The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1889-08-03
FLORIDA WILD HOGS.
Fierce Little Man-Eaters Whose Natures
Know No Fear.

Fierce Little Man-Eaters Whose Natures
Know No Fear.
One of the many terrors that the
Northern huntsman has to deal with in
Southern Florida is the ferocious wild
hog. No one who has not encountered
this animal can appreciate its thorough
"cussedness." They are among the
fercest animals that inhabit the wilds
Of any land. although but little is
known of them right here in our own
country. The wild hog of Florida will
attack any thing; he seems to fear
nothing, and is by great odds holder
fighter than the bear. There is MOTH
ing foxy about him. He does not pos
sess any of the traits of the coyote or
the wolf, but will march fearlessly into
a fight, alone, unaided, and with the
odds against him. When assaulted he
becomes fiend incarnate and will at
tack any thing from a cougar to an
alligator. He has none of the fear
which the latter possesses. and while
he keeps away from the cavernous
jaws of the alligator as much as pos
sible, yet he does not fear to assail
him, and if on dry land, will swoop
down upon the alligator without the
slightest provocation. and the chances
are that in less than an hours time
there will not be a shred of the alli-
gator left to tell of the terrible conflict,
except the hide and skull.
The huntsman would rather run into
school of sleeping. man-eating, alli-
gators, or den of rattlesnakes, than
take his chances with the hog. He is
by far the most dangerous foe that
hunter can encounter in the wilderness.
If he stumbles upon pack of them I'M
knowingly he is, nine times out of ten,
a dead hunter. Even should he sue
coed in killing any of them, he does
not escape, for their dismal death por-
tending bowls soon bring reinforce
ments by the dozen. They attack the
hunter at all points. While some are
snarling and swapping at his legs.
others are springing upon him from all
sides. some have him by the throat, and
others are upon his arms.
To shake them off is an utter inn
possibility. 1t can not be done. Soon
the hunter becomes weak, and sinks to
the ground from utter exhaustion.
When this stage arrives the balance is
comparatively easy work for the hog,
and the sportsman soon shares the same
fate as the luckless alligator. Their
teeth are small and as sharp as razor,
and they have been known to gnaw at
tree for hours in their mad efforts to
appease their hunger.
! Should hunter be fortunate enough
ses css srsf to navea good
sized tree within easy distance, he may
save his life by taking to it, but he is
even then in bad way. The hogs are
bound to scent him out, and as soon as
they do they are sure to range them
selves about the base of the tree and
remain there for hours, until hunger
compels them to start in search OF pab-
ulum Even then the old-timers will
not leave until they have thoroughly
shown their disgust by champing their
foaming jaws at the fugitive; and
their little eyes, full of malice, seem to
snap sparks of ferocious fire. For a
Northerner whos contemplates hunting
in South Florida, l would advise him
to steer clear of the everglades, unless
accompanied by an experienced native.
who knows the haunts of these man.
eaters, and how to contend with him.
Pittsburgh Dispatch.