Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-05-04
&S5yBSBy8SB88S8 I A Pig Sticking ]"
 Adventure & &
 By cAPrAIH EARRY eRovsR

Y II O of sport in India. none can compare with boar hunting-or "pig-sticking," as 1t is there more generally termed for excitement, and that most alluring of all elements of sport, certain amount of risk which all who participate know they will have to run.
 have had more than one dangerous adventure with wild elephants, tigersand bears, but I never have been in such real peril as 1 was on the first occa- sion that tried my hand at pig-stick- ing. Those who have never seen wild boar when brought to bay wound. ed. cannot possibly form any conception of what dangerous. vindictive and for midable animal 1t is
 On one occasion, party of three ol us started from Barrackpoor, a large military cantonment near Calcutta, on pig-sticking expedition. We were all mounted on Arab steeds, which were thoroughly trained to the sport, and which had withstood many a charge from an infuriated boar. This trip had been planned some days previous ly, and our servants and beaters had been sent on ahead of us. When we reached the rendezvous, a few miles out of Barrackpoor, we found our com rades anxiously awaiting our arrival. with the intelligence of several wild boars having been seen to enter patch of jungle about a mile distant from where our camp was pitched.
 We made all our preparations, looked to the tightening of our saddle-girths. and with our spears in hand we at once set oil, followed by our beaters.
 They had hardly entered the patch oi jungle. and commenced to beat when out rushed huge boar, one of the largest we had ever seen. My horse was young, and frantic with excitement. and it was with difficulty that could hold him. But it was not the first time had ridden after boars. and at last managed to bring him into something like control My two companions, Aus tin and Staples, were close behind me. and we soon closed on the boar, with, such even advantage that it would have been almost impossible to say who led For 200 or 300 yards we raced togeth- CT, each with an eye on the boar. but every now and then, glancing at each other, the great object being to secure first spear"-that is, to be the first to draw blood from the boar.
 It is not always the first rider that secures the first spear, though, of course, the lead gives great advan. tage, and for that reason there is al. ways a great struggle for 1t.
 The boar was but few lengths ahead of us. showing evident signs that the pace was beginning to tell upon him; and just then I drew little in advance of my companions, and my gallant nag, answering to the spurs, with my spear extended far in front. I tried to stick the boar But at that very moment he gave a sharp turn and my horse, dash- ing past, lost my opportunity. Aus. tin. who was close behind, took advan. tage of the sudden turn. and wheeling his horse round, met the boar. and suc- ceeded in touching him, calling out: "First spear."
 The boar now made another sharp turn. and it was all that Staples could do to avoid the charge of the maddened brute. which now ran behind low hedge and hugged it so close as to render it difhcult, for us to get him out Deter mined that he should come out into the open. came up palongside him and drove my spur deep into his side as he made . sudden half turn and tried to charge. My horse swerved a little. and he be- haved nobly. and withdrawing my spear. I was soon ready for action.
 Wheeling around. met Austin. who had just received . charge from the boar, and a serious broadside collision took place between us. Both of us were shaken in our seats. and Austin's horse nearly fell. but we managed to pull our selves and our nsgs together, and the attack was renewed