The Portland daily press., 1900-07-24
ROOSEVELT'S WILD BOAR
HUNTS.
He Mixed in tn Fray In Way That
Made Him Solid in Western Texas.

though he has been lifelong Democrat
he will vote for Mckinley and Roosevelt
on Nov. 6. He will vote for Mckinley
because Roosevelt is on the ticket. He
has the greatest admiration for the char
acter and courage of Roosevelt and his
conception of these qualities comes from
a personal experience with the Rough
Rider candidate for vice-president.
Several years ago." Mr.. Castleman
said, 81 was in New York city on bust
ness. L had a friend who knew Mr..
Roosevelt, who at that time was Police
Commissioner of the city of New York.
In that way I met the distinguish ed gen
tleman, and we had quite social con-
versation. I was struck with his knowl-
edge of ranch affairs ana the Western
country. 1t seemed to me that / was
talking to-a veteran west Texas cownan.
When he had explained to me that he
had ranch in Montana where he spent
much of his time, I could account for his
knowledge of the rough life of the West.
Our talk turned to hunting experiences,
and be related some of his exciting en-
counters with bears and other big animals
of the Rockies. Now, down in my coun-
try, there are tho usands of javelines, or
wild hogs, and they are the most Vicious
animals sportsman ever tackled. In
fact, they are SO dangerous that few
hunters have the courage to 90 after them,
and they are left severely alone by the
sportsInen who visit that section in search
Of deer and wild turkeys. 1 asked Mr..
Roosevelt II he had ever hunted the iave-
line. He replied that he had not, and
asked for information concerning their
prOcIiVities from a spOrtsman's stand
point. After l had pictured the vicious
fights made on hunters by the wild boars
he remained silent minute, and, turn
ing to me said:
@ If you will agree to pilot me to the
running ground OF these wild hogs, Ill
take run down and see you when 1 get
little leisure.
81 assured him that it would give me
great pleasure to have him for my guest
on my IeXaS ranch, and after he had
taken my address we parted, / returned
to my home, and the conversation had
passed entirely out of my mind until it
was recalled by telegram which / re-
ceiyed one morning from MIR. Roosevelt.
1t was dated New York, and simply
asked me to meet him at Sabinal on ar
rival Of the West-bOund California train
on the Southern Pacific on a day which
he named. You may be sure 1 was sur
priSed but / was on hand when the train
arrived. [ hardly recognized Mr.. Roose-
welt when he came up and greeted me.
He was dressed like all frOntiersman,
including high-heeD boots, corduroy
clothes and big SLOUGH hat. He carried
his hunting case in his hand, and that
was the only baggage that he Ehad. I led
the way to the tWO-hOrse blackboard and
after we were seated and ready to start
h9 asked me how far It was to the jave-
lines. l had supposed that he had come
all the way from New York to spend some
time-seyeraI days. at least-hunting with
me, but he informed me that he had to
leave on that nights train for New York,
and he could only spend one day hunting
the wild hogs. He would not accept my
pressing invitation to spend several days
as my guest, and when / saw he could
not be moved from his original decision,
l drove direct to the running grounds of
the JaYellneS along the upper course of
the LeOna river. After a few hours of
hard driving we reached a spot where
there were fresh signs of the javelines
having fOraged whereabouts. I told Mr..
Roosevelt that the bOars were so vicious
that they had been known to tear a man
to pieces with their tusks, and advised
him to be cautious when he came upon
the animals, lying the horses to a mes
quite bush we started out in search of the
wild hogs.
''The trail separated and followed it
took the other branch Of it. We had not
parted fifteen minutes when / heard sew
eral reports of his repeating rifle. The
reports were In rapid succession and
knew he had run into drove Of javelines
and was up against them hard. / rushed
forward as fast as L GOULD go and just be-
fore I reached him I heard pistol shots
coming from his direction. When 1 got
to the little clearing where I could see
what was going on 1 saw Mr.. Roosevelt
standing there with his back against
scrubby liYe-Oak tree pumping bullets
from his revolver into mammoth wild
boar that was lunging at him with his
long tusks. The boar had already torn
the tops Of Mr.. Rooseyelts boots into
shreds and did not seem to mind the bull
let's that were being rapidly planted into
his body 1t is an old saying that it takes
a pound of lead to kill a javeline, and
Mr.. ROOsevelst vowed that he must have
put that much metal into that old ami
NAL. l took careful aim with my Win
chester and sent bullet through the !
boars' heart and he ggave kup the ghost. |
Lying around the tree within q radius of |
ten yards were four other large javelines !
which Mr.. Roosevelt had killed before the |
old boar had cOrnere1 him. Several small |
pigs which were in the drove had scam !
pered into the underbrush when the |
shooting began. Mr.. Roosevelt did not |
seem to realize the chances he had taken |
in firing into the drove of wild hogs, and |
the excitement of the vicious attack made |
by the old boar gave him the greatest |
pleasure imaginable. He cut out the
great tusks Of the boar and took them
home with him as trophies OF the hunt. |
We failed to come across any more iave-
lines and drove Mr.. Roosevelt back to
Sabinal and he took the evening train |
for New York.
. Just think, he rode all that distance to |
enjoy the excitement OF a javeline hunt. |
lie made another quick trip to the same |
section few months later and spent |
only one day and killed several 1avelines.
l next saw him at San Antonio, when |
he was there with his Rough Rider |
regiment at the outbreak of the Spanish
American war. He told me he was GO
ing to visit me again when he got back |
from the war, but he has been so busy
with, poll tics since then that he has not
done so. [ wouldn't be surprised, how
ever, to receive a telegram from him any
day telling me to meet him at Sabinal |