Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1909-11-02
THE VICIOUS PECCARY
A Fierce Creature Is the South
American Wild Boar.
HE IS SMALL, BUT FEARLESS

Will Attack Man or Any Animal In Ex-
istence on the Slightest Provocation
and Will Fight to the Death-A Bat
tie With Jaguar.
During one of his journeys into Mex
leo Edward W Walton. a mining ex-
pert. had close call from being sliced
TO shreds by the fierce little South
told the story of his escape 10 Den
yer Post reporter
Il wished to secure some plumes
from number of the beautifully plum
aged BIRDS" said Mr.. Walton. Il went
into the jungle and came to small
leaves. probably a foot in depth. Gov
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 it seemed
to me the whole area of these dead
leaves arose in front of and all around
me. Being a stranger. naturally l was
much frightened, especially when
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.
lmpulsively ! commenced firing my
gun in the air and turned around,
which seemed to stop most of them
momentarily. and as | 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 of
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 got
back TO headquarters and told my COM
panions my experience | was Informed
that had I 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
have been known to kill bears. jaguars,
cattle, horses and any number of dogs.
Although in the fight scores of their
number might be killed. they seem to
have no fear when once aroused.
II was told the peccaries burrow I'M
der the dry leaves to protect them
selves from mosquitoes and other
winged pests of that hot country. My
friends had many exciting experiences
to tell in regard to these ferocious lit
tie 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 il
would be nice to shoot among them
and get one or two for meat, so they
fired into them. wounding several
which commenced to squeal. Then the
whole bunch made an attack. The men
climbed quickly into the wagon anG
kept on shooting so long as the am
munition which they had in their
pockets lasted. AS they were opening
their bags to get out more ammunition
the pecearies climbed up the tongue
of the wagon and jumped into it. and
the men saved themselves only by
jumping on to the seat and then on tC
limbs Of the trees, the peccaries taking
possession of the wagon and tearing
things to pieces. They remained II
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 unusua
degree of strength. To make up fol
the naturat individual deficiencies IL
combat with the more powerful ami
mails of the jungle the peccaries al
ways travel In large herds. When once
attacked by herd of peccaries the
outcome is nearly always death to theil
enemy The little pigs are armed will
short sharp tusks. and no matter how
great the slaughter of their own mum
Der during the melee the herd stay OIL
the job until the work is finished.
Travellers in tropical and Soutf
American countries tell Of fierce en-
counters between the peccaries and The
iaguar. the monster cat which is lore
of the forest. The jaguar has fond
ness for a dinner of pork. but whole
some respect for the power of hero
of wild pigs. When he wants to sat
isfy bis cravings for pork diet ht
drops from a limb of a tree on to the
back of a straggler in the peccary
herd The jaguar Stays his victim ant
| then retreats hastily to his tree be
| fore the herd can get at him. Wher
the herd grows tired of waiting fol
| him 10 come down and moves alont
| the iaguar descends and enjoys hi.
/ meal at leisure. Frederick Selous IL
his romance of the animal world ha'
/ an interesting account of a fight be
tween a jaguar and herd OF pee
carries. The peccaries had the jagua
/ freed on the limb Of tree from which
the bark had rotted away. He wa
/ only a few feet above them aud b.
harassing and jumping at their enem.
finally succeeded in bringing the con
fict to the ground. After the fgh
| was over there were eleven killed aD'
wounded peccaries. but the jaguar wa
| literally torn to pieces.