Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-05-30

The subscribers to this loan will not only
have the advantages of very liberal inter
est and very safe security, but will also
have the satisfaction of having assisted in
the construction of the greatest national
work of the country. =. ....77r
Face-A Dangerous SituatfOn.
la A. correspondent of the London Field
gives the following interesting narrative:
% In June, 1854, Mr.. Simm0nds. farmer,
residing at Brooklands Farm, Weybridge,
was dressing in order to attend the rent
audit at Woburn House. Before 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 afterwards 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 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 quickly,
and this more so than he expected, for in
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 we'll accus-
toned to bees, and perfectly collected, his
situation would have been a very danger
GUS one; for had he at all irritated this
mass of armed insects, he would no doubt
have received sufficient number of stings
to have placed his life in peril.
10 oh1s IL L: = u
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 forefingers managed to keep draw
ing and pushing them away from his nos
trils 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 off the swarm, But
moments consideration dissuaded 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 he walked he could
not help disturbing the hanging mass and
that every little agitation, however slight,
caused hum and hiss from some thou
sands. He then remembered the account
given in Thorley's work on bees of 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 sneared with honey.
To avoid agitating the swarm, Mr.. Sim
monds slowly knelt down on the grass and
remained perfectly still. He then found
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
tightness of the waistband-renderedt tight
er whenever he breathed-might crush, or,
at any rate, irritate this part of the swarm,
he slowly unbuttoned the front OF his trou-
sers. ... g----
1t is not easy to conceive more helpless
condition than that to which Mr.. Simmonds
was now reduced. He that was the mas
ter of forty hives, from which he could
usually levy what spoils he pleased, killing
his thousands at his pleasure with brim-
stone match, was nov so completely in the
power of one detachment of his own army,
and was reduced to the most suppliant posi-
tion. Even to call for help would have
would have been irritated, and would have
probably entered his mouth. At this mo-
ment he heard railway train on the Chert-
sey Branch Railway, from which he was
about fifty yards. 1t fortunately happened
that the engine-driver 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.. Simmonds
on his knees, with one arm eXtenued as if
for help, and something odd hanging from
his face. sounded his whistle. This was
heard by Mr.. Simmond's wife, who, sup
posing that some cow was i'll, sent her son
and farming man out into the fields
They soon found Mr.. Simmonds in the pre-
dicament above described. In addition to
the hanging mass, there was a 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, mere
ly saying, "Bring bushel hive, well rub
bed with honey, and some bricks"
While they were going at the top of their
speed for this, he remained perfectly still.
The tickling of the bees feet on his face
was almost unbearable, and the danger of
irritating those that were down his neck
and back was imminent.
The most difficult part he had to perform,
however, was that before mentioned, of
dissuading the bees with the end of his
two fore-fingers, from getting up his nos
trils. These bees were not in good hu-
NOR, as they were breathed upon, and also
deferred from doing as they pleased, and
one bee showed his displeasure by stinging
Mr.. Simmonds at the fork of his two fore
fingers; this was not pleasant of itself, but
it was serious occurrence, as it might be
the prelude to more extensive attack.
He avoided making any start when he
was stung, and continued to push away as
gently 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 perfectly closed. Of course, the
few minutes that elapsed before the return
of his son and the servant, seemed terri
bly, long period to Mr.. Simmonds, and dur
ing the whole of it he remained as notion
less as possible on his knees.
On their arrival. the hive was placed on
three bricks, with its mouth downward,
and Mr.. Simmonds slowly laid himself on
his breast on the grass with his head close
to the hive. The honey soon attracted the
bees nearest to it, and slow movement of
the bees took place, till at length the whole
swarm gradually gathered itself under and
within the hive, except few patches of
bees, which, in walking away, Mr.. Sim
nOndc oacilu 6icopaoo6 from his drasc