Jamberoo Tiger 2

Jamberoo Tiger part 2

SOUTH COAST "TIGER."
WOLLONGONG ALARMED.
LATEST VICTIM SEES BUSHY TAIL.
GHOST-LAYER TO THE RESCUE.

The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW)
Date: July 22, 1909
Page Number: 7

...
A prominent Kembla Grange resident, noted for his fearlessness of character, states that he is prepared, notwithstanding all other opinions to the contrary, to take his chance by camping unarmed in the vicinity of the supposed tiger's lair. He is quite prepared to stand the consequences, whatever they may be, to decide once and for all what the dreaded creature which has been the cause of such a scare in the community for several months past really is. He remembers taking part in solving a mystery of another kind some years ago in the vicinity of West Dapto. At that time residents were in a state of terror in consequence of ghosts being seen in different parts of the locality. The trouble became so acute that search parties were organised. But the antics of the ghost baffled detection for a considerable period. Eventually he set out on his own to investigate, with the result that he unravelled the mystery which was terrifying the whole country round, by discovering that the uncanny visitors to the locality were nothing but a white dog, an old woman, and a tramp. He firmly believes that the supposed tiger is some individuals who are playing practical jokes.

VERY LIKE A WHALE.
THE "TIGER" OF MOUNT KEMBLA.
OR WAS IT MEERLY A BULL?
THE POLICE REPORTS.

Evening News (Sydney, NSW)
Date: July 23, 1909
Page Number: 8

The tiger of Mount Kembla is no more. He has been slain by the cruel pens of a police inspector and several constables, who, spurred to their deed of derring-do by express command of the Inspector-General, have in two days time hunted the ravenous monster from the fields of fact. Indeed, the story will henceforth be regarded as a kind of cousin to the old Indian rhyme [???]

     "The young lady of Niger
     Took a ride on the back of a tiger.
     They returned from the ride
     With the lady inside,
     And a smile on the face of the tiger."

     The smile should have broadened into a very wide grin in the case of the Australian who is responsible for having given the good people of South Coast such a scare as to cause preparations for a siege to be entered upon at Wollongong.
     A circumstantial story, alleged to have been related by Dr. Arthur Scott, of Dapto, was printed in a Sydney morning paper a few days ago. It may at once be mentioned that the accuracy of the yarn is challenged by the doctor, who is coming to the city this evening for the purpose of seeking correction from the editor of the journal responsible for the publication. This set out that Dr. Scott and his wife motored to Mount Kembla last Thursday night, to attend a patient living at the foot of the mount. Mrs. Scott remained in the car while her husband went to the house. He had finished his task, and was returning to the car at 9 o'clock, when he heard a fierce roar coming from a point about 50 yards away. The howl was repeated, even more loudly, and the doctor started running towards the motor when something rose up out of the darkness and struck him heavily, felling him to the ground, and raising a lump on the side of the head. It was an hour and a half, according to the published story, before the victim of this untoward assault regained full consciousness and was able to rejoin his wife, who had meanwhile heard the roaring, and was naturally somewhat alarmed.
     Now for the result of the police investigations, which reached the Inspector-General (Mr. Garvin) this morning.
     Inspector Pountney reported that he had in terviewed Dr. Scott, who not only refused to verify the newspaper story, but announced his intention of seeing the editor of the morning journal, with the view of having certain statements attributed to him corrected. The police, as the result of their inquiries, had no hesitation in asserting that there was no foundation whatever for the report, and that there was certainly no tiger nor other wild animal roaming at large in the district.
     A side light is thrown on the mysterious happenings by the information elicited from certain residents living in the vicinity of Mount Kembla. It appears that at about the time the doctor was returning to his motor car a Mr. O'Brien's bull was endeavoring to get into a paddock occupied by a bull which is the property of a Mr Smith. O'Brien's bull was in a bellicose mood; he was looking for gore; and in his impatient rage at the strength of the barriers separating him from his bated rival, he threw up his head and bellowed forth defiance to all and sundry. All the stock in the neighborhood became alarmed and it is thought not unlikely that a terrified cow, galloping for safety, came into collision with the physician on the roadway. Anyone who has had the misfortune to fall over a recumbent milk-producer on a dark night will agree that the biped usually comes off second best.
     Furthermore, the police inquired into a report that a miner had had a fearsome adventure with a tiger or something of the sort, and ascertained that here again the story was like unto the baseless fabric of a dream. "In fact," concludes the inspector, "no person has the slightest ground for circulating such reports as have appeared concerning alleged wild animals." No sheep or other stock in the locality have been killed by unknown means in recent times, as would certainly be the case if a tiger were seeking what it might devour, and no responsible person can be found to give evidence of having acutally seen anything unusual.
     Appended to the file of papers which the Inspector-General has collected on the subject is a letter, evidently written in a disguised hand, from a Sydney resident, who regards himself as a humorist, and signs "The Tiger." It is a confused jumble of words; but the intention of the writer is apparently to claim credit for having played successful practical jokes on the South Coast people. "It just shows," he adds, "what a Punch and Judy squeaker and a tigerskin can do."
     "He's a poor sort of a joker, anyhow," was the contemptuous comment of Mr. Garvin.

Thomas GARVIN,
C.I.S.O, Inspector – General
1st July, 1904 – 31st December, 1910

Robertson Advocate (NSW)
Date: August 20, 1909
Page Number: 2

It is rumored that the outcome of the Dapto tiger story is to be a libel action against a Sydney daily news paper.

The Newsletter: an Australian Paper
for Australian People (Sydney, NSW)
Date: July 31, 1909
Page Number: 1

As soon as it was repeatedly reported that a wild tiger or roaring lion was roaming the bush at Dapto, threatening doctors and miners, the Health Board, it is understood, asked the police to get samples of the grog on sale in the local pubs.

THE "TIGER" RETURNS.
ROARS IN A FOG.

The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW)
Date: October 12, 1909
Page Number: 7

On Friday last Messrs. Hiram Prior and Ernest King, employees of the Jimboroo Council were working at the main road, Jamberoo Mountain, when their attention was attracted by an unusual roar, as of some wild beast. There was a fog on the mountain at the time which prevented them from seeing any distance. Both men went towards the edge of a precipice in the direction of the noise as the sound kept getting closer. They were shortly afterwards terror-stricken by a roar coming from the rocks underneath and, being unarmed, made their way speadily down the mountain. It is generally believed by some residents of the vicinity, who also at times distinctly heard the peculiar roar, that there is some animal at large.

The Tiger.

The Kiama Independent, and Shoalhaven Advertiser (NSW)
Date: October 20, 1909
Page Number: 2

Ald. Craig asked if the two daymen who had been working on the mountain had put in full time during the past fortnight.
     The Mayor replied so far as he knew they had. Ald. Craig said it was commonly reported that when they, heard the tiger or some other wild animal roar they rushed down the mountain terror stricken and left their tools behind them.
     He (Ald. Craig) had since heard that the roaring was caused by a "cow" which had fallen over the cliff.
     The Mayor pointed out that Prior said there was no fooling about it, but when they left the mountain they finished their day's work down below.

Jamberoo Council.

The Kiama Independent, and Shoalhaven Advertiser (NSW)
Date: November 3, 1909
Page Number: 2

...
THE TIGER HUNGRY.
     Ald. Noble pointed out that the Druewalla School picnic was to be held on Wednesday (to-day), and asked the Mayor had he made arrangemets with the local butcher to provide for the tiger. Something, he said, ought to be done, or straight-jackets provided for those who raised the tiger.
     Ald. M'Carthy : Oh, let the tiger drop; it's only making the place a laughing stock.

A USE FOR THE TIGER.
     Ald Craig asked the Mayor was he going to appear in Mayoral robes for the jubilee.
     His Worship said he would, but it was the right thing for the council to provide them.
     Several aldermen argued that the funds could not be appropriated for that purpose, but Ald. Blow solved the problem. He said, "Kill the tiger and make a robe out of its skin."
...

The Procession.

Illawarra Mercury (Wollongong, NSW)
Date: November 26, 1909
Page Number: 4

...
Mr. J. Stoyles was responsible for a unique turnout. The ordinary wild animal cage was placed upon a van, and in it was secured a young calf. A sign on the top of the cart read, "The Jamberoo Tiger Captured at Last," whilst on the back of the cart was a large jar bearing the word "chloroform".
...

THE MAN IN THE STREET SAYS :

Illawarra Mercury (Wollongong, NSW)
Date: September 20, 1910
Page Number: 2

...
That he sincerely hopes that the young ladies in their perambulations will not fall foul of the Jamberoo tiger, who is reported to be on the move again.
...

LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS.

The Kiama Reporter and Illawarra Journal (NSW)
Date: June 28, 1922
Page Number: 2

...
Last weak, the shooting of a tiger cat, right in the precincts of the town, caused a sensation in Albion Park. Mr. Wilson bringing it down with a well directed shot, from the pine tree near the show building. It had been living sumptuously on poultry of late, judging by the depredations poultry, keepers reported.

FOOTBALL.

The Kiama Reporter and Illawarra Journal (NSW)
Date: July 18, 1928
Page Number: 2

...
Reg. McCarthy as captain, informs us he has selected the following team of Jamberoo "Tigers" to play Kiania third graders at the conclusion of the season on the Jamberoo ground, and will entertain the visiting team at tea after the match:
...

LIONESS AR LARGE?
South Coast Sensation
REPORT TO POLICE

The Kiama Independent, and Shoalhaven Advertiser (NSW)
Date: May 4, 1930
Page Number: 1

WOLLONGONG, Saturday.
     THE mystery of the roaming of a supposed lioness in the wilds of the Jamberoo district has caused a sensation here.
     Mr. J. Jones, of Newcastle, was rabbit shooting, and in a report made to Inspector Gibson, of Wollongong police, states that he saw a lioness. He said he was 60 yards away from it, and that it made no attempt to attack him. It sauntered away in the direction of Omega.
     Another man named Burke is stated to have seen the same animal at Foxground.

CALVES SLAUGHTERED.

     A number of calves have been recently killed in the locality.
     As a precaution, Inspector Gibson has notified all police stations of the allegations.
     Superintendent Leary, head of the metropolitan police, informed the "Sunday Times"
last night that he had not officially heard from Inspector Gibson on the matter. Mr. Leary
said that recently it was reported that a man had seen a ferocious and strange-looking
dog in the locality. "As the man was a bushman," said Mr. Leary, "his description of the
animal was probably correct."

"JAMBEROO TIGER."

     Some years ago there was much ado over "The Jamberoo Tiger," but the beast was not afterwards located.
     It is, of course, possible for a lioness, or even a lion, to be at large in the Australian bush, particularly in districts through which travelling shows and circuses so frequently pass. Cubs have often strayed from such
shows and totally disappeared.

The "Jamberoo Tiger" returns?