SAVED FROM A TIGER.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19529, 11 July 1925, Page 19

SAVED FROM A TIGER.

INDIAN VILLAGER’S GALLANTRY. In a recent London Gazette it was reported that (ho King had awarded the Albert Medal to Veladi Sammai, of Murwai Forest Village, in recognition of his gallantry in saving life in the following circumstances :■ — On November 9, 1924, Mr 11. S. George, Deputy Conservator of Forests of the South Chanda Division of the Central Provinces, had just completed his inspection of a piece of forest and was returning to camp along a jungle path accompanied by Veladi Sammai, a Gond villager of the district, who was carrying Mr George’s gun and walked in front. Suddenly, and without warning, a man-eating tiger jumped upon Mr George’s back, seized him by the neck, and proceeded to drag him into the jungle. Veladi Sammai behaved with extraordinary gallantry; ho rushed at the tiger, placed the muzzle of the gam against it, and pulled the trigger, but was unable to discharge the weapon owing to the safety batch, with which ho waa not familiar. He then shouted and waved his arms, thus driving the tiger off for a short distance. Mr George was badly bitten in the neck and covered with blood, but with the Gond’s assistance ho mangod to stagger slowly along, and reached his camp, which was about two miles away. The tiger followed them for some distance, but was kept off lr the shouts and demonstrations of the Gond.

It was known that a man-eating tiger was in tho neighbourhood and had killed several villagers, but 'it had never attacked anyone on tho path used by the forest officer, and neither Mr George nor the Gond had any suspicion of the tiger’s presence until the attack was made. Veladi Sammai’s action was an extremely bravo one, and ho gravely imperilled his own life. Ho certainly saved Mr George’s, as only his prompt and gallant action prevented tho tigor dragging tho forest officer into the jungle and eating him.