Curious Death of a Calcutta Silversmith (Fate of Dawson)

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Curious Death of a Calcutta Silversmith

An account of the unusual death of a Calcutta silversmith of the name of Dawson:

'The following melancholy accident shews that a tyger is not always deterred from approaching fire. A small vessel from Ganjam to Calcutta, being longer on her passage than was expected, ran out of provisions and water: Being near the Sugar 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, then return to the vessel. A large fire was lighted, and an 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 Dawson, 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 its head againest 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 stript of its flesh, and the latter shockingly mangled'

Source: World and Fashionable Advertiser - 5th April 1787

Trev.