Bryan daily eagle and pilot. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1909-1918, 1910-02-08
THE VICIOUS PECCARY
A Fierce Creature Is the South
American Wild Boar.
HE is SMALL, BUT FEARLESS

| istence on the Slightest ProNoestion
and VIII Fight to the ossth-A Bat
tie With . jssvsr.
During one Of hin Journeys into Mex
no Edward W. Walton. n mining ex.
pert. had q close call from being sliced
10 shreds by the fierce little South
Americas pigs known as peccaries. He
told the story OF his escape to Den
YER Post reporter.
81 wished 20 secure some plumes
from number OF the beautifully plum
aged birds" said Mr.. Walton. IL went
into the Jungle and came 20 small
openlng In which there were dry
leaves. probably a foot in depth. GOV.
ering the ground. and hundreds OF
beautifully colored tropical birds 10
the afr and IN the trees. fired at one
Of the birds In flight. when II seemed
20 me the whole area Of these dead
leaves arose I'm front OF and all around
me. Being a stranger. Naturally J 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 81 them started toward me.
Impulslvely 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 10 be pecca-
ries. They are most ferocious and VIII
attack any animal In existence on the
slightest provocation. When got
back 10 headquarters and told my COM
panlons 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 10 pieces quickly. They
have been known 60 XIII bears. jaguars.
cattle horses and any number OF dogs
Although In the fight scores OF their
number might be killed. they seem 10
have no fear when once aroused
II was told the peccaries burrow un.
der the dry leaves 20 protect them
selves from mosquitoes and other
winged pests OF that hot country. My
friends had many exciting experiences
90 tell IN regard 10 these ferocious lit
tie animals. One OF this party. while
travelling with n companion in wng'
on. stopped for lunch under some trees
and turned their horses out TO Craze.
While ut lunch n large bunch OF pee
carries appeared. and they thought 10
would be nice 20 shoot among them
and get one or two for meat. so they
fred into them. wounding several.
which commenced 20 squeal. Then the
whole bunch made an attack. The men
climbed quickly into the wagon aud
kept on shooting so long rs the am
nunition which they had In their
pockets lasted. As they were opening
their bags 20 get out more ammunition
the peccaries climbed up the tongue
Of the wagon and jumped into II. and
the men saved themselves only by
jumping on 20 the seat and then on 10
limbs OF the trees. the peccaries taking
possession OF the wagon and tearing
things 20 pieces. They remained In
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 ~
the animal possessed Of any unusual
degree OF strength. To make up for
the natural individual deficiencies i9
combat with the more powerful AMI
mails Of the jungle the peccaries al
ways travel in large herds. When once
attacked by a he'd OF peccaries the
outcome b. 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 mum
Der during 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 aud the
! jaguar, the monster cat which IL lord
OF the forest. The jaguar has n fond
ness for a dinner OF pork but whole
some respect for the power OF herd
OF wild pigs When he wants 20 sat
isfy his cravings for a pork diet he
drops from a limb of a tree on 10 the
back OF a stragger In the peccary
herd. The iaguar Stays his victim and
then retreats hastily TO his tree be-
fore the herd can get nj him. When
the herd grows tired OF waiting for
him 10 come down and moves along
the jaguar descends and enjoys his
meal at leisure Frederick Selous in
his romance OF the animal world has
an interesting account OF fght be
tween a jaguar and n herd OF pee
carries. The peccaries had the jaguai
freed on the limb OF n tree from which
the bark had rotted away. lie was
only n few feet above them and by
harassing and jumping at their enemy
finally succeeded In bringing the con
fiict TO the ground. After the fight
was over there were eleven killed and
wounded peccaries. but the jaguar wal
literally torn TO pieces.
Same Thing Now.
"You know woman was once tn
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