Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-03-04
"Rattlers" in Texas.

eve want the real thing with plenty
of excitement" said A. A. Martin, w.
w. Kellogg, and D. W. Whipple. when
they engaged Hardaway Evans as
guide for a ten days hunt near Pry-
or's ranch.
You'll git it," answered Evans sen
tenticusly. and before the hunt was
ended they had fought wild hogs. killed
large and small game, and battled with
rattlesnakes.
Each member of the party had mar
row escapes from reptile fangs. MI
Martin was struck several times on his
knee boots by rattlers and Dr. Whip
rle had one particular narrow escape
from being bitten in the face.
Mr.. Kellogg and DIR. Whipple having
trailed a deer until they were tired,
selected a spot for rest on a hillside
that seemed snakeless, and after chat
ting tor time both took q nap.
DR.. Kellogg was awakened by a rat
Ting sound, and as he opened his eyes
he saw a monstrous RATHER, coiled
ready to spring at his face. He
whirled with all his power and rolled
in an opposite direction and down the
hill. 1t was a timely movement, for
9 moment later, he believes, he would
have been bitten. The snake was
quickly killed.
There were other terrors than snakes
and among them We're herds of jave-
Inns. or wild hogs. 1t was these ami
mals(that Lady Constance Mackenzie
journtyed from Scotland to Texas to
hunt four years ago. She was the
guest of Mrs. King, the Texas cattle
queen. To hunt wild hogs is a mark
OF courage on the part of any NimrOd
and the one who goes into it knowing
ly is usually well posted on what he is
facing. The hunt If President Roose-
Welt on the Pryor ranch is regarded as
one Of the gamest of his exploits.
The first member of the party to en-
counter javelins was Mr.. Kellogg. He
did not know there was a pack in the
bush when he got II shot at rather long
range at scouting boar. His shot was
lucky, as the boar fell dead. A mo-
ment later the whole pack rushed from
cover, snorting and crcling from sight
of the foe. Kellogg gave the danger
signal, and DR.. Whipple joined him.
The hogs sighted the two hunters and
charged. There was no time to waste.
lNo StIuD bdhS were near
at hand, and in the nick Of time the
hunters Skinned UP. one in either tree.
The guns had been felt on the ground.
There was not much to do except to
wait and hone. The hunters We're
high enough to prevent the hogs tusk-
ing them. After three hours of sus-
pense the hogs seemed to grow weary
of the watch and slowly departed. A
halfhour later the two hunters recov-
cred their guns and retreated to camp.
The toughness of the hide of a ma
tive pig was shown by a shot Martin
made with his 1903 Savage rifle at
ninety yards. 1t was big boar Mr.
Evans was in the vicinity at the time.
A broadside of the boar was present
ed and Martins bullet struck it just
back of the middle of the body, two
inches from the hip. There was no
penetration and the bullet mush-
roomed and fell to the ground.
The blow was sufficient, however. to
render the headquarters of the boar
useless. and it dragged it's legs as it
moved forward.
Martin believed the shot would prove
efectual and did not fire again, but
advanced on the hog. The animal
waited until he was near, and then
charged again, dragging its hind feet.
Inc movement was 50 quick that
Martin did not have to time to fire,
but he lodged behind a tree and
drew his bowie knife. The hog cir
cled after him and would have ripped
MN with its tusks but for one lucky