AN ESCAPED TIGER.

Evening Post, Volume LXXX, Issue 134, 3 December 1910, Page 13

AN ESCAPED TIGER.

MENAGERIE ON A LINER. After its exciting exploits on the liner Minnewaska, reported in the Daily Chronicle, a very subdued and crestfallen tiger, of the Royal Bengal breed, was landed on llth October at Tilbury Decks. The tiger answers to the name of "Mafu," and is, in ordinary circumstances, a. gentle creature, with a number of accomplishments useful in the performing viug, and is a distinguished occupant of "The Bostock Jungle," which has travelled in what Mr. Matthew Johnstone, who is in charge, describes as "The Big Jump from New York to Sheffield." Mr. Johnston has under his care about 20 lions and lionesses, 10 tigersj 12 leopards, 20 bears, 10 pumas, 5 jaguars, and 40 monkeys. At five o'clock on the Saturday morning it was discovered that a big Bengal tiger had ripped asunder the stout iron bars of its cage and escaped. The menagerie hands were summoned, and, armed with guns, revolvers, and iron bars, they cautiously made a search. The tiger war discovered on th© back of an Indian sacred cow, lapping up the blood from a fearful gash in its neck. Blank cartridges were fired at the tiger, and after much manoeuvring the beast was driven back into its cage. Before the cage could be made secure, however, the tiger dashed out again, and the attendants scattered ip all directions. Tho animal was again *ounded up, and eventually secured. The cow, however, was so badly injured that it had to be shot. At the same time a hyena managed to get loose, and had a run, but it was recaptured without much - difficulty. Henreich Falkendorf, a sinewy German, is "Mafu's" trainer, and was apologetic for the conduct of his charge. He explained in broken English that th<* tiger had been for days feasting its eyes on a big, sleek hors«, which occuped a stall near its cage. The cow, however, received the attack, and was locked up in the Minnewaska's refrigerator. "When they called me in the moming and told me a tiger was loose," be said, "I rushed along the deck with my revolver in one hand and- my fork in the other. I locked all the doors. It was pitch dark, and i could see nothing. But I heard "Mafu" snarling, and looking in that direction I saw his eyes gleaming in the darkness. I called him by name, and he recognised my voics, and ceased growling. The situation was really serious, but happily we secured "Mafu" al' right.