Elizabeth-Town gazette. [volume] (Elizabeth-Town, N.J.) 1818-1821, 1819-09-14
From the National Intelligencer.

From the National Inteligencer.
Extraordinary Visitation.-A letter
from Green Bay, Michigan Territory, to
a gentleman in this city, dated July 10,
1919, gives the following very curious
account of the visitation of that country
by clouds Of insects which will bear a
comparison with the swarms which here.
tofore darkened the air Of Egypt in their
Eight:
"WitlIin The last four or five days the
fly has appeared--a' non-descript perhaps
Flu natural history land covered the face
Of the whole earth, ehsenringg the sun,
moon, aud stars. write literally, aud
without the least eSaggeration. The
heavens are darkened by them, as in a
densely cloudy day; as far as the eye can
discern, they fill the air, in every direc-
|tion, as closely as thick swarm: Of bees.
Cornfelds, &c. are Frustrated with the
clouds that settle upon them; trees are
covered, and the branches bent and broken
down. The barracks and buildings IN the
vicinity, at the ends and sides no; exposed
to the sun, are entirely black, the insects
piled one upon another. These creatures,
with their feelers, that protrnde from head
aud tail, are about three inches 10 length,
slough their skins, daily, it is said, by
the inhabitants here; and, in performing
this operation, and in dying by millions
every hour, infect the atmosphere so that
ii becomes unfit to breathe. Cattle, swine.
and Indians, are said to feed and fatten
upon them. The Frenchmen call them
matsguito hanks, because they make their
appearance when musquitos are most nu-
merous, and, as is supposed, prey upon,
and drive them away. The flies them
selves remain but six or seven days.
From the Westmoreiand Republican, Aug co.
Died, on Friday, the 18th inst. Mrs.
Kitty Hontsberger, widow Of Peter Honts-
berger, deceased, leaving six small or
phan children to depIore, in her death, the
early loss of their last earthly parent.
The circumstances Of her death are of
more than usual interest, and calculated,
at once, to smite the breast with the live
hest feelings of sympathy 10 her fate, aud
establishment at the conviction it SO forci-
bly, impresses on the mind, that the ten
ure by which we hold every boon Of life,
even life itself, is flimsy indeed.
After taking breakfast on the morning
Of the day on which she died, she repair
ed with her father and family to the field,
to assist in raking and binding their oats !;
but had proceeded but short distance,
until she was bitten by large rattle
snake, rather above and behind the tuner
ankle Of the right foot. The snake was
killed, and she Immediately ran to the
house, which was not far distant. But so
diffusible and powerful is the venom of
this animal at the present season OF the
year, that she had not reached it, until il
seemed TO have pervaded her whole sys-
TEN. She became actually blind, as she
stated about the time she got to the bars.
a few rods from the door. The action Of
the virus was no doubt more instantane-
Gus, from the increased rapidly Of her
circulation and her alarm Of mind and pos
sibly from its being Immediately inserted
into some considerable vein or absorbent,
leading from the part. AS soon as she
reached the house, ligature was firmly
tied around the leg below the knee, and
the circulation in it Immediately stopped
Between three and four hours from this
time medical assistance was procured.
The leg below the ligature was now per-
4fectly black, and danger being appre.
hended from the stoppage of the circula.
ton for SO great length Of time, free
excision of the bitten part was made and
the ligature removed. Stimulating appli-
cations as spirits Of hartshorn and spirits
Of turpentine, were then employed. The
pulse, though not very strong and full.
was sufficiently SO to admit Of bleeding.
aud about twelve ounces we're drawn from
the arm. 1t exhibited no inflammatory
buff or any other morbid appearance. AL
opiate was next administered, combined
with ingredients calculated to promote
perspiratioD, and allay nervous irritation.
rms was repeated IN short time, and a
slight remission from pain seemed 10 be
the effect, perspiralion was proluse, and
the vomiting, which had been FREQUENT
and severe, didno return. The swelling
OF the face and Of the bitten leg also de. |
creased. But her sufferings soon return
ed with redoubled violence. Her boweL |
breast ard head were each the seat Of ia
describable agony, though she frequently
Exclaimed that she seemed all on fire, and |
mat her feelings could notbe more painful
~ q bed OF fire. Her vision was perfect
a, intervals, but again entirely DESTROYED. |
one complained much Of her mouth and
tongue, and though sometimes thirsty, at
DINERS was unable to swallow drop Of
flnid The nl;xra al l.L -