FIGHT WITH JACKALS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 5 October 1907, Page 4

FIGHT WITH JACKALS

While he was on a shooting trip alwut fourteen miles from his home at. Reaufort West, Cape Colony, Mr A. E. Clarke Kuir, a British settler, had a terrible fight with jackals. What he took to be a herd of buckapproaching bin) turned out to be a pack of "Panne" jackals, the large variety so much dreaded by farmers and herdsmen. Tnstead of allowing the pack to pass unmolested, he fired and killed the leader. The others advanced on him, and before they surrounded him he killed three move ami grounded "two. Then a grim fight against overwhelming odds began, for he was alone in the bush. Using his rifle, as a club, Mr Kuir disposed of a Tow more of the brutes, but his weapon broke and lie was le-ft with only the. two barrels to defend himself, By this time he was fearfully torn and mauled about the neck, arms, and thighs, and was rapidly growing exhausted. Just before lie sank to the ground unconscious one large jackal sprang 011 his shoulders and buried its teeth in his neck, and he remembered nothing mor»\ 1 Whim he recovered his senses he was in , a sheep krall with four friends who had saved his life. They came on the scene as he was falling, and as the infuriated beasts were rushing on him to tear him" to pieces a few shots and a combined rush scattered the animals in all directions. After taking him home, Mr Kuir'« rescuers returned, and found 21 dead jackals, which they skinned! They sent. . him half a- dozen of the skins as mem-' efttoes of tlm incident.