The New Hampshire Gazette And General Advertiser

The following melancholy accident shews that a tyger is not always deterred from approaching fire. A small vessel from ? to Calcutta being longer on her passage than was expected, ran out of provisions and water: being near the Saugar island, the Europeans, six in number, went on shore in search of refreshments, there being some cocoa nuts on the island, in quest of which they strayed a considerable way inland. Night coming on, and the vessel being at a distance it was thought more safe to take up their night's lodging in the ruins of an old pagoda, than to return to the vessel. A large fire was lighted, and agreement made, that two of the number should keep watch by turns to alarm the rest in case of danger, which they had reason to apprehend from the wild appearance of the place. It happened to fall to the lot of one Danson, late a silversmith and engraver in Calcutta to be one of the watch. In the night, a tyger darted over the fire upon this unfortunate young man, and in springing off with him, struck his head against the side of the pagoda, which made it and its prey rebound upon the fire, on which they rolled over one another once or twice before he was carried off. In the morning, the thigh bones, and legs of the unfortunate victim were found at some distance, the former stripped of its flesh, and the latter shockingly mangled.