Rensselaer Republican, Volume 18, Number 40, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 June 1886 — Courageous Peccaries. [ARTICLE]

Courageous Peccaries.

Frank Reid was formerly an engineer on the Southern Pacific,, and used to run a weStern-bound train through Colorado one day and return the next. He said: “You may have heard of the peccaries, which are a wild species of hog and abound in the South- The little brutes are doted for their pluck, and, if once attacked, will fight oh and on until all are exterminated. One day, while seated in the cab, with my hand on the lever and keeping a good lookout ahead, I saw a herd of some-kind of small animals playing right on our track 1 did not take much notice of them, thinking that when we got nearer they would hear or see us coming and clear out of the way. In this, howeyer, I was very much mistaken, for when they saw us, instead of running away, they formed two or three lines, standing* right across the tracks.- I gave a whistle, thinking to scare them away; but no, there they stood, like a little army, determined to fight There was nothing to do but to run through them, Hjust put on a little more steam, and

we charged down on this battalion of peccaries. They never budged an inch and the taain ant right through them, killing a large number of them. Those that were unhurt rushed madly at the carriages as they flew past, and many more were cut up under the wheels. I did not think much of them i after we had passed, and merely gave a glance at the dead porkers scattered over the track. Coming back on the return train next day, I was very much astonished to see those that were left of the herd unhurt by the previous day’s fight standing in the same place. As soon as they heard us coming they ranged themselves in battle array and we had to cut through them again, killing a large number. As we came up they became frantic; they rushed at the cowcatcher and wheels, only to be kitted. The exploit rather interested me, and the next day, sure enough, there they were again, and same tactics were gone through. This went on day after day, until only three were left. These three ranged themselves as the others had done, and we bore down on them. I hated to kill these plucky little fellows, but I could not help it. Two were carried away on * the. cowcatcher, and the other made a rush at the carriages, and the last of the tribe was killed.—-New Fork Mail and Express.