Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-12-31
WILD PIGS ARE UGLY FIGHTERS.

WILD PIGS ARE UGLY FIGHTERS.
Mexican Peeearies Kill Both Men and
Beasts.
In one Of his Journeys into Mexico
Edward w. Walton, mining expert,
had a close call from being sliced to
shreds by the fierce little South Amer
lean pigs known as peccaries. He told
the story of his escape to a Denver
Post reporter.
II wished to secure some plumes from
number Of the beautifully plumaged
BIRDS" said Mr.. Walton. Il went into
the Jungle and came to small opening
in which there were dry leaves, prob
ably foot in depth, covering the
ground, and hundreds Of beautifully
colored tropical birds in the air and in
the trees. fired at one Of the birds In
flight, when 1t seemed to me the whole
area Of those dead leaves arose In front
of and all around me. Being a strang-
err, naturally was much frightened, es-
pecially when saw the animals which
raised up the leaves apparently ready
for an attack. The older animals OPEN
ed and closed their mouths, showing
their big, sharp tusks, formed very
much like a dirk knife, and some Of
them started toward me. Impulsively
began firing my gun in the air and
turned around, which seemed to stop
most OF them momentarily, and as ]
had lots of cartridges kept up the
shooting and they turned and ran away.
I found afterward that had saved my
life by so doing, and by not shooting
any Of the animals.
These animals proved to be the pee
carries, the same species as are In the
Enclosures at the city park. They are
most ferocious, and will attack any
animal in existence on the slightest
provocation. When got back to head
quarters and told my companions my
experience I was informed that had
shot one of the animals and made him
squeal the whole bunch would have
been on to me and would have torn me
to pieces quickly. They have been
known to kill Dear, jaguars, cattle,
horses, and any number Of dogs. AL
though in the fight scores Of their
number might be killed, they seem to
have no fear when once aroused.
hot a. ht,r nm
der the dry leaves to protect them
selves from mosquitoes and other wing
ed pests of that hot country. Ny
friends had many exciting experiences
to tell in regard to these ferocious lit
tie animals One of this party, while
travelling with companion In wagon,
stopped for luncheon under some trees
and turned their horses out to Craze.
While at luncheon large bunch OF
peccaries appeared, and the party
thought 1t would be nice to shoot
among them and get one or two for
meat, so they fired into them, wound
ing several, which began to squeal.
Then the whole bunch made an at
tack. The men climbed quickly into
the wagon, and kept on shooting as
long as their ammunition which they
had in their pockets lasted. AS they
were opening their bags to get out
more ammunition the peccaries climb
ed up the tongue Of the wagon and
jumped into it, and the men only saw
ed themselves by jumping on to the seat
and then on to limbs of the trees, the
pecasies taking possession of the
wagon and tearing things to pieces. the
men watching them in safety in the
trees"
The peccary, or South American wild
boar, is the smallest Of his species, av-
eragins about three feet long, nor is
the animal possessed Of any unusual
degree Of strength. To make up for
this natural individual deficiency In
combat with more powerful animals Of
the jungle, the peccaries always travel
in large herds. When once attacked by
herd of peccaries 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 number dur
ing the melee, the herd stay on the
job until the work is finished.
Travellers in tropical and South
American countries tell Of fierce en-
counters between the peccaries and the
jaguar, the monster cat. which Is lord
of the forests. The jaguar has fond
ness for dinner Of pork, but whole
some respect for the power Of a herd
of wild pigs. When he wants to satisfy
his cravings for pork diet he drops
from a limb of a tree on to the back OF
straggler in the peccary herd. The
jaguar slays his victim and then re-
treats hastily to his tree before the
herd can get at him. When the herd
grows tired Of waiting for him to come
down and moves along. the jaguar de-
scends and enjoys his meal at leisure.
Edmund Selous, in his romance of the
animal world, has an interesting ac-
count Of a fight between a jasuar and
a herd Of peccaries. The peccaries had
the jaguar treed on the limb Of a tree
from which the bark had rotted away.
He was only a few feet above them.
and by harassing and jumping at their
enemy they finally succeeded in bring
ing the conflict to the ground. After
the fight was over there were eleven
killed and wounded peccaries. but the
jaguar was literally torn to pieces
New York Tribune