The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1867-08-02
A Swarm Of Bee. on q Mans Face,
A correspondent Of the London Fssl

"ln June, 1854, Mr.. Simmonds, a farmer
residing at Brookland Farm, Weybridsc,
was dressing in order to attend the rent au.
dit 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. It was, in
fact, as he aferward ascertained. two
swarrns that had come out of two distinct
hives, and had united In the air. He run
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 tho
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
moro 90 than he expected, for IN . short
time The whole Of one Of the largest swarms
he had ever seen. settled upon bis 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 situation
would have been very dangerous one for
had he at all irritated this mass Of armed
insects, he would no doubt have received a
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 them from enter
ing his no.trils, which they endeavoretl to
do. he slowly thrust one hand through the
mass, and with his Two fore fingers man.
aged. to keep drawing and pushing them
awny irum his nostrils as they tried to- en-
ter ,hs breathing all the while ms softly as
possible. THIS was necessary, as bees are
generally irriiatcd by beiug brenilled upon.
lie then began to consider what course
he should lake. Ito WINS sumo distance
from his house and no one near him, or
within CALL His first thought was to walk
slowly into the River Wey. and gently sink
his head under the water and then throw
of the swarm. But moments consider
aiion dissuaded him from that attempted
remedy ils could not have disenga god
them all, for many were beneath his neck
cloth and his skin, aud still more were
cuwling down his back He found that II
he walked he could not help disturbing the
hanging mass, and that every little agitation
however slight, caused hum and hiss
from some thousands. lie then reinem
bered the account given in Thorleys work
on bees of swarm settling on the face und
neck Of q servant maid, who escaped un
hurt by the care and advice of her master,
he, without irritating the swurm, having
hived II off from her with hive well smear.
ed with honey. To avoid agitn,ing the
swarm, Mr.. Sinmonds slowly knelt down
on the grass and remained perfectly still.
lie then found a number Of bees were
gathering in mass under The waistband OF
his trowsers, IN the hollow Of his buck, to
which spot The others were drawing, indi.
eating that the queen wns there. Fearing
therefore, that the tightness of the waist
band rendered tighter whenever he breath.
ed-might crush, or at any rate irriiate this
part Of the swarm. he slowly unbuttoned
the front Of his trowsers. .. .'
II Is not easy to conceive moro helpless
condition than that to which Mr.. Sim.
monds was now reduced. He that was Tho
master Of forty hives. from which he could
usually levy wha, spoils he pleased, killing
his thousands at his pleasure with brim-
stone match, was now completely in the
power Of ono detachment of his own army,
and was reduced to tho most suppliant
position. Even to call for help wouhl have
been dangerous, as the bees near bis mouth
would have been undoubtedly irrilated,
and would have probably entered his
mouth. Atthis moment he heard q rail.
way train on the Chertsey Branch railway,
from which he was about fifty yards. II
fortunately happened that the engine dri.
yer was known to him, and had little
commission from him to sound his rnilway
whistle if be saw anything wrong among
his cows and sheep. ~ -. n -.
The engine driver seeing Mr.. Simmonds
on his knees with one arm extended rs u
for help, and something odd hanging from
his face, sounded his whistle. This was
heard by Mr.. Simmond's wife, who suppos-
ed that some cow was i'll, sent her son and
farming man out into the field. They
soon found Mr.. Simmond in the predica.
ueni above described. In addition to the
hanging mass, there was cloud OF bees
s,ill flying around him, 30 that 10 approach
him was not the utmost agreeable Office.
However, they camo near enough tn hear
him spsak, which he did very gently, mere.
ly sayiug, bring q b,ishel hive we'll rubbed
with honey, and some bricks
While they were gone nj the top OF their
speed for this, he remained perfectly still.
Thu tickliug oi the bees feet on his face
was almost unbearablc, and the danger of
irritating those that wero down his neck
md hack was imminent. 49, - .'l
The most difficult part hc had to perform,
however, was that before mentioned. Of
dissauding the bees. with the aid Of his two
forc6ngers, from getting up his nostriIs.
Those bees were not in good humor, %
they wore breaihed upon, and were also
deferred from doing as they pleased, and
one bee showed his displeasure by stinging
Mr.. Simlnonds at the fork ofhls own fore.
fingers This was not pleasant Of itself;
but Was Q serious occurrence, ~ might
l,e the prrlude to moro extensive attack
ia avoided making any stnrt when he was
stung, and continued to push uwuy as gent.
" ss possible those that wep near
| hin postrils i This was tho only sefe place
IN breath from, as il wus necessary 10 keep
his mouth perfectly closed. or course, tho
few minutes that elapsed before the return
or his son and servant seemed terrible
long period to Mr.. 6immonds, % during
The whole Of IL he renamed a rnodonless
us possible on bis knees -.
On their arrival the hive was placed on
three bricks, with It's 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, ill at length the whole
swarm gradually gathered itsslf under and
within the hive, except few Patchss OF
! bees which, in walking away, Mr.. sim-