St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-06-17

Iuo FI&uV anu ALLOW Iuo Aiue
prisoned Men to Escape-The
Most Belligerent Animals ON
Record.
ort TUNA (Cal.) Cor. Globe Democrat
! -. .he fall of 1857 party Of surveyors
zlett this post on duty in connection
with the mile posts and other land
marks distributed along the interna-
tiOnal boundary line between Upper
and Lower California. The first two
days out were pleasant enough, but the
third day proved anything but agree
able, for a drizZly, wet rain set in which
kept every one closely confined TO The
camp. While the moisture was falling
thick and fast Mexican officer, accom-
panied by an escort, rode up and
/ claimed shelter, which the surveyors
/ were glad enough to grant for the sake
Of their company.
The officer related startling story of
having encountered four large Mexican
lions not two hours previous, which ami
mails seemed quite ferocious and nun
cry, and actually had disputed their
passage through the chaparral. The
men Of that escort had fired and
wounded two OF the brutes. but the
quartette of monsters finally carried
themselves sulienly Off and disappeared
in the timber. He also said the country
was full of black-tail deer that were
racing through the timber and galloping
over the hills, and as for smaller game,
such as long-eared rabbits, sage hens
and chaparral cocks. they were so
numerous and tame that they could al
most be knocked over with clubs.
THE EXPEDITION.
Rain or no rain. this was an opportu-
nifty not to be lost, and three of the sur
veying party. accompanied by one of
The MeXicans. at once set cut for the
hills where tie game was said TO be.
They rode on through rocky, half
mountainous country covered with
stunted oaks and sharp-pointed chapar
raj, and then, far away in the distance,
on the summit of bunch of crags. they
deserted dozen objects outlined
against the sky which appeared to be
mountain sheep of the Sierra Madre
species.
1t was decided to stalk them: so the
party, after picketing the horses, di-
yided, two going up draw in the
mountains to the left and the other two
swinging around 70 the right, with a
mutual agreement to keep ON and finally
meet at the base of the crags to COM
pare notes. where the sheep had first
been seen.
Il was with the Me xican sergeant
said Mr.. Gaillard, one of the surveyors,
land we climbed to a ridge where,
peeping over, scanned the country for
half mile, but could see no living
creature. Then, from the right, where l
was not looking, like a dream cam Q
five beautiful blacktails, dashing
swiftly down the mountain valley, and
not 200 yards behind them were flu IL
pack of timber wolves i'll hot purSui t..
We both fired at once at the leader.
Down dropped the buck, tumbliny head
over heels in the rocks. and the others
scampered away at the top of their
| speed and soon disappeared around a
| bend in the canyon, Notwithstanding
| the shower of lead we sent after them.
| The wolves, at the first discharge, them
selves took to their heels III all opposite
| direction, and we never saw them after
ward
|
game each of us shouldered a moiety
and started off down the canyon to the
left to find our comrades. Never shall
| l forget the scene that met our eyes
| after we had advanced ABBOTT 400 yards
into the timber. Even while SHINING
and preparing our own game rapid and
continuous firing could be heard far off
to the left, but now upon approaching
nearer loud shouting and hallooing
came to our ears, which told US that
something unusual had happened or
was gong on. We dropped our meat
| and went forward rapidly. only to find
our two friends snugly up tree. with
only one gun between them, and sur
rounded by at least half hundred
Mexican jabatis. who held them
CLOSE PRISONERS.
6"These pughaciouS little brutes,"
| Gillard explained atterward, "are called
in Texas by the name of peocary, where
they are quite we'll and unfavurably
known; ana Of all the animals OH the
American continent they are certainly
the widest, most belligerent and
extremely daring little raseals ever
created. They will unhesitatingiy
attack overwhelming numbers. aud
of the word fear. But while the
Texas specimens are small, hardy and
exceedingly hostile, yet their cousins Oh
the further side of the Rio Grande are 9
dozen times more dangerous, for sslze
they almost equal full-grown hog, ano
armed with lancet tusks. double-edgeo
and keenly pointed. With these fearful
weapons, that cut like knives, they
often infiict such terrible wounds thai
one might better trust his limbs to the
tender mercies of buzz saw rathe,
than to the tusks of one Of these Great
ureS.
las soon as this drove of jabalis
spied us they abandoned their prisoners
at once, and with loud snorts charged
directly down Upon us at railroad speed
We took to our heels and ran for ouI
lives; but the sergeant, who Was evil
IDENTIFY used to their tactics, grasped my
hand firmly, and, darting out into the
canyon over the ragged rocks. we ran al
headlOng pace until we reached SORT
Of butte or mound, up which we scram-
bled in manner and style that l never
thought possible.
Here we, in turn, became prisoners
and amused ourselves by picking of
our assailants, who had formed circle
around our mound, snorting and grunt.
ing viciously, but apparently without
the sense or ingenuity of climbing ul
after US. Our broadsides had laid nine.
teen of them low, but somehow this die
not seem in the least to discourage
them, for they still grunted and snortee
and circled around the mound, intent
| lfDOn holding us SecurRly unfiI tho lac