Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1903-03-12
THE OREGON WILD HOG
Fierce Brutes That Roamed
This Section In Early Days.

In the early days of Southern
Oregon, before the railroad came with
its stimulus of progress and enter
prise, Grants Pass was stage station
situated about a mile north of the
present town site. This little valley
was a quiet one then, ranching and
stock raising being the principal in
dustries Supplies were brought in
by freight team from Roseburg, then
the terminus of the railroad.
In those days game was plentiful
Whenever a ranchher wanted venison
he had only to shoulder his gun and
walk a short distance into the woods
in any direction. There were deer in
plenty and bears, panthers and kind.
red beasts were by no means scarce.
One of the gamest Of game animals
that roved the Southern Oregon woods
in those days was the wild hog. The
wild hog Of this section was not a
native; he was simply tame hog run
wild, civilized beast relapsed into
barbarism. But it is astonishing how
soon these hogs would lose all the
indications and elements of domestic
ity and becomes truly wild beasts as
any of the carnivora whose compan-
ons they were. In about two gener-
ations of savagery, the wild hog de-
veloped into a ferocious and formidable
beast. He developed the razor
back" style, lean and bony, swift of
foot, with head and fore quarters alb
normally developed and hindl quart
ers correspondingly shrunk away.
His form was modelled much after
the same fashion as that of the bison
of the plains and fierce row of brist-
les answered for name and complet-
ed the effect His overgrown muzzle
was armed with long and desperately
wicked "tushes, " formidable weapons
when propelled by the powerful neck
muscles of the enraged beast. The
wild hog was fighter and there was
little fear in his composition. He
went his own wild way and knew no
deviation from a course when once his
head was set in any direction. His
appearance proclaimed his character
and pugnacity glared from every fea-
ture.
Sometimes the ranchers would hunt
the wild hogs and shoot them down in
the woods like deer, At other times
they would catch the animals, shut
them up in pens and fatten them. The
operation of capturing the ferocious
brutes was exciting, with quite a con.
siderable element of danger. In those
days, one or more "hog dogs" were u
necessity on every ranch. These were
specially trained dogs, usually, though
not always, large and powerful ami
mails. Their work was to catch the
hogs and hold them and in this opera.
tion they were wonderfully intelli.
gent and proficient.
The hogs ran in droves. The ir
hunters, probably two or three in
number, mounted on horseback, rode
through the woods, each man carry
ing with him "A supply Of buckskin
thongs or other strong cords or
strings. When the grunting, squeal-
ing herd was sighted, usually in head
long flight, the word was given to the
eager dog, who would rush forward,
select his animal and seize it by the
ear, If the dog was an artist, with
pride in his profession, he would al.
most invariably select the biggest,
strongest and flercest hog in the herd
The ear was the hogs vulnerable
point Seized in this manner, he
would do nothing but stand braced,
his feet wide apart, his neck twisted
to one side, and squeal vociferously.
The men would ride up, leap from
their horses, seize the hog by the
hind legs and tie him securely, the
dog all the while holding on persist
emily to the ear. The hog was then
left helpless on the ground, while the
hunters followed the herd and re.
pcatcd the operation until they had
as many hogs secured as they wished.
After capturing the hogs, they would
drive around with wagon and pick
them up
II by any chance the dog missed his
hold on the ear or it was broken by
the hog, then let dog and men beware.
The hog struck yiciously with his
'tushos," swinging his head from
side TO side. Many brave "hog dog"
had met his death from only one blow
Of the tusks, bleeding to death in a
few minutes from deep and wicked
cut In the neck or breast.
The hcrceness Of the wild hog was
AN inhorn trait Even the little pigs,
scarcely out Of babyhood, would fight
dercely when brought into sudden
captivity and would plunge with in
fantile grunts Of defiance at every
living thing in sight Their appear.
ance was so warlike and the "bluf"
so vehement, that a man would have
to be possessed Of more than ordinary
nerve If he did not take TO the fence
when charged by one Of these fero-
cious little beasts.
STUDENTS RAMBLING CLUB