Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1884-06-14
MR.. WHITMARsH's HOG Rancho.

Mr.. Whitmarsh has a hog rancho
out on Tsnsas, and the resident
manager of the rancho came in the
other day, and reprted that the
bears were thick on the hog range,
and that unless some sudden and
decisive action was taken, that the
hog business would not prove re-
munerative. This report aroused
the ire of Mr.. Whitmarsh, and he
declared that no bear, or set of bears,
should prey on his hogs with i'm
punity.
He obtained from friend of his,
o valuable hound, loaded up a lot
of shells with twelve buckshot in
each one, and boarded the train,
determined on engaging in a con-
troversy with the bears. He ar
rived ut the ranch-house the same
evening, and received detailed
account of his losses, which 80 far,
were not serious, numbering only
some six or eight hogs. The mis-
sing hogs, however, we're all very
large ones, and exceedingly fat.
There we're no signs discovered Of
any scuffle, or any remnants of
hogs, the hogs were simply missing,
except in one instance where the
half eaten carcass of hog was
found, that had been Just killed,
for the flesh was still warm. II
was decided to solve this mystery
before trying to kill any bears, and
the party proceeded to the woods,
to see if they could discover bear,
and if so, to follow him, and watch
him.
| A fresh bear trail was soon dis
covered, and was diligently follow.
ed. They finally caught. up with
the bear, and settled down to watch
him, the bear proceeded slowly,
keeping sharp look out
!, ahead. He presently 500 . large
hog stretched out on his side in a
mud hole, enjoying life. To the
,, surprise Of the watchers, the bear
, crouehed, and slipped around
, through the woods to the back Of
5 the hog, and then carefully drew
nearer, and nearer, until he was
, within reach of the hog, when in
4 stead of seizing the hog, he reached
! out one fore leg, and gently scratch
ed the hog on the side. The hog
). appeared to enjoy this, for hi
E stretched himself out full length
: The bear kept up the scratching
' gradually working around in from
o of the hog, until the hog could SET
q him. The hog half rose, but The
4 scratching was too much for him
4 and he settled back again.
y The bear then stopped scratch
. ing and drew back little, the hol
: edged nearer TO him, when tn,
scratching was resumed. Then tn,
= drawing back1ook place again, an,
r the result was, that the bear work
ed the thing SO we'll, that the hoI
$ actually got up and followed him
. few steps. The bear would conn
il back and scratch little, then h
: would move off, followed by tn
hog. Mr.. Whitmarsh followed tn
, bear and hog, until they arrived a
il a small opening, in which was
- pen built Of rails and slaves, di
u vided into two compartments, on
/. of which was empty and the othe
V contained four fat hogs. The bea
y with the hog in tow, tolled the no
{. into the empty compartment, whe
e he quickly slipped sliding doc
# across the entrance, and climbe
n out. The hog was penned. A slid
ir ing door between the two compart
d mcnts was drawn aside and the me-
E, captive had access to his compar
10 ions.
h Atthis moment another bear cam
j. in sight, and held what appcare
lie to be q conversation with the bes
M who had captured the hog, and j
ID a few minutes they both went o
at on a path into the woods. Nj
ID Whitmarsh followed, and in abol
le five minutes saw sight that h
e. will never forget. In small cles
a. place vas q fire, from which aros
a q smoke. Both bears threw on I'll
Is fire a stick or two they had brougl
RS along with them, and az Mr.. Viii
Mt marsh 'seye followed the course
a. Al ~ ~vvnnLa ka cau, encparIaA Eco,