly.
Undressing with the same caution,
got into bed and was soon asleep
was awakened by low growl
Thinking that my big dog Bruin had
come into the rOOT., was about to get
up and put him ont when I was star
tied by another geowl unlike that Of a
dog, but strangely resembling some one
OF the wild animals with which the
country abountls. Bnt what sent a
thrill Of horror through me was that it
came from Rosie's crib.
The charAber door opened near my
Ded-that Is. 1t opened toward me in
stead OF away from me. Here was
possible exit for me. II indeed
gave up my child for lost and chose
20 make an attempt to save my own
NE. might slip out of bed and
through the door, It is said that self
preservation is the first law Of nature.
ana confess l practically illustrated
tue saying Cat ching sight Of two
wy ring eyes in the corner in which
the crib stood. lost consciousness of
an but one thing-my' own immediate
threatened death. Sp ringing from the
bed. pulled open the door. which
fortunately stood sligi htly ajar. slipped
through and pulled it shut behind me.
AT the same instant I. heard the sound
OF a heavy body stri king against it.
ana q terrible growl. which now
recogni1 ID as that Of the man eater
Vne y ger, Of India.
To- ere was nothing to do but. hold
the door. True. the tiger would not
" latch 1t. 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 transom above. and very
soon glass shattered by. the tigers pa "
fell on my head. Looking up. l 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. ex.
pected he would go out at the window,
but he did not seem inclined to do SO
Hearing a step behind me. turned
and there stood my wife in her night.
clothes.
"Rosie!' I moaned-
"What of herr"
"Lostr'
without word the mother sank in
4 swoon.
Now comes a surprise in my story
for which. whenever think of It.
lift my eyes to heaven and utter q
.'Thank Godv' Rosie herself came run
ming along the hallway. A few hasty
questions and answers explained hel
presence. She had heard low growli
from the tiger under the window be
fore he entered and. terrified. fled t.
l NJ Int Eof
beside her without awakening her.
Then came servants. but 80 great Is
the terror Of the man eater among the
natives that when explained that
had left one in my room most of nhen
fed. My wife revived, saw her daugh
ter and swooned again, this time
through excess Of Joy.
One feeling now took possession Of
me, desire to have the blood Of thu
creature that had 10 terrified me. thai
might have killed my child. Directing
the servants to take my wife and
daughter to their sleeping room ant
lock them in, called for my repeating
rife and. going into the yard. took pc
sition near the window through which
/ lu0 tiger uNU GulSIC0. 4uSG0 Wu0 IN
sign Of him and feared he was gon,
when l saw bit of yellow fur above
the window sill. It was the ridge Of
his back. should have waited till h
put his paws on the sill preparatory Il
jumping through the window. but
could not brook the delay. l called Il
the servants to bring me something OF
which to stand, 30 that could zee int
. the room. but none OF them dared ap
, rroach. Finally one braver than tn.
rest threw me boz Taking It Il
, within few yards Of the window.
mounted II In time to see the beast pu
his fore paws on Rosie'a crib and II
this elevated position stand looking
about him. There was no time to spare
He would soon see me and come fol
me. have never before or since
known the perfect poise Of nerve with
which pointed my rifle at him. aimed
behind the shoulder and fired. Thu
D tiger sprang to the ceiling. then fel
t back dead.
I'll Whit has since puzzled me- are m,