From the Wellfleet section of the Aug. 18, 1875 issue of the Provincetown Advocate, selected and edited by Kaimi Rose Lum
That old saying “Contrary as a hog” has been verified by a circumstance that lately came under our observation. A Mr. Young having a drove of pigs which he was anxious to dispose of, hired some boys to assist in driving them around town. All went smoothly for a while, when the quiet of the hogs was stirred to a fighting pitch by the rush of dogs among them, which scattered them in all directions. One with more devil than those who “ran down into the sea and perished,” started off on his own hook, followed by three boys whom he led in a race of a mile or more, when one of the boys more fortunate than his companions succeeded in catching him by the tail. Now piggy being a hundred pounds in weight, and ugly at that, and the boy only weighing seventy-five pounds, but plucky, hung to the porker and was dragged up one of the steepest hills in town, the other boys nearly bursting with laughter at the ludicrous actions of our hero. Ed. declared that he would never give up as long as the tail held on. Upon reaching the top of the hill Ed. was so exhausted that he let go his hold, and off went the pig with a hop, skip and a snort followed at a distance by his pursuers, who had not the bottom nor wind to compete in the race so they lost sight of him altogether.
As they drew near the harbor a Frenchwoman pointed to a dark object off in the bay, which proved to be the runaway. A dory was secured, and although it was rough, the boys put out after him and after rowing some time they overtook him, and while two managed the boat, the third seized him by the ears and pulled him in, filling the dory half full of water in the tussle. … As they drew near the shore, the boat’s painter was made fast to one of his legs for further security, and all hands were ready for a jump as soon as they struck bottom. This the boys did in a hurry, and the pig finding himself alone, was not long in following suit, leaping overboard and starting upon a run up a sand bank until he reached the end of his line, when down he went into the sand, and rolled over and over, squealing at the top of his voice finally clearing himself of the rope. The boys looked on amazed to see him fade away in the distance when wet and tired, after spending a half-day in the chase they proceeded slowly to their homes, resolving never again to try to get the best of a hog in a race.
