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About Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 30, 1908)
RQGUB RIVER COURIER, GRANTS PASS, OREGON, OCTOBER 30, 1908. A (Copyright, 1A93, by O, P. Putnatn'i Bonn. PublUhed under arrangement with O. P. I'utnam'a Bona, New York and London. N tbe United States the peccary 1 only found lu the m utliLTiinioKt corner of Texus. In April. lS'JJ. I made n fl.vbiK vlalt to the ranch country of this region, murting from the towu of L'valdo with u Texnn friend, Mr. John Moore. Sly trip beliiR very hurried, I hud but a couple of day to devote to huntltiK. Our flrat baltliiK-pluce huh at a ranch ou the Frio; a low, woodeu building, of many rooms, with open gullerb- between tbem, and verandas round about. The country was In some rcHpects like, In others strange ly unlike, the northern pluins with which I was so well acquainted. It was for the most part covered with a scattered growth of tough, stunted meBijulte trees, not dense enough to be called a foreot, and yet sufOclently close to cut off the view. It was very dry, even as compared with the north ern pluins. The bed of the Frio was Oiled with coarse gravel, and for the most part dry as a bone on the sur face, the water seeping through un derneath, and only appearing la occa sional deep holes. These deep boles or ponds never full, even after year's drouth; they were filled with fish. One lay quite near the ranch bouse, under a bold rocky bluff; at Its edge grew giant cypress trees. There bud been many peccaries, or, as the Mexicans and cowpunchers of tbe border usually call them, Javallnaa, round this ranch a few years before the date of my visit. Until 1880, or thereabouts, these little wild bogs were not much molested, and abound ed in tbe dense chaparral around the lower Rio Grande. In that year, bow aver, It was suddeuly discovered that their hides bad a market value, being worth four bits that Is, half a dollar piece; and many Mexicans and not a few shiftless Texana went into the business of bunting them as a means of livelihood. They were mora easily killed than deer, and, as a result they were speedily exterminated In many localities where tbey bad formerly been numerous, and even where tbey were loft were to be found only In greatly diminished numbers. On this particular Frio ranch tbe last little band had been killed nearly year be fore. There were three of tbem, a boar and two sows, and a couple of tbe cowboys stumbled on them early one morning while out with a dog. After half a mile's chase the three peccaries ran into a bollow pecan tree, and one of the cowboys, dismounting. Improvised a lance by tying hla knife to the end of a pole, and killed them all. Many anecdotes were related to me of what they bad done In tbe old days when they were pleutlful on the ranch. I spent two days huutlug round this ranch, but saw no peccary slgu what- Sou' no jHvtury tir, oltAouub doer uw ever, although deer were quite plenti ful. Havlug atitUtM myself that there were no Javallnaa left on the Frio ranch, and being nearly at the eml of my holiday, 1 was about to abaudou the effort to net any, when a pawing cowman happened to mention the fact that some were still to be found on the Nueces Itlver thirty miles or there about to the southward. Thither I determined to go, and next morning Moore and 1 started In a buggy drawn by a redoubtable horse, named Jhu Swinger, which we wtre allowed to Xm because he bucked so under the addle that uolxHly on the much could ride him. We drove six or seven hours crotho Jr.v- ter!cs plains. ill? t V N HUNTING THE PECCARY BY THEODORE ROOSEVELT In the valley or the Nueces Itself the brush grew thick. There were treat groves of pecan trees, and ever green llve-onks stood In many places, long, wlnd-Khaken tufts of gray moss hanging from their limbs. Many of the trees In the wet spots were of giant slxe, and the whole landscape was semi-tropical In character. High on a bluff shoulder overlooking the course of the river was perched the runcb house, toward which we were bending our steps; and here we were received with the hearty hospi tality characteristic of the ranch coun try everywhere. The son of the ranch man, a tail, well-built young fellow, told me at once that there were pec carles in the neighborhood, and that be had himself shot one but two or three days before, and volunteered to lend us horses and pilot us to the game ou the morrow, with the help of bis two dogs. The last were big black curs with, as we were assured, "considerable hound" In them. One wm at tbe time staying at the ranch bouse, tbe other was four or five miles off with a Mexican goat-herder, and It was arranged that early In the morning we Bhould ride down to the lutter place, taking the first dog with us and procuring his companion wben we reached the goat-herder's bouse. We srarted after breakfast, riding powerful cow-ponies, well trained to gallop at full speed th.ough the dense chaparral. The big black bound slouched at our heels. We rode down the banks of the Nueces, crossing and recrosslng the stream. Here and there were long, deep pools In the bed of the river, where rushes and lilies grew and huge mailed girlish swam slowly Just beneath the surface of the water. Once my two companions stopped to pnll a mired cow out of a slough, hauling with ropea from their saddle horns. In places there were half-dry pools, out of tbe regular cur rent of the river, the water green and fetid. The trees were very tall and large. The streamers of pale gray moss hung thickly from the branches of the live-oaks, and when many trees thus draped stood close together tbey bore a strangely mournful and deso late look. We finally found the queer Uttle hut of the Mexican goat-herder In the midst of a grove of giant pecans. On the walls were nailed the skins of different beasts, raccoons, wildcats, and tbe tree-civet, with Its tinged tall. The Mexican's brown wife and chil dren were In tbe hut, but tbe man himself and tbe goats were off in the forest, and It took na three or four hours' search before we found hlin. Then it was uearly noon, and we lunched In hla hut, a square building of split logs, with bare earth floor, and roof of clap-boards and bark. Our lunch consisted of goat's meat and pan de mals. The Mexican, a broad-chested man with stolid Indian face, was evidently quite a sportsmau, and bad two or three half-starved bounds, be sides the funny hairless Uttle bouse dogs, of which Mexicans seem so fond. Having borrowed the Javallna hound of which we were in search, we rode off lu quest of our game, the two dogs trotting gayly ahead. The one which hud been living at the ranch had evi dently fared well, and was very fat; the other was Utile else but skin and Ikiiib, but as alert and knowing as any New York street-boy, with the same nlr of disreputable capacity. It was this hound which always did most In finding the Javitllims and bringing them to bay, his companion's chief use being to muke a noise and lend the moral support of his presence. We rodo away from the river on the dry uplands, where the timber, though thick, was small, consisting almost ex clusively of the thorny mosqultes. Mixed among them were prickly pears, standing as high as our heads on horseback, and Spanish bayonets, look ing lu the distance like small palms; and there were mauy other kinds of cactus, all with poisonous thorns. Two or three times the dogs got on an old trail and rushed off giving tongue, whereat we galloped madly after them, ducking und dodging through and among the clusters of spine-bearing trees and cactus, not without getting a considerable number of thorns In our hands and legs. It was very dry and hot. Where the javallnas live la droves lu the river bottoms they often drink at the pools; but when some dis tance from water they seem to live quite comfortably on the prickly pear, slaking itir thirst by eating Its hard. Juicy lihre. At last, a fur several false alarms, and gallops which led to nothing, when It lncked but an hour of sundown we struck a band of five of the little wild hogs. They were runnlug off through the uicsqulte with a peculiar hopping or bounding motion, and we all, dogs and men, tore after them Instantly. l'ooeuries are very fast for a few hundred yards, but speevllly tire, lose their wind, and come to bay. Almost liuii'iHllatoly on of these, a sow, as It turned out, wheeled and charged at Moore as ho passed. Moore never see ing her, but keeping on after another. The sow then stopped and stood still, chattering her teeth savagely, and I Jumped off my horse and dropped her dead with a shot In tbe spine, over the shoulders. Moore meanwhile had dashed off after his pig In on direc tion, and killed the little beast with a shot from the saddle when It had come to bay, turning and going straight at him. Two of tbe peccaries got off; the remaining one, a rather large bonr, was followed by the two dogs, and as soon as 1 had killed the sow I leaped again on my horse and made after tbem. guided by the yelp ing and baying. In less than a quar ter of a mile they were on his haunches, and he wheeled and stood under a bush, charging at them whet? they came uear him, and once catch ing one, Inflicting un ugly cut. All the while bis teeth kept goliig like casta nets, with a rapid champing sound. 1 ran close up and killed him by a shot through the backbone where it Joined the neck. His tusks were fine. The few minutes' chase on horse back was great fun. and there was a certain excitement hi seeing the tierce Uttle creatures come to bay; but tbe true way to kill these peccaries would be with the spear. They could often be speared on horseback, and where this was Impossible, by using dogs to bring them to bay they could readily be killed on foot; though, ns they are ' Propped her dead with a shot in the spins. very active, absolutely fearlesB, and Inflict a most formidable bite, it would usually be safest to have two men go at one together. I'ecearles are not dif ficult beasts to kill, because their abort wind and their pugnacity make them come to bay before bounds so quickly. Two or three good dogs can bring to a halt a herd of considerable size. They then all stand in a bunch, or else with their sterns against a bank, chattering their teeth at their antag onists. Wheti angry and at bay, they get their legs close together, their shoulders high, and their bristles all ruffled and look the very Incarnation of anger, and they fight with reckless Indifference to the very last Hunters usually treat them with a certain omotint of cautlou; but, as a matter of fact, I know of but one case where a mau was hurt by them. He had shot j at and wounded one, was charged both by It und by Its two companions, and started to climb a tree; but as he. drew himself from the ground, one sprang ut lilui and bit him through the calf, inflicting a very severe wound. I have known of several cases of j horses lielng cut. however, and dogs I aro very commonly killed. Indeed, a ! dog new to the business Is almost cer tain to got very badly scarred, and no dog that hunts steadily can escape without tome Injury. If It runs In right at tbe heads of the animals, the probabilities are that It will get killed; and. as a rule, even two good-sized hounds cHnnot kill a peccary, though It Is no larger than either of them. However, a wary, resolute, hard-bltlng dog of good size speedily guts accus tomed to the chase, and can kill a peccary single-handed, seizing It from behind and worrying it to death, or watching Its chance and grabbing It by the back of the neck where It Joins the head. I'ecearles have delicately moulded short legs, and their feet are small, the tracks looking peculiarly dainty lu consequence. Hence, they do not swim well, though they take to the water If necessary. They feed on roots, prick ly Hars, nuts. Insects, lizards, etc. They usually keep entirely separate from the droves of half-wild swine that are so often found In the same neighborhoods; but In one case, on this very ranch where 1 was staying, a pec cary deliberately Joined a party of nine pigs and associated with them. Wben the owner of the pigs came up to them one day the peccary mani fested great suspicion at his presence, and flually sidled close up and threat- enod to attack him. so that he had to i shoot It. I The ranchman's sou told me that he bin! never but ouce had a pev- rary assail him unprovoked, and even j In this case It was his dog that was the j object of attack, the ;e'c;ir rr:!n -i out as It followed him home one even . Ing throu:-h the chaparral. Eve ! around this ranch the peccaries bad I very greatly decreased In uuc.i1.ts. and the survivors were learnlug somecau- tion. In the old davs tr had been no uncommon thing fr a big band to at tack entirely of their own accord, and keep n hunter up a tree for hours at a time T i -J-v R. S. Wilson, the ttate agent for the Tourist Auto Co. and A. B. C r nell, the Oregon Life Insurance Corn pan v's agent, made a business trip to Meaford lost week. They were aocom paniea by Mrs. Cornell. The trip to Medford was made in Mr. Wilson's auto and the return by train. SIMPLE MIXTURE SAID TO RELIEVE VICTIMS Druggists Here In Town Say They Can Supply the Ingredients or Make Up the Mixture. Get from any prescription pharma cist the following : Fluid Extract Dandelion, one-half onuce; Compound Syrup Sarsaparilla, three ounces. Shake well in a bottle and take a teaspoonful dose after each meal and at bedtime. The above is considered as the most certain prescription ever written to relieve Backache, Kidney Trooble, Weak Bladder and all forms of Urinary ditncnlties. ThiB mixture arts prompt ly on the eliminative tisanes of the Kidneys, enabling them to filter and strain the nrio acid and other waste matter from the blood which caoses Rheumatism. Some persous who suffer with the afflictions may not feel iuclined to place much confidence in this simple mixture, yet those who have tried it Bay the results are simply surprising, the relief being much confidence in this simple mixture, yet thote who have tried it say the results are simply surprising, the relief being effected without the slightest injury to the stomach or other organs. Mix someand give It a trial. It certainly comes highly recommeuded. It is the prescription of an eminent authority, whose entire reputation, it is said, was established by it. A druggist here at home, when asked, stated that he could either sup ply tbe ingredients or mix the pre scription for oar readers, also recom mends it as harmless. 10-30-St. Kodol will without any doubt help anyone who has stomach disorders or stomach trouble. Take Kodol today and continue it for the short time that is necessary to give you com plete relief. Kodol is sold by Model Drug Store. Jliamherlnin's Cough Remedy tlin Most Popular Because It Is the Bern. "1 have sold I'IihiiiIh rlinn's Cough Item--sly for the ihi4 eiiilil veurs nil. I Hud it to lie one of the liet selling medicines on the mar ket, ror Indues ninl young children there is nothing Letter in the line of rough svrups," nsys Paul Allen, Plain llraling, I.' This remedy not only cures the roiighs, colds and croup so common among yoiingcliildren, hut is pleasant and anfo for them to lake. For sale hv M. Clemen. "Tour REMARKABLE event in the history of automobiledom was the tour of more than thirty Tourist cars from Los Angeles to San Francisco and return, August 12th to 22d, 1908, carrying 94 men. women and children. This tour differs radically from any previous automobile run in that practically every car was operated by its owner instead of a professional driver, thus demonstrating simplicity and ease of operation, and proving forcibly that the Tourist is an owner's car so simple in operation and mechanism as to enable the novice to negotiate the severest test to which an automobile could be put. This more-than-a-thousand-mile-run was successfully accomplished without mishap or accident, and will live long in the annals of automobiledom as a glowing testimonial to mechanical genius and constructional ability. The Type "K" Toarinj Cat. Wntcn rant which earned tuck as enriabl repotaboa the pa tew yean, it a two-cylinder cat of raaikabk ability. lu coiutTuctioa u tl Terr acme of amnffio .1 V. accoropWhmettt, hare earned foe noowo. Tka car. beaufcfuIlT nniihed in a choice oi (out colore 22 H. P. ire-paueoger ramorabla tonnean, a SIJOOatLoe Angelea. 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