Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1910-01-03
THE VICIOUS PECCARY
A Fierce Creature Is the South
American Wild Eoar.
HE is SMALL, BUT FEARLESS

istence on the Slightest Provooation
and Will Fight to the Death--A Bat.
tie With a Jasuar.
During one OF his Journeys into Mex.
leo Edward w. Walton. II mining ex.
pert. had a close call from being sliced
10 shreds by the fierce little South
American pigs known as peccaries. He
/ told the story OF bis escape to Deu-
ser Post reporter.
II wished to secure some plumes
from n number OF the beautifully plum
aged birds" said Mr. Walton II went
| into the jungle and came 20 small
opening I'm which there were dry
| leaves. probably foot I'm depth. GOV
ering the ground. and hundreds OF
beautifully colored tropical birds in
the air and In the trees. fred nj one
OF the birds In flight. when It seemed
10 me the whole area of these dead
leaves arose I'm front OF and all around
me. Being n stranger naturally was
/ much frightened, especially when |
saw the animals which raised uD 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 nv
gun In the air and turned around.
which seemed TO stop most Of them
momcntarily. and as had lots Of car
tridgcs ! kept up the shooting. ard
they turned and ran away found
afterward that I had saved my life
by so doing and by not shooting any Of
the animals.
~ hese animals proved 10 be pecca-
ries. They are most ferocious and will
attack any animal I'm existence on the
slightest provocation. When | got
back to headquarters and told my com
panions my experience | was Informed
that had 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
nave no fear when once aroused
IL was told the peccaries buIrow un-
der the dry leaves to protect them
selves from mosquitoes and other
winged pests of that hot country. NV
! friends had many exciting experiences
to tell in regard to these ferocious lit
tie animals. One of this party. while
travelling with a companion In n 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
fired into them, wounding several
which commenced TO squeaL Then the
whole bunch made an attack. The men
! climbed quickly into the wagon and
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 peccaries climbed up the tongue
of the wagon and jumped into it. and
The men saved themselves only by
jumping Oh to the seat and then on to
limbs OF the trees the pecC;Ilies taking
! possession Of the wagon and tearing
! things to pieces. They remained i'm
possession for hours. the men watching
p! them from safety in the trees"
| The peccary, or South American wild
boar. is the smallest of his species. av-
lPuging about three feet long. nor is
the animal possessed of any Hnusual
degree of strength. 10 muEe up for
the natural individual deficiencies ia
combat with the more powerful ami
mails Of the jungle the pcccarips al
ways travel In large herds When once
Iptlackrd by Il nerd OF peccarics the
outcome Is nearly always death to their
enemy. The ittlc Wgs are armed with
short sharp tusks. aud no matter how
great the slaughter of their own mum.
| Der during the melee the herd stay OH
The job until the work is Huished.
Travellers i'm tropical aud South
American countries tell OF fierce en-
ImunterS between the peCcaries aud the
| iaguar. the monster cat which is lord
lof The forest The iaguar has fond
ness for dinner OF pork. but whole
some respect for the power OF herd
J OF wild pigs. When he wants to sat
lisfy his cravings for - pork diet he
drops from 81 limb OF tree Oh 10 the
back OF a straggler in the pcccary
| herd. The jaguar Stays his victim and
then retreats hastily 10 his tree be-
fore the herd can get at him When
the herd grows tired Of waiting for
! him TO come down and moves along
The iaguar desccuds and enjoys his
mca! at leisure Frederick Splous i'm
| his romance of the animal world has
Ian interesting account Of Gght be-
tween "a juguar and a herd Of pee.
carries The peccurics had the iaguar
freed on the limb OF tree from which
! the bark had rottcd away lie was
only a few feet above them aud by
|borassing and jumping at their enemy
finally succeeded iu bringing the con.
1ict To the ground After the eight
was over there vprp olpvou killed oul