THE PHANTOM TIGER.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 16, 19 January 1901, Page 3 (Supplement)

THE PHANTOM TIGER.

INVISIBLE BEAST SCARES MANY

WELSHMEN

People in and about Llandrindod Wellj have allowed themselves to be victimised by a stupid yarn that a tiger was wandering in their midst devouring sheep and bent on human food, says the "Daily Mail."

It was said that the tiger escaped from a menagerie somewhere in the district, and had been seen prowling among the hills. The fact that there was no menagerie within many miles of the place did not appeal to the credulous people as a very good reason for proving the untruth of the story. They made up their minds to believe the story, and consequently they became very scared.

Farmers driving cattle to fhe market kept to the middle of the road. Children going to and from school hurried for dear life or remained at home altogether. Some school houses were so poorly attended that they had to be closed, and will remain closed while the epidemic of tigerphobia exists. Worshippers forgot their usual weekly devotions. Bands of amateur hunters, armed with weapons varying- from a Mauser riflo to a pitchfork, tramped over moorland and copse looking for a tiger.

Its übiquity was marvellous. One day it was seen in the vicinity of Aberedw, near Builth, and "the same afternoon U was at Penybont, twelve miles away. Then it was at Llanderinflod Wells. And without an effort it .iumped to Brecon, twenty miles away. The discovery of two mangled old sheep on a farm at Rhayader was considered clear proof that the tiger was travelling north, while two killed sheep on a farm near Llandrindod wore equally convincing testimony that master tiger was still in that neighbourhood. But nobody can be found who has seen the tiger anywhere in Radnorshire, and there is no menagerie. But there are still many huntsmen looking for the tiger and very many people who wish the huntsmen good luck.