AN ADVENTURE WITH TIGERS.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 2683, 8 June 1889, Page 6 (Supplement)

AN ADVENTURE WITH TIGERS.

A remarkable adventure with tigers has been experienced by Mr Gabbet, district engineer at Abu-road. Mr Gabbett was travelling by trolly between Abu-road and Roh, when one of the gatekeepers gave him khabar of a family of tigers in an adjoining jungle, and Mr Gabbett, accompanied by his trollymen and the old gatekeeper, started at once for the scene of operations. According to the Calcutta Englishman he had not long to wait before three fine tigers broke cover, and he 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 Gabbet 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 rather badly. Mr Gabbett opened fire on the animal, who 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, and diverted the fury of the animal to himself. The brute felled him to the ground with a blow 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.