AFTER WILD BOARS

Hokitika Guardian, 27 January 1925, Page 3

AFTER WILD BOARS

IN NORTH AUSTRALIA. FF.ECnors BEASTS. SYDNEY, January 15. An interesting glimpse of the exciting sport of wild hoar hunting is given in a letter from AH T. H. Sewell, who, accompanied by bis wife, has cycled into the tar north of Australia from Brisbane. The pair have penetrated right into York Peninsular. Air Sewell gives an amusing description of the astonishment of the natives at their first inspection of “push” bicycles. The opportunity of exercising his prowess against the notorious wild hoars of Hint part of Australia came to Mr Sewell during a visit which he anil his wife paid to the remote hut splendidly equipped Botham Park station, which with it.s 10,000 square miles of country with its 120 miles of frontage to the Mitchell river, is one of the largest and richest in the Peninsular. Free horn in a forest lair, and roaming by night and day, says Air Howell, the wild hoar has become a problem along the rivers of the Gull. I here, ns elsewhere, the wild pigs have reverted to a hideous and ferocious type, resembling only in general appeal ante the farm product. They wander in herds from place to place, rooting up the ground for miles, a danger to horses and Riders alike. The- boars have developed formidable tusks, are quick in their movements, and some are reckoned to weigh 4ewt. They at times attack with little provocation, and recently a mailman, when out riding, was attacked and his horse was lipped and thrown. “Thus it was,” lie continues, “more

with the surge of battle in our breasts than tlie spirit of sport that we set out ill quest of the wild pigs- I lie party consisted of Ralph \\ bite and myself and a black youth. AVc had gone two miles when the native exclaimed, ‘Smell ’m pigs.’ ’ldle dogs got

the scent, and in a moment there was a frantic hullabaloo of haying and snarling dogs, squealing sows ami rifle shots when the black boy yelled ‘Boars’ and discreetly ‘got.’ We were in a trap i„ a ereekbed where the sows ami young had been drinking while the boars apparently kept guard on tlie steep banks. When we gained a vantage ground, the herd had disnppeaiec, leaving four casualties. We had haggod eight- in all, and turned for home when 'someone suggested) giving, the next pig we met n sporting chance. It happened that the next turned out to be a surly boar having neither loth nor kin. Its chances of life consisted of its ability to avoid two of us and two hounds. There was a cry, followed hv smashing and crashing undergrou Ji. The hoar emerged fighting furiously. The dogs circled about, heading the hoar off. while two of us with shea - Unices came up. When the boar tuin- , cd to meet a flank attack from tne . dogs, we sprang for its hind leg*. hut , (or some time did not get neare than i a dozen feet, having to leap hack hom . his tusks. The dogs sprang . and again. Rage foam fleck«l. i<* ■ ,as its mouth opened m " ll( - ■ when cur knives, missing its hind le 0 l "Lws. drew blood. By sheer noM,j turn of a rush the dogs earned the km off its feet never to rise agm-