Elizabeth Town Gazette

EXTRAORDINARY CONFLICT.
Extract of a letter from lieut. Collett in the company's service, in the presidency of Bombay, to his sister in England; it exhibits evidence of unshaken courage and intellectual readiness, scarcely to be equalled: "In the beginning of May, 1815, our army, from the hot winds and bad weather, became so sickly that we were ordered into quarters On the 6th of May, we passed through a forest, and encamped on its skirts near a small village; the head man of which entreated us to destroy a large tiger which had killed seven of his men, was in the daily habit of stealing his cattle, and had that morning wounded his son.—Another officer and myself agreed to attempt the destruction of this monster. We immediately ordered seven elephants, and went in quest of the animal, which we found sleeping under a bush. The noise of the elephants awoke him, when he made a furious charge on us, and my elephant received him on her shoulder; the other six turned about and ran off, notwithstanding the exertions of their riders, and left me in the above situation. I had seen many tigers, and had been at the killing of them, but never so large a one as this. The elephant shook him off. I then fired two balls, and the tiger fell; but again recovering himself he made a spring at me. I escaped him, and he seized the elephant by her hind leg; then receiving a kick from her, and another ball from me, he let go his hold, and fell a second time. Thinking he was by this time disabled, I very unfortunately dismounted, intending to put an end to his existence with my pistols; when the monster who was only crouching to take another spring, made it at that moment, and caught me in his mouth; but it pleased God to give me strength and presence of mind. I immediately fired into his body, and finding that had little effect, used all my force, happily disengaged my arm; and then directing my pistol at his heart, I at length succeeded in destroying him, after receiving 25 severe wounds."
—Lieut. Collett was so much hurt, as to be obliged to retire from the service of the field. This action did not escape the notice of the Marquis of Hastings, and the lieutenant has been appointed to a post less liable to exertion.