TIGRESS AT LARGE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2657, 12 November 1909, Page 2 (Supplement)

TIGRESS AT LARGE.

HUNTED BY POLICE AND SOLDIERS.

The town of Marseilles was thrown into a state of terror and excitement on Septemlier owing to the escape of a fine specimen of a Bengal tigress from its cage. , The tigress was about to be shipped to Oran, to be added to the menagerie there, when a horse standing near its cage, kicked it- nearly to pieces. The tigress was out in an instant, and ascene of confusion immediately followed among the unarmed spectators. The fierce beast rushed along the quay, snarling and growling angrily. It snapped up a dog and killed it instantly. Running on it next encountered four seamen, whose chances of ’ escape seemed to be very slight, owing to their defenceless condition, and the absence of a place of safety to which they could quickly retreat. They seized whatever articles came to their hands, one a chair, another a log of wood, while the others 'had no weapon of any description. The tigress made a savage spring at the men, and caught one of them a heavy blow with its paw, knocking him down and causing blood to flow. They fortunately succeeded in driving the beast away, and made their escape.' The nows had by this time spread into the town, and police and so.die”: armed with revolvers and rifles ' »d to the quayside. Many < f . entered launches lying along. . and searched the quay for the tigress, which, however, could not be found. It had been seen to run amongst the miscellaneous heaps of goods on tlio quay, and was then lost.

The townspeople fled to their houses, barricaded doors and windows, and waited in breathless terror. For two days the tigress remained at ■large, and then it was located among some rocks at the north end of the jetty. The gendarmes, accompanied by half a hundred “sportsmen” of Marseilles, started to track the beast to its lair. Many of the hunters not only carried rifles, but wore huge knives suspended from their belts. One very stout- sportsman carried a large hunting-horn, upon which from time to time lie blew melodiously. All advanced cautiously to the end of the jetty. The tigress, alarmed by the clamor and the blowing of the horn, came from her hiding place in the rocks and with an angry roar ran- towards the outer harbor, causing a number, of workmen to’ take flight. The dejected-looking tigress, which'had had no good food since she escaped, hid behind some large blocks-of stone, and the- hunters again' approached, throwing lighted straw and burning sulphur amid the stones. This drove her out, and immediately twenty shots-caused her to fall. But rising again a moment later the tigress sprang with a mighty leap from the jetty into the sea. Theic, as slio was drowning, the! water was crimson with her blood.

The carcase was: afterwards recovered and exhibited at the charge of a penny.