The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1873-10-31
4 PAGE OF AUSTRALIAN LIFE.
A Kangaroo Fight.

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An Inglewood, Australia, paper
gives the following account Of fight
with Kangaroo; Kangaroo hunt
ing, though not altogether lacking
the spice Of danger which gives the
greatest zest to active sports, is, how
ever, unusually indebted for it to the
natural difficulties Of the country
ridden over; and coolness, quick
eye for overhanging branches
and staunch and knowing horse
to deal with fallen timber, are, there
fore, generally sufficient to enable
the sportsman to bag his gdme, ahd
insure him against "a spill, =" the only
danger to which his anticipations
carry him when setting forth on his
expedition. But the gentle and
harmless kangaroo sometimes as
sumes the aspect Of a formidable
"old man" and then the chase be-
comes very different matter, involv-
ing such little unpleasantness as
squeezed and manned dogs, scratch
ed horses and torn clothes. perhaps
skin.
Such an experience Of catching a
Tartar" was furnished to three Ingle-
wood sportsmen, on Wednesday last,
when out kangarooing on Boort run.
They found a large mob of the ami
mails and killed one, and then turned
their attention to "a regular boom
err" standing nearly seven feet high,
which they cut off from the rest, for,
SO far from showing any disposition
to make of, he appeared as eager for
fray as his assailants, and fearlessly
rushed upon the three horsemen and
five dogs opposed to him. Two of
the dogs were kangaroo dogs, two
others were coolies, and the fifth was
o small terrier, which was the only
one of the hunting party that did not
seem to have too much of the battle
before the fight was closed. The
kangaroo dogs and coolies we're sue
cessively taken up as they dashed at
the "old mans" throat and treated
to squeeze, which eAectually damp
ened their ardor, and they skunk away
into inglorious security, while the
little terrier-too small tu be hugged.
and too quick to be ripped-worried
and teased to the end.
In the meantime the horsemen
were not idle, but used the sticks
with which they had armed them
selves to good purpose; but they had
q tough antagonist to deal with, and
when he got rid of the canine ene-
mics he seemed to be quite able and
willing to return the favors they were
bestowing upon him. He caught
one around the waist and tried to
pull him from his horse, but luckily
his grip failed, and he succeeded in
tearing trousers, and thigh. He
then caught the horse round the
neck, and was with difficulty beaten
off. He then made a rush at another
of the horses, and only succeeded in
dashing his claws into its hind
quarters, ana the startled animal
went off at a racing speed, the rider
losing his hat in the run, and not
daring for short time to look back,
thinking that the "old man" was
hanging on behind.
After about an hour and a half of
this sort of work, the hunters were
completely tagged out, and drew off
their forces. When they had retired
about one hundred yards, they look
ed back, and there was the "old
man" calmly licking his wounds,
keeping possession Of the battle field,
and surveying them with the look of
conqueror, as if he had not the
slightest objections to trying con-
clusions with them again. This so
provoked them that they went back
and had another set-to, assisted only
by the terrier, though. for the other
dogs had enough Of his kangaroo
ship; but the second battle ended as
the first did, and the sportsmen had
to confess themselves beaten, and
leave the hunt without the brush.