By Press Release
The Isle of Wight Observer published on June 11, 1859 recounts the following sad tale.
A letter from Penang, dated Feb. 10, 1859, gives the following singular escape from, but ultimate death by, the attack of a tiger on Catholic missionary on that island which will be read with painful interest:- “My escape from the tiger,” says the writer, “was truly miraculous, but that of Padre Cuellon was still more so, as the following details of the attack upon that worthy priest will clearly prove.
The padre was on his way to church, and was immersed in the study of his sermon, when a tiger, to his utter surprise, suddenly rushed out of the jungle, or tall grass; but, as the beast had not measured its distance to a nicety, the padre, walking very quickly, was more frightened than hurt. The tiger, however, brushed so close to the padre that the latter’s trousers were torn.
The brute, not content with a single spring, made another charge upon the poor padre, and, as he had nothing to defend himself but his large paper umbrella, he suddenly opened it out in the brute’s face, which had the effect of cowing it for a time. The tiger, however, evidently gamer or more pertinacious in his attacks than is wont with his tribe, charged the padre at least a dozen times, which occupied nearly 20 minutes.
In the meantime the padre gradually edged towards a tree; and, as there was a large white ants’ nest between him and the tiger, round which the latter had to make a slight tour, this enabled the padre to climb the tree and get out his way. The tiger, on getting round the nest, was at first puzzled at not seeing the padre, but he laid his nose to the ground, and soon scented the whereabouts of his intended victim.
“The tiger,” said the padre, “quietly sat down under the tree and gave a wistful look towards me, but it fortunately was of no avail.” The natives, at length hearing the cries of the worthy padre, hastened to the spot. The tiger fled the instant it heard their shouts. The poor padre burst into tears, and sang the Te Deum in token of gratitude for his delivery. Padre Cuellon, however, did not rally long; the fright had too serious an effect upon his system, and in about 10 days sank to rise no more.”
