The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-05-28
INTERVIEWED A BOAR
Fishermen's Thrilling Encoun-
ter in Skagit Woods.
THEY DID NOT FEEL soclAeLE.
so They Tried to Avoid His Company
and Threw Clubs and ExpIetives
When He Showed Persistence.


neE, accompanied by his cousin, III. :.
Bonestell. Of the same city. who returned
from fishing trip IN the Skagit river
country last evening and are guests az
the BUtler hotel. tells a story OF an tn-
tereS1nS experience ne ard party Of
friends had with wild boar in the Skagit
woods They were not afraid OF the
beast. but they avoided his proximity
with great agility. This is how Mr. Bon
estell told the story:
Fishing in the river is not very good
just at present for the water IS high and
muddy. but wien the river is clear the
fishing is excellent. The streams in the
vicinity OF Mount Vernon are good. how
ever, and the trout simply swim around
waiting and praying for some one 10
come and pull them out. \ few days ago
a party consisting Of Judge Henry Nc
Bride. DIR. F. b. West and my cousin and
myself went up the Sxagit 10 BirdSview
and enjoyed some angling in that vicinity.
Finny creek was too muddy for success
ful sport and We started for Grandy
lake. where we were told that trout were
plentiful. We struck out through the
woods. and the trail led through beau
tiful maple grove with dense underground
and jungles on all sides.
THE day was warm but we were hav-
ing great time enjoying our walk in
the shade of trees when we suddenly
came upon wild boar lying IN a puddle
in the Middle of the road. He was big
fellow and he eyed us savagely. but did
not move and we all stood on the de-
fensive. | threw a club at him and he
got up, and I'll takesa solemn oath he
was as big as an elephant. No, | won't
take back a word: he was as big as some
elephants, anyway. | did not like his
. looks so l threw another clue at him.
That made him mad and his hair stood
up a foot all over his back and ne
al sau vaix II .
the foam came from his chops in
stream. He made for us and we moved
away. We were not afraid of him, out
did not like TO get separated from the
judge, and he was making pretty good
time. When we caught UP to ham. the
boar was not in sight and told them. as
] had before, that there was no occasion
for alarm and the beast was frightened
to death of us. Well. that treasured them
and | led the way back. Very soon We
: came upon the boar again and we armed
ourselves with clubs and advanced SLOWLY
but determinedly. Every time we would
go forward he would come at US ana theh
We would have to run down the tran TO
bring the Judge hack. Finally | succeea-
ed in driving the boar about hundred
feet. where we could see another tran
branching off The boar walked into this
trail and stood there.
The Judge and my cousin started on,
thinking the old fellow had bid US good
by but when they saw him standing IN
the road they made a dash TO get beyond,
and the way they tried TO crowd eAch
other off the face of the earth 10 get on
the side opposite from the boar would
have made you die laughing. My cousin
would not give up the inside. for he be-
ueyed his life depended on keeping his
position and, in his efforts TO get away
the Judge lost the tail OF his coat on
projecting limb and damned the end OF
his fishing rod into nay cousins eye. Their
frantic efforts enraged the boar and he
came for me like an express train, ana l.
well [ climbed on top of an eISht-foot
stump and stood guard with a big club.
| made up my mind that If he climbed
that stump after me l would hit him on
the nose and--then l guess | tainted
away | don't know what would have be-
come of me If he had climbed that stump.
but he didn't. The rest of them stood at
a safe distance and DIR. West ana the
Judge swore at the boar in Spanish. tThey
both speak Spanish nowadays, but 1t
sounds more like Portuguese. They have
a patent accent all their OWN But that
only enraged the animal and he kept me
there for three-quarteI7s of an hour.
Finally he meandered of in the brush
and let me come down.
''The fishing in Grandy creek is fine and
we filled our creels in very short time.
Then we got a canoe and Coated all the
way down the Skagit river to Mount
Vernon"
Mr. Bonestell was once a resident OF
Skagit county and also had interests in
Fairhaven during the palmy days of that
city. and he will never forget the excel
lent fishing which the residents Of that
part of the state enjoy. He is an expert
angler and is thoroughly content when
he can get out in the woods and whip the
mountain streams with the seductive fly.
He and his cousin leave for San Fran
cisco on the Umatilla this morning.