Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1903-03-16

rltory correspondent OF the ST. Louis
Republic.
y Game Of all kinds, such as deer, wild
turkey, pheasant, quail, etc., is to be
found in the greatest abundance, and
old hunters and trappers say more
abundantly than at any former period
within the memory of living man.
OF the class denominated "var-
mints," such as wolves, panthers, cata-
mounts, wildcats and the various other
species Of lynXes, there are enough and
to spare, but they cause little alarm
in comparison to the terror inaugurated
by the droves of wild hogs, coming
from no one knows where, but now
roaming by thousands in the cane
brakes of the Illinois River.
These ferocious animals seem to have
little in common with the ordinary
denizens OF the pig pen. They are
gaunt of form. long legged, with heavy
shoulders and. enormous heads, gar
nished with long yellowish tusks, one
thrust Of which is generally sufficient
to disembowel Il horse or steer. They
are covered with hair or bristles Of
Irownish rcd color, and harsh and
penetrating as the Quills of porcu-
pine.
Several have already been victims
of these savage animals, and J. z. Nc
Gee, booklleeper for Newton & Norris,
has just had an experience that has
thicllly fecked his auburn hair with
gray.
He is an ardent sportsman, and early
in the morning FASTENED to that sports.
mans paradise, Cookson, on the Illi-
nois.
His luck was good, and by . o'clock
be had succeeded in filling his bag, and
was thinking OF returning home, when
his attention was attracted by rust
ling in the cane, and he discovered a
young pig rolling in the soft earth.
He raised his gun, fired and wounded
the pig.
Its sQueals of agony were answered
by hundreds of ferocious. grunts. and
from every side the enraged animals
came pouring in.
McGee is 4 Scotch Irishman, q cool,
clever, quick -witted chap, and he real
lied in an instant that he was up
against Il hard proposition, but his
coolness and presence of mind never
deserted him.
A small pecan tree stood near, and
In moment he was safely ensconced
amid its topmost branches, and quite
beyond reach of any hog. The animals
kept coming in from every quarter,
| and it soon appeared that there We're
\ thousands in the drove. The glunting,
shouting and squealing was appalling.
and the appearance of the animals
themselves, with red, fiery eyes and
foam-flecked jaws no less so.
McGee felt reasonably safe, as it
seemed impossible for the enraged ami
mails to reach his refuge, and the worst
he anticipated was long roost in the
tree. The wild hogs glared up at him,
and leaped high in the air, but failed
to reach the quarry. Time and again
the larger hogs made the attempt, but
at last all seemed to understand the
futility OF further trial.
Four immense wild boars suddenly
began roofing as If for life at the root
of the tree. The now thoroughly terri
fed hunter gave himself up for lost.
He understood the intention of the
hogs-to uproot the tree and thus Sc
cure their enemy. He was entirely
helpless; nothing he could do would
postpone his fate fleeting moment
The hogs rooted in q rapid manner,
\ and from his perch the unwilling
watcher peered down upon them.
Fortunately for him, a pecan tree
has tap root, and the root of this
tree seemed to fill crevice or inter-
stice in the rock, and when this was
reached the efforts of the animals were
unavailing, although time and again
they renewed them with savage en-
ergy.
All through the night the hogs kept
on guard but as day began to break
they gradually began to diminish in
numbers, and by sun-up none were
left.
Cautiously the tired hunter descend
ed from his tree and made his way
to J. II. Cookson's, who at once
brought him to this place in his car
riage. He was very nervous and weak.
but the doctors said he would be him
self again in few days.