Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-08-07
WILD noes OF ARIZONA.
They Roam in Buud' of Thousands
Along tho Colorado.

Thew Roam III iSAhhN w
Along tho Colorado.
san Francisco Chronicle.
The widest OF wild hogs live both
above and below Yuma, on the Colorado
river. While the steamer was lying at
Castle Dome landing, few days since,
loading with ore, a fine band OF
them on the opposite shore
came down to the river to feed
on the banks, where the grass and
weeds were green, and to get drink OF
water. They paid no attention to the
boat, nor to the Indians at work. After
loafing around for awhile an OLD boar
came out of the brush, and, on espying
US, gave a swish" and away they all
went. Hardly day passes that the In
dams and cattlemen do not run upon
them. These bands seem to be more
timid than ugly.
When the late Thomas Blythe was
trying TO settle colony at Lerdo, about
IS miles below Yuma, on the Colorado,
he sent down a large number OF very
fine fuii-blooded Berkshire and Poland
China pigs, and turned them loose on
the banks OF the river near -Lerdo,
where they lived on the roots, grass,
weeds. tules and mesquite beans;
bred, multiplied, kept fat, and fIled
the low and tue lands with large
number OF fine porkers. Never seeing
a human being, except now and then a
lone Indian, they soon became wild and
wilder still, and scattered until the low
lands and woods are full Of them.
Notwithstanding that the coyotes
slaughtered the little ones In great
numbers, they have increased until II Is
estimated that at the present time there
are more than 10000 Of them roaming
IN and down the Colorado and Hardle
rivers from their mouths up as high as
the tide runs, or from So TO 20 miles this
side Of the gulf.
They go wherever they please; moth
ing stops them ia their course. When
the Colorado Is at its food they will
cross it from shore TO shore, even near
the Hardis, where it Is four miles VIDE
when at its highest gauge. Their range
gives them the finest OF feed-wild
sweet potatoes, tules, stray fish, clans,
dead turtles and seaweed along the river
bank at low tide. They are unmoIested,
except now and then by hunter VINO
finds his way down the river. Most OF
the hunters give the wild swine q wide
berth, except now and then as they
happen to spy nice little rooster On
the bank and within easy rifle shot.
A few years ago man aud his family
were living few miles below the colo
ny. on the bank OF the Colorado. lie
had a pair OF very fine, large stag
hounds, which the owner claimed could
run down and kill any wild bog in that
region. One day be took dogs and riiia
and went for nice little one, just right
| for the over. He had not gone FAR be-
fore he found large band Of hogs, and
| turned his dogs loose on them. No
sooner had they started, when out OF
the tule nearby jumped an enormous
/ boar, a monster, VINO, with mouth Vlde
| ouen, paving no attention to the dogs,
| made for the hunter. The latter drew
I'D his rifle and fred, but on came the
boar. the dogs nippiug him at every
| jump.
The hunter fred second shot, but
on came the beast. The hunter turned
and ran for a mesquite tree a few yards
| distant, the hog close 10 his heels. lie
drouped his gun and jumped for life,
graspIng limb OF the tree just as the
hog grabbed his trousers and tore one
/ half Of them from him, but he was safe,
inst out OF reach. The dogs all this
/ while ran grabbing the hog by the hind
legs. TO which the beast paid no atten-
| ton.
The mad boar seized the bark Of the
tree in his great tusks and tore il into
shreds. Finally he turned upon the
dogs, instantly killed enc and wounded
the other so that it died soon after. He
then turnsd his attention 10 the tree
where sat tie hunter. II guarded hin
until fl was dark. Twice did the MAJ
get down and try TO get his rife. bat
his foe was on guard aud drove him
back up the tree. During the night the
| boar left. Daylight came and so DID
help. The~msn had hardly reached the
river and gof>in their boat, when down
came the old hog after them in vain
pursuit.