Runcorn Examiner. — 1893-06-03 (Runcorn, Cheshire, England)

MAN-EATING TIGERS.  A correspondent of the Allahabad "Pioneer," writing on man-eating tigers, mentions the career of a young tigress who in the space of nine months killed some dozens of human beings, depopulated several villages, and stopped work over a greater part of a forest division, in spite of the most strenuous efforts made to destroy her—efforts increased by the incentive -of R 5.500 reward offered for her head. She began her career in July by killing two women near a forest village, and by the end of the following December had killed at least 30 persons, becoming bolder and more cunning with each fresh murder. Her beat lay in the foot hills of the Himalayas, and she roamed over an area 25 miles long by three or four broad. The country was such that she could neither be tracked for any distance nor driven, by elephants or beaters. She would not kill a tied buffalo, nor would she go back to a corpse if once disturbed. She became at last so bold that she would in open daylight carry off men and women when cutting the crops in the terraced fields, stalking the unfortunates from above and suddenly springing on them. The terror of her ferocity spread through the country. The villagers left their homes for safer regions; and no wonder, for the writer found on one occasion a village seemingly deserted, but in reality in a state of siege, the inhabitants being afraid to draw water from a stream a hundred yards from their houses. Work was commencing in the forests, and in a short time the tigress learned to stalk the sound. of an axe, and made many victims before the forest was proved to be even more dangerous than the fields had been. The method of attack adopted was so sudden as to prevent any possibility of escape, the blow dealt so deadly as to render even a cry for help impossible. The victim was dead and carried off before his companions knew what had occurred. The most strenuous efforts were made for her destruction—poison, spring guns, and dead falls were ineffectually resorted to, any number of buffaloes were tied up at night, and many a time the flesh trail of a kill was taken up in hopes of obtaining a shot at the tigress, but with no further result than that of reccvering a mangled or halfeaten corpse. During January and February this tigress had killed 15 to 20 more persons, and at last a file of soldiers were requisitioned to see what force could dote, remove this horrible animal,cunning having been found of no avtil. On being killed she was found to be a young animal, in perfect condition ; the pad of her left forefoot had at one time been deeply cut from side to side, but had thoroughly healed, leaving, however, a deep scar, which proved her presence wherever she roamed. The writer mentions one instance in which two cowherds, living in a small grass hut in a somewhat wild forest, were cooking their food in the evening, when a tiger suddenly sprang on one and carried him off. His companion intimidated the animal with shouts and threats, and succeeded in making him leave his victim. Carrying his wounded companion into the hut, the man closed the entrance and waited for daylight. But this benever saw, for after a timo the tiger, emboldened by the increasing darkness, returned, and forcing his way into the hut, carried off the uninjured man, who was doubtless doing all he could to prevent the tiger's approach. The other who was first seized died of his wounds and of terror the next day, after relating the story to those who had found him. •Of the man-eaters I have known, none havebeen 'old or decrepit animals;, driven to feed no human beings because they could not obtain other food. They lived in a country full of game and 'where cattle were plentiful ; but they had lost their fear,of man, and, trusting in their superior strength'and cunning, had no difficulty in satisfying their hunger. At the same time, they seemed to recognise that an armed man was dangerous, and that they must be doubly on their guard to avoid falling into a trap. It is this apparent knowledge of man and his habits, amounting in some instances almost to reason, that renders -a maneating tiger so terrible."