THE TIGER-SCARE IN VICTORIA.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VII, Issue 2049, 23 July 1885, Page 2

THE TIGER-SCARE IN VICTORIA.

There seems to be but a little doubt of the presence of some wild animal in the neighborhood of Burwood, Melbourne, (Baysthe "Daily Telegraph" of that city), and so convinced aibg the residents af the fact that scarcely any of.thein willjbave their houses after liightM. Verf wild rumors have been in circulation for the last few days, and it is with difficulty , that the truth is ascertained. Mi', F. H. 1 Samson, of Hartwell-house, Burwood, 4, makes the following statement:—"On Wednesday last I had occasion to deal with a refractory horse in- one of my paddocks,' and was assisted by Mr Hill, my next door .neighbor. We remained talking awhile, and Mr Hill made some remark about a tiger haying escaped in the north-east district, and .suddenly ejaculated } There lie is!' 1 caught sight of the animal at the same time. . It stood about 2 feet 6 inches in height, and in ' size was somewhat larger'than a young . calf. The morning dull, and I could not see either strips or spots, but t-te&olor was an earthy brown. It had movements, making its way over "the ground similarly to .a large cat,' bounding several feet at a time, I returned to my house, and having procured a rifle and ' revolver gave chase, but alter a run of about 300 yards the animal entered a furzy paddock, wqere I lost sight of it, but Mowed the tracks forsome distance." Mr Samson was' convinced ifc was not a dog of any speciesj'-aiid this view was borne, out by examination ef'the footprints. Mr Hill corroborated Mr Sam- - sun's statement, but is inclined to thA • opinion that the animal was an unusnalrjf large cattle doe;. At .'the- rear of Mr Samson's grounds there , is .-a winding creek, fringed with rich fern growth, and on examination of this fresh tracks weio discovered on Thursday. - These led to a ■ yard in winch thero was a calf, and in the soft ground thore the prints were so well marked that MrSamsontook casts ofthom. Several of the residents of the district, recognising tho fact that the- intruder was somewhat dangerous, gathered in parties, and, with revolvers and rifles, Bcoured the surrounding country, but beyond finding new tracks they met with no success. On Eriday morning a Mr Lowe, a small farm 0.1 the a number of Btrange marks in soil) sandy • soil around his house. These are veiy distinctly impressed, and consist of seven marks—viz.,the cushion of . the foot, a pad-shaped impression, four toe prints, all with claws, and two further claw marks on either side between the cushion and the toes. They were traceable ai'ound a pen in which a cow was fastened, and then led off to the creek, bsiscg marked at long intervals, as if the animal' had bounded rapidly away. On Saturday two partiesof eight persons made a fresh search, andfound further traces of the creature in several of the paddocks. About eight mileß distant fromßurwood there is a farmer who has lost six'sheep in a mysterious manner, having found their carcases in a more or less mangled condition in his paddocks; and betwsen that and the upper'Yarra several farmers and selectors luue had some of their stock killed in the same way. The residents of Burwood positively that the ■object of their anxiety is not 0 dingo or a dog, as saggested, and nearly all entertain the idea that a tiger or, dangerous fejine animal is somewhere in proximitjw They urge that the hlack trackers sent out, as by this inejtfis they think tho animal can easily be secured.