Tantanoola Tiger 1909

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PORT WAKEFIELD, June 7. -The mystery of the tiger in the scrub was revived on Saturday night, when three youths returned hurredly from a shooting excursion near Wild Dog Hill, where they had been disturbed waiting for ducks at a dam by the appearance of an animal from 2 to 2 1/2 ft. in height, striped, and with the appearance of a tiger, moving among the bushes. Three search parties were organised, and went out in different directions. Tracks were seen by the moonlight making towards the run where most of the sheep and lambs camp at night. After some hours through difficult country a shot, followed by loud cheering, announced the find. Shortly afterwards a horse and cart with six of the party dashed past towards the port, the three hunters that were left being advised that the tiger was coming in their direction. Three trees were selected into which the terrified men climbed. Their suspense was short, for along the fence could be seen a striped animal, which would have to pass immediately under, the trees in which were perched the hunters. Under the middle tree the animal stopped and gave a low bellow, and like a flash one of the men recognised a calf he had been rearing, but had missed for several days. It was now wearing over its neck and shoulders part of a football suit annexed from some clothesline.

SYDNEY. July 18.

On several occasions lately the residents of West Dapto and Kembla Grange have reported having seen or heard what they believe to be a tiger. Dr. Scott, of Dapto, visited a patient near Kembla Grange on Friday night, and stated that, just after leaving a house, he heard the roar of a tiger or leopard, and made a run for safety. Before he could get under cover what he believes was a wild animal struck him and knocked him down. When he got up he was in a dazed condition, and wandered about the paddocks for nearly an hour before he realised where he was. His wife was in the motor-car waiting for him and she also heard the roar of the beast, but as the night was dark, neither of them was able to see what caused the unusual noise. Dogs barked loudly, and horses shook with fear. It is said that the animal has its lair in the caves at the foot of Mount Kembla.

A Hint from "The Raiders." --Apropos of the report that Dr. Scott had been attacked at Mount Kembla by an animal which he states he is unable to describe, "Deitamu" draws attention to Crockett's novel, "The Raiders," in which John Faa or "Silver Sand" appears as a dog to the terror of the inhabitants of a wild part of the highlands of Scotland. He ran about disguised as an immense dog in company with his hound "Qubarrie," and the two were superstitiously dreaded as the "Lothely Dogs." It is probable (the correspondent adds) that Crockett found some incident in real life upon which he based his story of a human being creating panic as a dog-fiend. Be that as it may, the Tantanoola tiger, or Dr. Scott's feline acquaintance, may yet turn out to be the freak of some practical joker who has learned to imitate the bounding run of a beast under the masquerade of the skin or hide of a tiger, lion, or other animal. All we know at present is that it is too benevolent to bite viciously or dangerously, and does not carry weapons which would give away the show.

WOLLONGONG, Tuesday.

The Tantanoola tiger, or the animal that has been causing considerable alarm to residents of Cordeaux River and Mt. Kembla by its weird noises at night time for some months past, which attacked Dr. Scott, of Dapto, on Thursday night last, again made its appearance last night in the vicinity of Kembla Heights. A miner, whilst on his way home through the bush, heard five distinct weird noises, within, as he states, 50 yards, and he at once made off. Before he had covered 20 yards, and just as he was getting through a wire fence, something knocked him over, and immediately made off into the bush. When he recovered he looked in the direction in which the animal had gone, and could distinctly see something resembling a tiger.

To-day a large number of Wollongong's crack shooters went out in search of the tiger, determined to thoroughly investigate the bush, in which the tiger is supposed to have his lair.

A letter was received by the Mayor of Wollongong (Alderman J. A. Beatson) this afternoon from a retired officer of the Bengal Civil Service, who has had considerable experience in tiger hunting, who offers to go out in search of the animal.
Strangely enough, there have been no reports of animals having been killed or wounded. The tiger, if it is one, would seem to be a vegetarian.

If we are to judge by recent incidents, there is a tendency to magnify things on one of our hills. Perhaps it is the natural effect of the high-level atmosphere, but people in that neighbourhood are seemingly prone to exaggerate. They haven't got a Tantanoola tiger, but at the rate things are going even that may come before many other things, not to say their tramway extension. The other night people turned out in all sorts of dishabille to enquire the reason of a lady's screams. The feminine explanation, in a non-hysterical interval, was that she had heard a noise behind her, and on turning saw she was being chased by a bull. Examination of the scene disclosed a calf to be placidly browsing on the tender spring growth. Next day the lady of a house summoned the surrounding population to her wood-heap. She declared that she had seen a snake go under it, and preparations were made to deal with the reptile. The available kettles and pots were put on to boil, while the gathering armed itself with all the gardening tools that could be found. Then the assault was commenced. The hot water soon "drew the badger" - a lizard that looked as harmless as it was half-boiled. When calves look like bulls and lizards as large as snakes, what sort of perspective would a person of importance fill if he happened to lose himself and be seen up that way?