DESPERATE BATTLE

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 781, 2 April 1910, Page 8

DESPERATE BATTLE

TWO YOUNC MEN AND A BOAR, SHOT GUN AND KNIFE USEDu (By Teleerasli.— Special CorresDondenU ■.-;:■ ' '. Auckland, April 1. Two young men (brothers) had a de* sperate encounter with a wild boar- on Tuesday last in the bush near Mataitai,;.. in the Clevedon-district. The younger of the'two, George Deery, had a narrow escape, and the elder, Henry Deery, ■ was badly gored in the leg by, the ani< mal during, the conflict. . . ..■■,.. : The brothers left" Mataitai ii£ the morning, and penetrated the bush area; for about four miles in order to look; at some sheep. They were aware that wild pigs, frequented the locality, and ■ were prepared to have a little sport , , should they come across any. The younger man had a shot-gun, and his ; brother carried ;'a good-sized zampa. ■ knife. . They were accompanied, by six cattlo, dogs, all.of Which' were more or less experienced in pig-hunting. . ■'~

. Whilst negotiating a gully a wild sot ; was met with, and this the dogs dispatched after 'a tussle. Proceeding further into the-bush, in the.hope of f ' discovering, the; dead'sow's "suckers," . the two young men wore suddenly, con- ' • fronted by a huge wild boar, almost as b,ig as a Shetland pony.. The, dogs ' speedily, had the brute at bay, and a > charge from.the shot, gun was fired'at ,: it from a range of about five' yards. ' V The shot-took no effect other than to ■' cause the boar to hound three feet into . •the air and to rush into the gully with' ■the dogs after it. The two young men ; ■: followed it,, and the younger fired again ; . twice, again making no effect on the ' tough /hide of the boar. The third shot . was fired from a kauri tree stump on/ ; to which the marksman had . climbed. . ; The boar made for his assailant, and, ; j was in the act of springing at him when one of the dogs'intervened in'.the iick , of -time- and distracted its attention.V; : ' The dog was savagely attacked arid cut . about badly by the boar's tusks. ; -i :

A fourth resultless shot expended'the last of the hunters' ammunition, and they then had recourse to ;the knife. The elder brother attacked the boar again and again,- but. the knife would not ■ penetrate . its hide, although he mounted the boar's back, and thus at olose quarters endeavoured to stab-it. An, effort :to maim the infuriated.beast, was more successful, but the immediate. result was to turn the whole l attention of the boar to the man with the knife. The latter was leaning against a punga lunging ■ at- the pig : when .his support gave way, and he fell. Instantly the boar rushed him, and before it was driven off by the dogs it had gored his kg below the knee, inflicting a very nasty wound. This mishap Tobbed the hunters of their enthusiasm in the chase, and the younger brother left theboar to the dogs to deal, with, and ten.dered such 'aid as he could to his xe* lative. ' .'. . ' . '. .-;■■'

The adventure proved serious, inasmuch as the uninjured; man had to assist a nd partly carry his wounded brother back over four miles of bush country, by an unfamiliar track, to"Mataitai.'ltwas ten o'clock at night" when; the pair reached the farm from which they had set out 'in the morning.-; The following morning they drove in.'the gale and rain to Drury, ' and thence caine on to Auckland by train. Medical attendance was then procured for the injured man, and he is progressing fav- ...-'.- ■-." .'•■■ " r .