Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1910-03-18
THE VICIOUS PECCARY
A Fierce Creature Is the South
American Wild Boar.
HE IS SMALL, BUT FEARLESS

viii Attack Man or Any Animal In Ex'
istenoe on the Slightest PrOvoeation
and viii Fight to the Death-A Bat
tie With a Jaguar.
During one Of his Journeys into Mex
leo Edward W. Walton, a mining ex-
merit had a close call from being sliced
TO shreds by the fierce little South
American pigs known as peccaries. de
told the story Of his escape TO Den
yer Post reporter.
~ wished to secure some plumes
from a number Of the beautifully plum
aged birds" said Mr. Walton u went
into the jungle and came to a 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. fired at one
of the birds in fight, wht 1t seemed
to me the whole area Of these dead
leaves arose in front of ant all around
me- Being stranger. naturally | 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.
Impulsively | 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 l got
back TO headquarters and fold my CON-
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
have no fear when once aroused.
81 was told the peccaries burrow un-
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 a 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 it
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
or the wagon and jumped into it, and
the men saved themselves only by
jumping on to the seat and then on to
limbs of the trees, the peccares taking
possession Of the wagon and tearing
things to 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 is
the animal possessed Of any unusual
degree Of strength, TO make up for
the natural individual deficiencies in
with the more powerful ami.
mails OF the jungle the peccaries al
ways travel In large herds. When once
attacked by Il herd of peccaries the
Is nearly always death to their
'nemy The little pigs are armed with
snort sharp tusks, and no matter how
,rcct the slaughter OF their own mum.
ser dGr,ag the melee the herd stay on
hr cob Gutil the work Is finished.
'ra'r'"Ts In tropical aud South
\w"rl'm countries tell of fierce en-.
lu'rls Ween the peccuries and the
'uHr iur monster cat which is lord
the urr,u rbp jugmr has a fond.
loss !ol urluer Of pork. but whole.
''" respect Tor the power of herd
% Wllj pigs. When he wants TO sat.
q y AN rawlings for a pork diet he
bps from a limb of tree on TO the
"'h oi o slmgglrr IN the peccary .
.ut The juguar Stays his victim and .
u'n rrlrmts hastily to his tree be.
ofr 'ho herd eau set at t'.a When
h' herd grows tired OF yrkrg for
im To come down aud Ta along
'c iaguar dcscendS an 1yR his
l'ai al leisure Frederic, Hroous in
is romance of the animal EUcld has
% interesting account Of a Eight be.
"con q jaguor and @ herd Of pee.
aries. The pcccarics had the iaguar
'ced on the limb OF a tree from which
lc bark bad rottcd away He was