The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1867-08-23


This was necessary, as bees are gene
rally rritated by being breathed upon,
lie then began to consider what
course he should take. He was some
distance from his house, and no one
near him or within call. Ills first
thought was to walk slowly into the
river Wcy, and gently sink his head
under the water and thus throw Off the
swarm. But Il moments consideration
dissaudcd him from that attempted
remedy. He could not have diacngagcd
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 II hiss from
some thousands. He then remcm-
bercd the account given in Thorley's
work on bees of Il swarm setting on the
face and neck of II servant maid, who
escape unhurt by the care and advice
of her master; he, without irritating
the swarms, having hivcd it from off
her with hive well smeared with
honey. TO avoid agitating the swarm.
the grass and remained perfectly still.
He then found number of bees were
gathering in mass under the waist
band 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
tightncss of the waistband might crush,
or at any rate irritatc this part of the
; swarm, he slowly unbuttOned the front
of his trousers.
1t is not easy to conceive Il 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 n birthstone match,
was now completely in the power Of
: one detachment of his own army, and
was reduced to the most suppliant po-
sition. Even to call for help would
4 have been dangerous, as the bees near
his mouth wonld have been undoubtcd-
ly irritatcd, and would have probably
, entered his mouth.--At this moment he
heard II railway train on the ChertSey
Branch Railway, from which he was
c about fifty yards distant. 1t fortunate
:. " happened that the cngine-drivcr was
known to him, and had IL commission
II from him to sound his railway whistle
if he saw anything wrong among hi'
cows and sheep.
d This enginc-driver, seeing Mr.. Sim
monds on his knees, with one arm eN
tended as for help, and something ode
l. ha nging from his face, sounded hi
NJ whistle. This was heard by Mr.. Sim
monds' wife, who supposing that SOM
1t COW was i'll, sent her son and Il farming
-, man out in the fields. They soon fount
Mr.. Simmonds in the prcdicamen
y above described. In addition to TIN
-, hanging mass there was cloud ofbec
still flying around him, so that to mp
proarh him was not the most agrecabl
r office. However they came nea
enough to hear him speak, which h
J" did very gently, merely saying: "l'rin
t bushel hive well rubbed with hone
and some bricks"
III While they were gone at the top
" their speed for this, he remained pen
i, fectly still. The tickling of the bee
feet on his face was almost unbcari
W bic, and the danger of irritating tho-
that were down his neck was immincn
The most difficult part he had to pei
,d form, however, was that before mel
toned, of dissuading the bees, with til
aid of his two forctingcrs, from gcttin
." up his nostrils. These bees We're not /
nj IA good humor, aS they We're breathe
upon, and were also deferred from dom
IL as they pleased, and one bee showed h
no displcasurc by singing Mr.. Simmono
at the fork of his two fore fingers. III
Ia was not pleasant of itself but it was
Nc, serious occurrence, AZ it might be til
prelude to II more extensive attack. ii
H. avoided making any start when he Wa
cr stung and continued to push away
,, gently rs possible those that were nca
his nostrils. This was the only sal
m place to breathe from, rs it was neccS
AIRY to keep his mouth perfectly closc'
Ofcourse, the few minutes that clapSc
he before the return of his son and scrval
seemed terribly long period to VI
Simmonds, and during the whole ot
he remained Us mOtonlc-S a. poSHlbI
on his knees.
- on their arrival, the hive VA, pla'
cd on three bricks, with lis moU'
downward, and Mr.. SimnordH 'loWI
\ laid himself on his breast on the gra-'
with his head close to the hive, I'll
honey soon attracted the bee ncarc
II, to il, and slow movement OF the bee
10 took place, till ut length the who
st. swarm gradually gathered Itself und'
cu and within the hive, e,eNccpta few patel
ge cs of bees, which, walking away VI
TT SimmOnd- easily di-cngagod nom II
he dress with his hand, and made thcl
ls' Join their companions. Mr, Sinhoh'
'es thus escaped from not only a yer
ut disagrccablc but IL pcrilouN situation
ht' 1t occupied two hours from the tin
ne that the bees alightcd ON their maNt'
ne to the time of his release.
'er
'ht THE INFLUENCE OF NHWSrArEl'S,
ne Daniel Webster once remarked: "Sila
in is the sum that is required to patronl'
hg newspaper, and amply rewarded Is !
= patron, care not how humble and u
La .----1- L l. ILL