PERSONAL EXPERIENCES

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 542, 15 February 1913, Page 2

PERSONAL EXPERIENCES

A FRIGHT IN THE JUNGLE. The worst fright I ever had was in India on New Year's Day, 188—, near a small fort standing on the hanks of the Ganges, a few miles from Benares. The day after we arrived my chum, a fine upstanding son of the Emerald Isle, six feet three inches, asked me to help him stalk a deer, of which there was a good number about three miles from the fort. Needless to say I jumped at the proposal, so,, taking my gun, a singlebarrel muzzle loader, I prepared to accompany him. He had a splendid Winchester, which his captain had presented to him . when he left lor England. After crossing the river we walked for two or three miles, and on nearing a small belt of scrub or jungle we saw what we thought was a deer enter, so Dan skirted round to the far side and I advanced to where we had seen our quarry enter. Just where we thought he had gone in there was a large tree standing, so I took up my position close to its trunk. After waiting for a little -hile to enable Dan to get to the f ar side, I was just going to climb up to see if I could see Dan, when I heard a rustle, and looking up I saw a sight that nearly froze my blood. A great tawny beast wan just preparing to spring down en .me, so without a moment's hesitation I let 3rive at him, but it takes more than duck shot to stop a panther, and with a great cry of rage he sprang at me. I had, however broken his shoulder with my shot, so his aim was not rjuite true. He caught me just below the shoulder, and tore a- strip of 3esh right down my arm. Gathering himself together, he was preparing to spring again, but my shot had alarmed my chum, and running up he shouted : "Lie down, Jack," and as coolly as though he were firing at a target, placed a bullet through its brain. After stopping the flow of blood and dressing my arm, Dan took his knife and skinned the great beast, and now, • after a lapse of nearly thirty years,, I am writing this little story with my feet on its skin. I was soon all right—just a few days in hospital—and now the only thing to remind me of that day.'is a great red scar right down my arm. From that day I have always had a warm corner in my heart for the Irish. HELD IN SUSPENSE. As a youth I took part in an amateur theatrical entertainment. In one of the scenes one of the characters was supposed to attempt suicide by hanging himself. The situation was a humorous one, as the wife of the would-be suicide had to run about looking for a book on medical advice as "to : strangulation. The "suicide" ' was supported by standing on a plank laid across two wooden blocks which were hidden beside his feet by some drapery. The suicide's" part was given to me, and on the night of the first production I adjusted the rope round my neck, and took my place en the plank, when, horrors ! my feet slipped. I felt the rope tighten w'ith a sudden jerk, and the structural footrest collapsed. Fortunately for me, my toes just tipped the floor, and in this position I remained for fully three minutes, but even in that short time the strain on my legs and toes with the rope almost strangling me, and the audience laughed uproariously at the antics 'of my "wife," was Tike three hours. Even my fellow actors laughed at my efforts to attract their attention, and when I tvas released I didn't bless them. AN EXPERIENCE WITH A MORAL, The head -of the firm for whom I srst travelled was a rather strict lisciplinarian. One day I had dined ?ery early and was looking round ;he shop-windows afterwards, when >vho should come behind me but the ;hief himself on his way to lunch. iVe walked together in the direction of his favourite restaurant. He ask:d, "Are you dining at your usual place to-day ?" And I, not wishing to let him know that I had dined so 'arty and at a time when he would ispect me to be working, replied, "I think so." When we came to the corner where :re should part company he said suddenly, "I'll come with you for a change." You can imagine my feelings. I lad finished a good lunch about ;wcnty minutes previously, but I had low' gone too far to withdraw. During that second lunch every mouth"ul I took was a source of torture, Doth physical and mental. All the :ases I had read of people dying 'rom the effect of overeating crowded .nto my mind, and I found myself wondering what the jury's verdict ;vould be if they- had to hold an inquest over my remains. Although I can now appreciate the amusing side of my experience, I should not care to have to repeat it. Riches may be dangerous to the nan who possesses them, but we still meet with men of weak finances and iron constitutions who are ready to undertake the risk. Nine times out of ten the woman ivho is worth her weight in gold marries a man who isn't worth his weight in scrap iron. Courtesy is one of the good qualities of God Himself, who, of His courtesy, giving his sun and rain to the in st. and 'unjust.—Angelo TancreK.