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the Yowie-Ocalypse
Revelation in the Age of Bigfoot
A Naked Yowie Project Initiative
1903
The Tantanoola Tiger
THE TANTANOOLA TIGER.
Examiner (Launceston, Tas.)
Date: Feb 2, 1903
Page Number: 7
What is supposed to be the "Tantanoola tiger" has, it is reported, made its re-appearance in the Scarsdale district. A young lady states that she encountered the animal while she was crossing a small bridge, and the fright she received compelled her to remain in bed for two days for medical treatment. Information has also reached Ballarat that a greengrocer in the district met the monster in the bush.
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THE TANTANOOLA TIGER.
HOW IT BESIEGED AN HOTEL.
AND HOW THE SIEGE WAS RAISED.
The Advertiser (Adelaide, S.A.)
Date: Jun 16, 1903
Page Number: 6
We have received the following from a correspondent, who has (no doubt inadvertently) omitted to guarantee the accuracy of his statements:
John Brown, James Jones, and William Smith, like many other persons, wore up to a few days ago a sceptical smile when the Tantanoola tiger was mentioned, but after what occurred last Monday they have most positively recanted.
They left Gawler on Sunday morning on cycling tour to Chain of Ponds via Williamstown. Arriving at the latter place, they found things generally and roads particularly moist, so cast anchor for the night. Started on their journey in the morning, they travelled without mishap to within a mile of Kersbrook, when Brown, who was in the lead, came to a sudden stop, and stood by his bicycle, pointing to the paddock on the left, exclaiming excitedly, "Do you see it? Do you see it?"
Jones and Smith coming up, stood with wide eyes, and saw an incredible beast. Smith, who is a camera fiend, managed to get a snapshot. Now, Brown, Jones, and Smith are plucky, but they felt a sudden impulse to return to Williamstown, and moved off in that direction. The beast seemed to have the same desire, for it followed them. The trio heard the fence clank as it stepped over. They increased their speed, and the beast increased its pace. Faster and faster moved the cyclists, faster and faster followed the beast, until Brown, Jones, and Smith imply flew over the ground.
Just before reaching the South Parabridge they came upon ten or twelve men road-mending. "The tiger," they gasped, as they flew by. What happened is hard to say, but it was like a scene from the "Arabian Nights" - the navvies simply disappeared.
Quick as thought the bicycles sped down across the bridge, up the opposite hill, and into Williamstown; but the tiger was after them. The three riders sailed in a bunch up to the bar door of the hotel, scrambled from their machines and bounded like one man into the bar. They tried to utter some words of warning, but it was unnecessary; the tiger was seen from the hotel as it came at high speed past the local blacksmith's shop.
In all quarters of the house could be heard the banging and bolting of doors, and the slamming of windows. All was secure as the tiger sprang on to the verandah, sniffed the bicycles, ran up and down the pavement. Then it dashed around to the back, soon to reappear in the front, to settle down to a regular beat round the house.
Thus commenced the siege of the Williamstown Hotel. It began at 11.30 a.m., and at 4 p.m. the besieger showed no signs of fatigue. There were no firearms on the premises, except a pea-rifle, but the landlord is a man of resource.
"I'll settle the matter," he said, stepping into the parlor, where Brown, Jones, and Smith were in conversation with a geologist, who was among the besieged. "This,'' he explained, exhibiting a spirit cask, "is the simplex infernal machine." Then he showed how it was fixed with a packet of gun- powder within the bung-hole, with a fuse attached, and how the interior of the cask was damp with spirits, which the powder would ignite. They followed him to the bar door. The tiger had just disappeared round the back as he coolly opened the door, and with machine in hand stepped out on to the verandah.
'The tiger came trotting back, and seeing a man stopped. The landlord struck a match and lit the fuse, rolled the machine on to the decline towards the road, and stepped back into the bar. The tiger hesitated, then bounded on to the rolling barrel, landed on its fore paws, rolled over, and fell headlong on the ground. The barrel rolled on. There was a puff of smoke, and an awful bang. There was an enormous hole in the 'ground, and half the verandah had gone, but there was no tiger, and no barrel, and the siege was raised.
LOOKING FOR THE TIGER.
The Advertiser (Adelaide, S.A.)
Date: Jun 9, 1903
Page Number: 5
Our Green's Plains correspondent writes: -
"A slight scare was created the other day when the news reached here that the long lost Tantanoola tiger had been seen near Barossa, still going strong, and heading this way. A gentleman who has had some experience with tigers (having once seen one in the Zoo) at once organised a strong party of hunters to exploit the jungle between here and Kulpara. This was successfully accomplished, and resulted in the death of a wallaby, two rabbits, and a wild cat, but not the slightest trace of the man- eater was discovered. A sharp lookout will, however, be kept, and, if necessary, pickets stationed along the range facing the gulf to intercept the monster should he come this way.''
The Advertiser (Adelaide, S.A.)
Date: Jun 25, 1903
Page Number: 5
"Sawdust," Onetree Hill, writes:-
"On Wednesday last, about half-past 10 a.m., the dogs started up a fox, and chased it for about 20 minutes. It came down the back of W. Salisbury & Co.'s sawmill, and went to the back of Mr. Robertson's house. Mr. W. A. Rendell pursued it with a gun, and killed it when the dogs were just about done. We all think it is the much talked about Tantanoola tiger. I notice that none of the farmers have come forward with any scalp money or thanks."
ON THE SHOW GROUNDS.
A TEN-MINUTES' STROLL.
The Advertiser (Adelaide, S.A.)
Date: Sept 11, 1903
Page Number: 7
(By our Special Reporter.)
"Hullo, old man. You weren't at the Agricultural Congress meeting last night. Wa'al, yes, I reckon I'll go with you. Fine lot of cattle, I hear, but the hogs are not in the same street with Chicawger."
This, it is hardly necessary to state, was Professor Towar, and he showed that he took an interest in every branch of farming.
I was watching the antics of some of the professor's "hogs" when I heard a call -
"Say, here. I've solved the mystery of the Tantanoola tiger. Those people have been seeing pigs like these."
The speaker was Mr. Scammell, of Roonka station, on the pleasant banks of the Murray. Truly, the pigs to which he called my attention did seem as if a tiger had somehow crept into their genealogy. They were yellow with brown spots.
'They're really a cross between a Tamworth and a Berkshire," he remarked.
…
A GREEN'S PLAINS STORY.
The Advertiser (Adelaide, S.A.)
Date: Oct 7, 1903
Page Number: 6
Our Green's Plains correspondent is responsible for the following:-
"It is many years since such, an over-abundance of feed has been seen on the Peninsula, and every precaution will have to be taken to pre-vent serious fires later on. In many paddocks where stock have been wintering hay is now being cut, while on favored spots by the roadside the growth is almost as high as the fences, and in sundry places is infested with snakes, rabbits, and other wild animals. On Saturday last a well-known resident of the district, while returning from Kadina with a relative from distant parts, narrowly escaped a serious accident, or, perhaps, even being killed or otherwise seriously injured by the wayside beasts. The friends were driving along a narrow way thickly fringed on either side by jungle grass and wild oats, were admiring the beauties of nature, the appearance of the weather, and the sunset sky, and were just remarking on the privilege of living in such a land of peace and plenty, with neither man nor beast daring to make them awfully afraid, when the horse suddenly stopped, shorted loudly, and then, closing his eyes, ran the trap violently backward for a chain or two at a pace that would have been no disgrace to a trotter going the other way. After a lot of persuasion he was coaxed forward again, but only to repeat the performance with more violence and an utter disregard for the safety of the rear part of his harness. It was only after nearly capsizing the trap in a vain attempt to throw a double back-somersault that he got the whip, and under its persuasive influence once more moved homeward. The driver, standing up and peering into the jungle to see what had caused all the trouble, saw an awful looking animal crouching in the long grass. It seemed to be larger than a big dog of the same size, was black and white all over, and in the light of the setting sun its eyes glistened like coals of fire, while it seemed to be chewing something, and at the same time making a soft, purring noise. Instantly concluding that he was at last face to face with the Tantanoola tiger and that the brute was about to spring, he once more vigorously applied the whip. and the horse, rising on his hind legs, sprang high in the air, carrying the trap several feet up with him, and from this elevated position the two men distinctly saw a large William-goat and one of lesser degree harnessed to a go-cart, and quietly munching the grass, while the heads and heels of several small boys were seen sticking out from under a bush. They merely got a flying glimpse of this as they passed by, but the horse did not wish for more, for he tore along the road at a pace he had never excelled even in his palmiest days. People at a distance thought it was a comet as he passed, along with a long trail of dust in his rear, and on reaching home, the frightened animal had to be stopped by being run against a stone wall. The gentleman referred to is one of the pioneers of the plains and a man of peace, but says that although he has had several adventures in his time, he has never had anything equal to that one, and that unless the district council or some other body undertakes to keep the roads clear he fears he will be compelled to carry firearms in self-defence, for even when going at top speed his horse had to dodge falling timber that was even then being cut on the roads."
THE TANTANOOLA TIGER.
AT SNAKE VALLEY.
ON VIEW FOR TEN MINUTES.
The Advertiser (Adelaide, S.A.)
Date: Dec 22, 1903
Page Number: 7
Melbourne, December 21.
Melbourne, December 21.
At Snake Valley after a lapse of some months, the ''Tantanoola tiger" has again made its appearance. It was first seen about three weeks ago by a resident of Haddon. The animal was apparently journeying towards the Smythesdale bush, as it was seen the same morning going towards Carrico. The residents state that they had a good view of the animal, and are sure it was a tiger, although much smaller than the Bengal species. It was again seen by Mr. Hedley, the manager of the Watson's Hill Dredging Company, when visiting one of the company's dams in the vicinity of Ross's Creek last week. He saw the tiger drinking only about 50 yards distant, and it was on view for fully ten minutes. Mr. Hedley says it resembled a panther rather than a tiger.