Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1867-05-16
A swarm of Bees ON a Mans Facs.

In June, 1854, Mr.. Slmmonds, a far
mer residing at Brookland Farm, Wey-
bridge, was dressing in order TO attend
the rent audit at Woborn House. Be.
fore putting on his coat, he perceived
from his window an unusually large
swarm OF bees filling the air with their
cloud and noise. 1t was, in fact, as he
afterward ascertained, two swarms that
had come out OF two distinct hives, and
had united in the air. He ran out In
his shirt sleeves, and without his hat to
see where they would alight. The bees,
after making some circles in the air, led
him of 10 the bank of the river Wey.
Thinking that the bees might cross the
river, and perhaps escape, he adopted
plan not uncommon with bee-masters,
namely, that OF throwing dust into the
air among the bees. This often makes
them settle quickly. They did settle
| quickly, and this more so than he ex.
| pected, for in q short time the whole OF
| one Of the largest swarms he had ever
] seen settled upon his head, face and
breast. They hung down In front like
| great beard to the bottom OF his waist
coat. Had he not been well accustomed
to bees, and perfectly collected, his stu
alton would have been very dangerous
one, for had he at all irritated this mass
| of armed insects, he would no doubt
have received 3 sufficient number OF
| stings to have placed his life in peril.
He was obliged to close his eyes slowly,
and keep his mouth shut. Then, in or
| der to prevent their entering his nos.
| trlls which they endesvored to do, he
| slowly thrust one hand through the
mass, and with two fingers managed to
keep drawing and pushing them away
| from his nostrils as they tried to enter,
| he breathing all the while as softly as
possible Thisywas necessary, as bees
are generally irritated by being breath
| ed upon.
He then began to consider what course
he should take. He was some distance
from his house, and no one near him or
within call. His first thought was 10
walk gently into the river Wey, and
gently sink his head under the water
and then throw off the swarm. But q
moments consideration disuadea him
from that attempted remedy. He could
not have disengaged them all, for many
| WEIG UGkWCGu LIS uGGhIlOtn aINA AlS ShAh
and still more were cralling down his
back. He found that if he walked he
could not help disturbing the hanging
mass, and that every little agitation,
however slight, caused hum and hiss
from some thousands. He then remem-
bered the account given in Thorley's
work on bees OF a swarm settling on
the face and neck OF servant maid, who
escaped unhurt by the care and advice
of her master he, without irritating
the swarm, having hived it from off her
with a hive well smeared with honey.
| Mr.. Simmonds slowly knelt down on the
grass and remained perfectly still. He
then found q number of bees were
gathering in a mass under the waistband
OF his trousers, in the hollow OF his
back, to which spot the others were
drawing, indicating that the queen was
there. Fearing, therefore, that the tight
ness of the wastband-rendered tighter
whenever he breathed-mightC crush, OF
at any rate irritate this part Of the
the swarm, he slowly unbottoned the
front Of his trousers.
: II is not easy to conceive more help
less condition than that to which Mr.
Simmonds was now reduced. He was
the master of 40 hives, from which hi
could usually levy what spoils he pleased
| killing his thousands at his pleasure
, | with birthstone match, was now com
pletely in tie power Of one detachmen
of his own army, and was reduced t
most suppliant position. Even to cal
, | for help would have been dangerous, a!
| L. Lo vpp,,l1 Wy,
been undoubtedly irritated, and would
have probably entered his mouth. A
this moment he heard railway train OF
] the Chertsey Railway, from which h,
, | was about so yards. 1t fortunately hap
pened that the engine driver was known
to him, and had little commission from
him to sound his railway whistle if b.
, saw anything wrong among the cow
, and sheep.
This engine-driver seeing Mr.. Sim
: monds on his knees, with one arm ex
tended as if for help, and something ode
hanging from his face, sounded hi
whistle. This was heard 10y Mr.. Sim
monds' wife, who supposing that som
cow was ill, sent her son and a farmin!
man out into the fields. They soon fount
Mr.. Simmonds in the predicament abov
: described. In addition to the hangin!
t mass, there was cloud of bees still
flying around him, so that to approach
him was not the most agreeable office
} However, they came near enough to hea
him speak, which he did very gentl,
f merely saying, "bring me bushel hiv
! well rubbed with honey, and som
bricks"
: While they were gone at the top G
their speed for this, he remained perfect
,, ly still. The tickling of the bees feet OIL
his face was almost unbearable, and tn
dangers of Irritating those that wer
down his neck and back was imminent
J The most difficult part he had to per
I form, however, was that before men
= toned, of dissuadiDg the bees, with th
: aid of his two re-fngers from gettin
;, up his nos:rils. These bees were not il
y a good humor, as they were breathe
). upon, and were also deferred from dom
1 as they pleased, and one bee showed hi