PIG-HUNTER'S CLOSE CALL

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 224, 10 June 1918, Page 4

PIG-HUNTER'S CLOSE CALL

4 . CHASED BY A BOAR. (By Telegraph—Special Correspondent.) Palmerston N., Juno 0. Wild boar hunting in the Tararua Ranges i 6 generally exciting, but a young man named Logan Atkinson, son of Mr. George Atkinson, who resides at the top of the ranges, had rather more than tho usual excitement a few days ago; m fact, ho fiearly lost his life as tho result of an encounter with a large boar. : In company with a younger brother he set out on a pig-hunting expedition, and managed to shoot a sow, which had a litter. The boys then l went off to catch tho young pigs, and while so occupied were alarmed by the rapid approach of a large boar, which was no doubt attracted by the vigorous squeals of tho young pigs. Logan Atkinson made' for a big nunga tree and scrambled up, but tho" boar was not to bo outdone in this way, and launched himself at the bunk of the tree, and after a 6eries of charges succeeded in hurling tho fern tree, with its human occupant, down the steep hillside. Young Atkinson scrambled out of a mass of bush in which ho was enveloped, and started to climb another ' tree. He was not quick enough, however, for as he was hauling himself up, the boar rushed and brought his tusks into play, inflicting a wound two inches, deep and six or seven inches long. No further incidents occurred, but the boys look no moro interest in pigs that day. The injured youth was brought to'Palmerston Hospital, where he is now receiving attention.