Bonerow. 2
Extract from the H.K. Daily Press of 9th March, 1915.
171
TIGER KILLED IN NEW
TERRITORY.
EUROPEAN CONSTABLE BADLY
MAULED.
INDIAN CONSTABLE KILLED.
STORY OF TWO ENCOUNTERS.
a few yards from the tiger, and Gouche
was
Length from tip to tip ...8ft. 6 in.
Pug
Height of withers
.3ft. 4in. .6in. each way.
Round the fore-legs
....17in.
Girth
.3ft. 7in.
.3ft.
Tail
Head, taken round each ear...2ft. 6in. Weight
..289 lbs. It will be realised that the tiger was a very fine specimen. It was about three years old, of a Southern origin, and in very good condition. There were numer- ous wounds on the head, body and legs.
raised his shot gun and fired, and then measured by Mr. Moxon, with the follow- sloped and fell over a bank into a paddying results:- field. At once the tiger pounced on him, and then I emptied my revolver into it at close range.
This had the effect of frightening the animal, who got off Goucher and ran away. All that I could do then
to assist poor Goucher, who was badly mauled and bleeding freely." Hollands Rumours of tigers having been seen on
obtained assistance, and Goucher the Peak and in the New Territory have was conveyed with all speed to the Govern- been so frequent, and the " bagging" of ment Civil Hospital. His left arm was real tigers so infrequent, that many have broken in two places and was also badly treated the rumours as nothing but moon- torn, while his back was very severely shine, and the tigers as mere legendary lacerated. He is a big powerful man, animals. Yesterday it was proved beyond and but for this there is not much doubt doubt that tigers do exist in the New but what he would have succumbed, Territory, and the one which was killed-Hollands, who appeared to be greatly not, however, before he had badly mauled an European constable, P.C. Groucher, and killed an Indian constable in that vicinity yesterday, was a big well-fed Southern specimen of the man-eating type, and very finely marked.
The story of the kill and all the previ- ous happenings had to be gleaned from several sources. Our representative first interviewed P.C. Hollands, who, with P.C. Goucher-who now lies in the Government Civil Hospital in a serious condition-had the first encounter with the tiger. Both constables were on duty at Shung Shui Police Station, and early yesterday morning it was reported to them that a tiger had been seen in the vicinity. Hollands stated that tiger pugs had been discovered several times previously, and P.C. Goucher had also noticed pugs only a few days ago.
Immediately upon re- ceipt of the news, both constables set out in search of the tiger; Hollands was arm- ed with a revolver and Goucher with a shot gun, and they were accompanied by several Chinese, armed with poles only. The track of the tiger was soon discovered,
and at about 10 a.m. searchers were
affected by his unnerving experience, re- marked that he had never previously seen a tiger, not even in a show, and he is not at all keen on seeing another one.
The conveyance of the carcase from the station to the police launch created no little sensation, expecially among the Chinese, hundreds of whom followed shouting "loufu." Incredulous as ever, but a few Europeans saw the landing of the dead tiger in Hongkong and his sub- sequent conveyance to the City Hall, but when his real presence was made known the abode of the vanquished stripes was besieged. Hundreds of persons visited the City Hall to see the tiger while it remained on view.
known for some time, but it was onl when he made bold and mauled the two Chinese on Sunday that any definite indi- cation of his whereabouts was discovered. On several occasions P.C. Goucher had endeavoured to trace the tiger by his
but had
When the tiger made off after his encounter with the two constables, the search was continued by Mr. Burlingham, Assistant Superintendent of Police in the In addition to killing the Indian New Territory, Mr. Martin, a cadet, constable and badly wounding P.C. and Indian constables. About one Goucher, the tiger also mauled two o'clock, and in the same vicinity Loung Chinese in, Fanling village the previous Yuk Tau-they discovered the tiger maul-day, and of late much live-stock has ing an Indian, who was apparently dead. disappeared. His presence had been They closed in on the tiger, who was wounded, and showed no figat, and he was quickly despatched with a discharge of several Winchesters and service rifles. Mr. Burlingham, in a conversation with a Daily Press representative, said that
never been able the finishing off of the tiger was quite without any exciting incient.
get within shooting distance discovered on top of the Indian,
until yesterday, with the sad re- approached to within easy range, showed sult related above. However, there can no inclination to give fight, and was be no doubt that as a result of this initial promptly shot, Mr. Burlingham was
encounter the tiger was badly wounded, i using a Winchester and Mr. Martin a
so much so that when again discovered he Indian constable who was underneath the service rifle. It was found that the
As easy prey.
to the Indian tiger was quite dead, he having been constable who was killed, it seems that the mauled about the head and back in a most tiger sprang at him from behind, struck him on the head with his pug, and also ghastly manner. His name is Rattan
mauled him when he lay on the ground. Singh.
The head was severely gashed, sufficient to cause death, and the body and arms were also shockingly lacerated. The body lies in the mortuary and an inquest will be
He was
was
were
pugs, to
was
led to a copse in the neighbourhood of Leung Yuk Tau, where the pug marks ended. At this time some Indian constables were making their way towards
With the search having been so success- the copse, armed with the more service- fully accomplished arrangements able carbine rifles, and it was arranged quickly made for the conveyance of the that the tiger should not be disturbed, carcase to Hongkong. Its arrival at Kow- until the Indians had arrived. However, loon was awaited by a large gathering of || held.
When the body one of the Chinese injudiciously threw Europeans and Chinese. a handful of soil into the copse, and im- had been strung up in approved fashion mediately there was a loud roar and the it was photographed along with Messrs. tiger sprang out, P.C. Hollands added: Burlingham and Martin and the Captain -"Goucher and myself were then only Superintendent of Police. It was also