Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1867-06-13
ADANGEROUS SITUATION.


DANGEROUS SITUATION.
A correspondent of the London FieM gives the
following interesting narrative:
In June, 1854, Mr. Simmonds, a farmer, resi-
ding at Brooklands Farm, Weybridge, was dressing
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 with
out his hat, to sec 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 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 10 the bottom OF his waist
coat. Had he not been well accustomed to bees,
and perfectly collected, his situation would have
been very dangerous one for had he at all irri-
tated this mass of armed insects, he would no
doubt have received sufficient 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 order to prevent
their entering his nostrils, which they cndcavorcd
to do, he slowly thrust one hand through the mass
and with his two forc6ngcrs managed to keep draw
ing 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 irrtatcd by being brcathed upon lie
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 Wcy and gently sink
his head under the water, and then throw off the
swarm But q moments consideration di<suaded
him from that attempted remedy He could not
have discngaged them all, for many were between
his neckcloth and his skin and still more was crawl
ing 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
q hum and hiss from some thousands. He then
remembered the account given in Thorley's work
on bees Of swarm settling on the neck and face
of servant maid, who escaped unhllrt by the care
and advice of her MASTER he, without irritating
the swarm, having hvcd it from off her with a
hive well smcarGd with honey.
TO avoid agitating the swarm, Mr.. Simmonds
slowly knclt down on the grass and remained pcr-
fccty still Hc then found 4 number Of bees were
gathering in 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 tightncSs
Of the waistband-rcndc Tered tighter whenever he
brcathcd-might crrlsh or. ut any rate, lrrltalc
this part of the swarm, he slowly unbuttoncd the
front Of his trousers
1t is not easy to conceive more helpless condi-
ton than that to which Mr. Simmonds was now re-
duced. He that was the master Of forty hives,
from which he could usually levy what spolls he
pleased killing his thousands at his pleasure with
Il birthstone match, was now so completely in the
power of one detachment of his own army, and
was reduced to the most supppliant position. Even
to call for help would have been dangerous, as the
bees near his mouth would have been irritated and
would have probably entered his mouth. At this
moment he heard railway train on the Chcrtscy
Branch Railway, from which he was about fifty
yards 1t so 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-drvcr seeing Mr.. Simmonds 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 ont into the fields. They soon
found Mr.. SimmOnds in the predicamcnt above de-
scribcd In addition to the hanging mass there
was cloud of bees still flying around him, so that
to approach him was notthc most agreeable office.
However they came near enough to hear him
speak, which he did very gently, merely saying,
Bring bushel hive, well rubbed 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 unbcarabe,
and the danger of irritating those that were down
his neck and back was imminent.
fTb, p,oct ,lifrnult MORT bn hud IN rnrform how
ever, was that before mentioned of dissuading the
bees with the end Of his two forcfngcrs, from get,
ting I'D his nostrils These bees were not in good
humor, as they were breathed upon, and also de-
| TERED from doing as they pleased, and one bee
showed his dsplcasllrc by singing A1r SimmondS
at the fork Of his two fore-fngerS; this was not
pleasant Of itself; but it WAS serious occurrence:
as it might be the prelude to more extensive at
tack.
He avoided making any start when he was stung,
and continued to push away as gently as possible
those that were near his nostrls This was the on
" safe place to breathe from, as it was necessary to
keep his mouth perfectly closed. or course, the
few minutes that elapsed before the return OF his
son and servant, seemed 4 terribly long period to
Mr. Simmonds, and during the whole of 1t he re-
manned as motonlcss as possible on his knees.
On their ARRIVAL the hive was placed on three
bricks. with its mouth downward and Mr.. Sim
monds 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 4 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.. Simmonds easily dis
engaged from his dress with his hand, and made
them join their companions. Mr.. Simmonds thus
escaped from not onl y disagrccaLc but perilous
situation. 1t occupied two hours from the time
that the bees alghted on their master, to the time
of his release.
REGISTRATION IN GENERAL PoPEs DISTRICT:
The following are the salient points in General
Popc's registration order issued last week 1.-The
States of Georgia and Alabama will be districted
and freedman placed on every board Of registr;a-
finn Rnnictnrs nrn 10 tnln the iron clad oath.