Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1909-12-17
THE VICIOUS PECcARY
A Fierce Creature Is the South
American Wild Boar.
He IS SMALL, BUT FEARLESS

WilbAttsek Man or Any Animal In Ex-
istencs on the Slightest Provoeation
and Will Fight to the Dsath-A Bat
tie With . Jseuar.
During one Of his journeys into Mex
ko Edward W. Walton. q mining ex-
pert. had close call from being sliced
TO shreds by the fierce little South
American pigs known as peccaries. He
told the story Of his escape to a Den
yer Post reporter.
II wished TO secure some plumes
| from number OF the beautifully plum
,, aged BIRDS" said Mr.. Walton. ~ went
Into the jungle and came TO q small
opening In which there were dry
leaves. probably a foot In depth. COW
ering the ground. and hundreds OF
beautifully colored tropical birds In
the air and In the trees fred at one
of the birds in flight, when II seemed
, TO me the whole area OF these dead
+, leaves arose In front of and all around
me. Being stranger. naturally was
much frightened. especially when I
saw the animals which raised up the
leaves apparently ready for an attack.
The older animals opened and closed
their mouths. showing their big. sharp
tusks, formed much like dirk knife,
and some OF them started toward me.
lmpulsiveiy | commenced firing my
gun In the afr and turned around,
which seemed to stop most OF them
momeutarily. and as I had lots of car
tridges ! kept up the shooting. and
they turned and ran away. found
afterward that had saved my life
by so doing and by not shooting any or
the animals.
THESE animals proved to be pecca-
ries. They are most ferocious and will
attack any animal In existence on the
slightest provocation. When I got
back 10 headquarters and told my CON-
panions my experience was informed
that bad shot one OF the animals and
made him squeal the whole bunch
would have been on me and would
have torn me TO pieces quickly. They
nave been known to kill bears. jaguars,
cattle, horses and any number OF dogs.
Although in the hght SCOPES OF their
number might be killed. they seem to
nave no fear when once aroused.
" was told the peccaries burrow un.
DER the dry leaves 10 protect them.
selves from mosquitoes and other
winged pests OF that hot country. NY
friends bad many exciting experiences
70 tell In regard TO these ferocious lit
tle animals. One OF this party. while
travelling With companion In wag-
on. stopped for lunch under some trees
and turned their horses out to Craze,
While at lunch large bunch OF pee
carries appeared, and they thought 1t
would be nice to shoot among them
and get one or two for meat, so they
fred into them. wounding several.
which commenced To squeai. Then the
whole bunch made ali attack. The men
climbed quickly into the wagon aud
Kept on shooting SO long as the am-
muniton which they had In their
pockets lasted. AS they were opening
their bags TO get out more ammunition
the peccaries climbed up the tongue
of the wagon and jumped Into il, and
the men saved themselves only by
Jumping on to the seat aud then on tn
limbs OF the trees. the pcccaries taking
possession Of the wagon and tearing
things to pieces. They remained I'm
possession for hours. the men watching
them from safety IN the trees"
The peccary. or South American Wild
BOAR. Is the smallest Of his species, av-
eraging about three feet long. nor Is
the animal possessed OF any unusual
degree or strength. To make up for
a.
combat with the more powerful ami
mails OF the jungle the nrccaries al.
ways travel Ia large herds. When once
attacked by q, herd or l,pccaries the
outcome is nearly always death TO their
enemy. The little pigs are armed with
short sharp tusks. and no matter how
great the slaughter OF their own num-
Der during the melee the herd stay OH
the Job until the work Is finished.
Travellers In tropical and South
American countries tell OF fierce ell.
counters between the peccaries and the
1aguar. the monster cat which IN lord
OF the forest. The Jaguar has q fond
ness for dinner or pork. but a whole
some respect for the power OF n herd
OF WILD. pigs. When be wants To sat
isfy his cravings for u pork diet he
drops from limb OF tree on to the
back OF straggier In the peccary
herd. The jagunr Stays his victim and
then retreats hastily to his tree bel
fore the herd can get at him. When
the herd grows tired OK waiting for
him 10 come down and moves along
the jaguar descends and enjoys his
meal at leisure. Frederick Selous In
bis romance OF the animal world has !
an interesting account OF a fght be-
tween q Jaguar and a herd Of pee
carries, The peccaries had the jaguar
treed on the limb OF tree from which /
the bark had rotted away. He was
only a few feet above them and by
and jumping at their enemy
finally succeeded I'm bringing the con.
htct to the ground. After the fight
was over there were eleven killed and
wounded peccaries. but the Jaguar was
literally torn to pieces. /