The Republican., 1900-12-20
WILD HOG MEAT IN MARKET.
Packers Contemplate a Novel Estnh-
Iishment for the Southwest
ern Country.

in southwestern Arizona of late in
vestigating the advisability of estab-
fishing there a large packing house
at the head of the Gulf of Mexico,
where wild pork and turtles will be
perpared for the market. Over vast
stretches of territory along the south
ern part of the Colorado river wild
hogs roam in herds, sometimes of
great size. 1t is believed that the
supply will be large enough to keep
large plant in constant operation for
several years, at the same time rid
ding the country of a pest and maxi
ing room for the establishment of
big industry in the raising of the do
mestic hog in a locality peculiarly
adapted for that purpose, says the
New York Sun.
For about quarter of a century
wild hogs have been found in south
western Arizona, and their number
has been constantly increasing. The
animal grows to large size, feeding
almost entirely along the river on a
root peculiar to the Colorado ard
grass resembling a species of alfalfa
! or Chilian clover. OF all the game
in this part of the west there is none
other which entails so much danger
| in the hunting. AS a rule the hogs
&c in droves. and to attack one is to
encourage fierce onslaught from the
others. Only on horseback is it safe
to hunt the animals, and even then
one must have a mount quick in ac-
tion, as the hogs are incredibly swift
and almost if not quite as fast as the
average horse.
They are powerful brutes, with
lorg, lean limbs and heavy, muscular
joints attached to bodies which are
more like the razor backs" of the
south than anything else. Equipped
with long tusks, they can cut down
a horse in a twinkling, and man
on foot stands no chance for his life
in an attack from herd. If one of a
herd is killed the others seem to go
wild with rage and will attack a
party of almost any size. So danger
GUS is the practice of hunting them
that only an occasional party VEN
'o4SS " Oiy inc spOIb.
Several weeks ago a party from
Denver, here for the winter, went to
Yuma, and from there went on a hog
hunt. Accompanied by a Mexican
guide, they came upon a herd of 20
quietly feeding in a marsh along the
river bottom. Holding the dogs in
check, they fired a volley into the
herd, killing four and wounding an
other. Turning like lightning and fol-
lowing the lead of a great boar the
remainder of t e herd charged in the
direction of the firing. The hunters
rushed to where their horses were
standing and all but one mounted
and escaped. The man who was last
to reach the horses was about to leap
into the saddle when his mount broke
her halter and dashed away. Drop
ping his rifle, the man climbed a small
willow tree, getting out of reach just
as the herd rushed up and tore at the
small trunk in an effort to dislodge
him. Perched on a limb he used his
revolver with good effect, while the
dogs worried the herd, and his
friends, returning to the rescue
picked off the besiegers until only
three or four were left. These hur-
ried to the river bank, and, tumblng
down the steep sides, disappeared in
the brush. In three days the party
killed nearly 100 hogs, and, smoking
and drying the meat, sent it into Los
Angeles.
There is a difference of opinion as
to the origin of the Arizona wild hog.
According to one theory, Thomas
Blythe, more than 20 years ago,
sought to establish colony at the
head of the gulf of California and one
of the industries established was pig
raising. A large number of thorough
bred hogs were procured, and when
the colony failed the pigs were turned
out. Fostered by the abundance of
wild feed the herd grew and spread
over great eXpanse of river bottom,
until now there are doubtless several
hundred thousand scattered along the
river.
Contrary to this belief the Indians
say that the wild hog has been ma
tive of this territory as far back as
their traditions reach, but they say
that the hogs have increased in size,
a condition which brings out theory
that the Blythe hogs were probably
crossed with the wild pigs which were
there before they were turned out to
shift for themselves. Wild hog meat
is of peculiarly fine flavor, that Of
the younger pigs being far superior
to the pork from domestic swine.
The packing of turtles is intended
to be an important part of the pro-
posed industry. The turtles in the
lower Colorado grow to immense size
and their flesh is in great demand
in California, whence many of them
are sent east. Heretofore the freight
rates have been a bar to the industry,
it having been necessary to ship the
turtles alive, thus sending along
many parts which are not available
for food and making the price of the
good parts out of the reach of the
average epicure. By packing only the
useful parts of the turtle for ship
ment east the promoters of the plant