IA Terrible Conflict with Tigers

Feilding Star, Volume XI, Issue 4, 25 June 1889, Page 3

I A Terrible Conflict with Tigers

Mr Gabbett, an Anglo-Indian district engineer, at Abu Road, was lately told of a family of tigers in an adjoining jungle, and, accompanied by his trolleyman aud an old gatekeeper, started at once for the scene of operations, and had not long to wait before three fine tigers broke cover. Ho dropped the foremost dead with a well-directed shot. He then fired at the next one, but though the brute was hard hit he managed to make off towards a river bed in the vicinity. Mr Gabbett then had a shot at the third, and succeeded in wounding him badly, but the animal beat a retreat into a cave hard by. In the meantime the tiger which had gone towards the river bed fell in with a shepherd, whom he mauled badly. Mr Gabbett opened fire. The tiger was hit and rolled over, but charged, and was hit twice again. Mr Gabbett was aiming another shot when his foot slipped and he fell, and the infuriated beast dealt him a blow on the head which rendered him insensible. The old gatekeeper very pluckily attacked the tiger with his sword, but only diverted the fury of the animal to himself. The brute felled him to the ground with a stroke of his paw, and then returned to Mr Gabbett. This diversion saved that gentleman's life, for the tiger only succeeded in clawing him slightly and then fell dead, A fourth tiger also appeared on the scene, but did not molest anyone. Mr Gabbett was brought into Abu Road ; he is progressing favourably and purposes going home shortly on leave. The shepherd is also in a fair way to recovery, but the poor old gatekeeper has succumbed.