A TIGER AT LARGE.

Tuapeka Times, Volume II, Issue 52, 6 February 1869, Page 6

A TIGER AT LARGE.

A frightful mishap, accompanied by the most tragic circumstances, spread terror on Sunday morning last through the district of St Jacques. The Zoological Garden has for a long time: been in possession of two magnificent" Bengal tigers, one of which was to be forwarded to Lpndon. To avoidUccident,the animal was placed in a wagon* secured with strong iron bars. The 1 greatest precaution was therefore takem to avoid a catastrophe. At 3.3ff % in the morning the railway servants perceived an enormous animal clearing afr a bound the wall which separates Zoological Garden from the railway station. The tiger had, in fact, escaped, having bent and broken two of the iron bars of his cage. The first object qf his fiiry was the cart horse of a nightman, which happened to be passing. The tiger bounded on the tinfortunate horse, biting him in th§ flank, and tearing the straps whioii attached him to the cart. The driver, who^atfirst sought saf^jjon^h^ltglifty T&ack, hid the cart ? but not before Deceiving a wound in the leg from the tiger's paw. Meantime the horse, mad with terrqr and pain, galloped furiously towards the market . of St Jacques, pursued by the tiger. Here another deplorable event ocour^ red. A gardener, who was passing the street, attracted the fury of the. beast. . ' The tiger sprang at him, tearing his breast, legs, and neck in a fearful manner. Having finished his victim^ the animal dragged, the body some distance ; he then abandoned it and rushed into £}$ Ann's Court, where his presence caused indescribable terror. M. Yekeman's, the director qf the Zoological Garden, paving been in-, formed of the escape, proceeded with h|a staff in pursuit, and came up with the animal at the corner of St. Jacques, street, near the house Yerstrppan. A night watchman and three "or fourother persons took refuge in a small shop opposite this house. The tigen spied them and stood for a moment as** though he intended to rush at them through the window. He pursued his course, however-, through the market. M. Vekeman.s, with his assistants, after the animal gc# into St Ann's pourt, barricaded the entrance, aud placed $ trap in it with a view of taking him alive. They then got into the houses of the court in order to frighten him = into his trap. The tiger lay couched against the door of the atelier of M, Cc Braekeleer the sculptor, but perceiving one of the men in pursuit on, the top of the house, he leaped on the 1 roof of a lower hquse, and assumed- % most menacing position. M. Veke* mans, De Braekeleer, Werbronk, ancl Werhoven were armed with guns. The tiger having perceived them, de-^ scended from the ropf, evidently bent on making an attack, and when about, four metres off he couched to, make bis spring. The order to fire was given^ and* three guns were discharged in succession. The first shot appeared to have missed, tfye second struck the animal, the third " inflicted a mortal wound. He tottered back to the entrance of the court, when Ikf . ]De v Brae, keleer finished him with a fourth shot. These gentlemen behaved with g?e£G. --„£, intrepidity, and but for their cooln.ess, and the measures they adopted much. 'J. greater injury would have been done. The gardener who was attacked never, spoke, and died in hospital the same, morning. — "Escaut." vi -- -^ v