Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1867-06-14

the following interesting narrative:
In June, 1853, Mr. Simmonds, a farmer,
residing at Brooklands Farm, Weybridge,
was dressing in order to attend to the rent au-
dit at Woburn House. Before putting on
his coat, he perceived from bis window an
unusually large swarm of bees filing the air
with their cloud and noise It was, in fact,
as he afterwards ascertainod, two swarms that
had come out of two distinct hives, and had
united in the air He ran out in his shirt
sleeves, and with his hat, to see where they
would alight The bees, after making some
circles in the air, led him off to 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 quick
ly, and this more so than he expected, for in
a 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
waistcoat Had he not been well accustomed
to bees, and perfectly collected, his situation
would have been very dangerous one; for
had he at all irritated this mass of armed in
sects, he would no doubt have received suf-
ficent number Of stings to have placed his
life in peril.
He was obliged to close his eyes slowly
and to keep his mouth shut. Then, in Or
der to prevent their entering his nostrils,
which they endeavored to do, he slowly thrust
one hand through the mass and with his two
forcGngers 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 This was necessary, as
bees are generally irritated by being breathed
upon. He then began to consider what course
he should take. He was some distance from
his house, and no one near him nor within
call. His first thought was to walk slowly
into the River Wey, and gently sink his head
under the water, and then throw Oft the
swarm. But moments consideration dis
suaded him from that attempted remedy
He could not have disengaged them ALL for
many were between his neckcloth and his skin
and still more were crawling down his back.
He found that if be 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
remembered the account given in Thorley's
work on bees, Of swarm settling on the face
and neck of a servant maid, who escaped I'M
hurt by the care and advice Of her master,
he, without irritating the swarm, having
hiyed It from off her with hive well smeared
with honey.
To avoid agitating the swarm, Mr.. Sim
monds slowly knelt down on the grass and
remained perfectly still. He then found a
number of bees were gathering in mass un-
der the waistband of his trousers, in the hol-
low of his back, to which spot the others
were drawing, indicating that the queen was
there. Fearing, therefore, that the tightness
of the waistband- rendered tightness when
ever he breathed-might crush, or at any
rate, irritate this part Of the swarm, he slow
" unbuttoned the front of his trousers.
It is not easy to conceive more helpless
condition than that to which Mr.. Simmonds
was now reduced. He that was the master of
forty hives, from which he could usually levy
what spoils he pleased, killing his thousands
at his pleasure with birthstone match, was
now SO completely in the power of one de-
tachment of his own army, and was reduced
to the most suppliant position. Even to call
help woul9 have been dangerous, as the bees
near his mouth would heve been irritated,
and would have probably entered his mouth.
At this moment he heard railway train on
the Chertsey Branch Railway, from which
he was about fifty yards It fortunately hap
pened that the engine-driyer was known to
him. and had little commission from him
to sound his railway whistle if he saw any
thing wrong among his COWS and sheep.
This engine-driver seeing Mr.. Slmmonds
on his knees, with one arm extended as if for
help, and something odd hanging from his
face. sounded his whistle This was heard by
Mr.. Simmonds' wife, who supposing that
some COW was i'll, sent her son and farming
man out into the fields. They soon found
Mr.. oimmonds in the predicament above de-
scribed. In addition to the hanging 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 hear him speak, which he did
very gently, merely saying, bring bush
ell hive, well rubbed with honey, and some
bricks"
While they were going at the top of then
speed for this, he remained perfectly STILL
| The tickling Of the bees feet on his face was
almost unbearable, and the danger of irrita
ting those that were down his neck and back
was imminent
The most difficult part he had to perform
however, was that before mentioned, of dis
suading the bees with the ends Of his tive
foreigners, from getting up his nostrils =
These bees were not in good humor, a
they were breathed upon, and also deferred
from doing as they pleased, and one be-
showed his disp!easure by singing MIR. SIM
monds at the fork of his two forefngers thi
was not pleasant of itself but it was seri
Gus occurrence, as it might be the prelude'
to more extensive attack
He avoided making any start when he wa
stung, and continued to push away as gent
as possible those that were near his nostrils
This was the only safe place to breathe from
as it was necessary to keep his mouth perfect
ly closed Of course, the few minutes thu
elapsed before the return Of his son and tn
:oI