Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1905-05-13

/ A" Sticking
Adventure ~ ~
BY CAPTAIN HARRY GROVER


nF ALL the many different varieties
" OF sport In India none can compare
with boar huuuur "pig-sticling. d.
as IL is there NOR, generally termed
Tor excitement and that most alluring
OF all elements of sport. "a certain amount
OF risk which all who participate know
they will have To- run.
have had more than one dangerous
adventure with wild elephants. tigers and
bears. but ! never have been in such
real peril as was ON the first occa-
sion that / tried my hand at pig-stick.
ing Those who have never seen o
wild boar when brought 90 bay wound.
ed, cannot possibly form any conception
OF what dangerous. vindictive and for.
midable animal ID u.s.
On one occasion party OF three OF
us started from Barackpoor. a large
military enrichment 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 Infatuated boar This trim
had been planned some days previous.
ly. and our servants and beaters had
t'f- AN va tAN Nl us W INL ~
reached the rendezvous a few miles out
OF Barrackpoor. We found our com.
rades anNiously awaiting our arrival
with the intelligence OF several wild
bears having been seen 20 enter patch
OF jungle about mile distant from
where our camp was pitched.
We made all our preparations. looked
10 the tightening OF our. saddle-girths
and with our spears in hand We at once
set on, followed by our heaters.
They had hardly entered the patch of
jungle. and commenced TO beat. when
out rushed a 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 IL was not the first time J
had ridden after boars. and at last I
managed To bring him into sometime
like control. Ny two companions. Aus.
tin and Staples. were close behind me
and we soon closed on the boar. with
such even advantage that il would have
been almost impossible TO say who led
For 200 or 300 yards we raced toeeth.
er. each with an eve on the boar
but every now and then. glancipa
at each other the great object being
TO secure first spear"-that is to he
the hrst TO draw blood from the boar.
It is not always the first rider tina,
secures the first spear. though. of
course, the lead gives great advan.
tage, and for that reason there is al
ways great struggle for il.
The boar was but a few lengths ahead
or us, showing evident signs that the
pace was beginning to tell upon him.
and just then drew a little in advance
or my companions. and my gallant nag
answering 10 the spurs. with nv smear
extended far in front / tried TO stick
the boar. But at that very moment he
gave sharp turn and my horse. dash
ing past. lost my opportunity. Aus
tin, who was close behind. took advan.
t2ge OF the sudden turn. and wheelins
his horse round. met the boar. and sue.
ceeded in touching him. calling out:
First spear"
The boar now made another sharn
turn, and IL was all that Staples could
do TO avoid the charge OF the maddeped
brute. which now ran behind low hedge
and Rugged il so close as TO render il |
difficult for us to get him out Deter
mined that he should come out into the
open, l came up alongsideo OF him and drove
my spur deep into his side as he made
a sudden half turn and tried TO charge
MY horse swerved a little. and he be-
hsved nobly. and Withdrawing my spear,
was soon ready for action.
Wheeling around. / met Austin, who
had just received a charge from the
boar, and a serious broadside collision