A WILD BOAR AT BAY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume 9185, Issue 9185, 8 April 1910, Page 2

A WILD BOAR AT BAY.

ADVENTURE IN THE BUSH

Two young men, brothers, had a desperate encounter with a wild boar on Tuesday last, in the bush near Mataitai, Clevedon district (says Thursday's Auckland Herald). The younger of the two, George Deery, had a narrow escape, and the elder, Henry Deery, was badly gored in the leg by the animal during the conflict. The brothers left Maitaitai in 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 cattle dogs, all of which were more or less experienced in ingAVhilst negotiating a gully a wild eow was met with, and this the dogs despatched after a tussle. Proceeding further into the bush in the hope of discovering the dead flow's "suckers," the two young men were suddenly confronted by a huge wild boar, almost as big as a Shetland pony. The dogs speedily had the brute at bay, and a charge from the shotgun was fired at it from a "range of about ; five yards. The shot took no effect other than to cause the boar to bound 3ft 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, up which the marksman had climbed. Enraged, the boar made for his assailant, and was in the act of springing at him when one of the dogs intervened in the nick of time, and distracted its attention. The dog was savagely attacked, and cut about badly by the boar's tusks. A fourth •result-less 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 close quarters endeavoured to stab it. An effort to maim the infuriated beast was more successful, but the immediate result was to turn the whole 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 oft by the dogs it had gored his leg below the knee, inflicting a very nasty wound. This mishap robbed the hunters of their enthusiasm in the chase, and the younger brother left the boar to the dose'to deal with, and rendered such afd as he could to his relative.

The adventure proved serious, inasmuch as the uninjured man had to assist and partly carry his wounded brother back over four miles of bush country, by an unfamiliar track, to Mataitai. 'it was 10 o'clock at night when the pair reached the farm from which they had set out in the morning. Yesterday morning they drove, in the gale and rain, to Drury, and thence came on to Auckland by tram. Medical attendance was then procured for the injured man, and he is progressing favourably.