Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1867-06-26
A GIGANTIC ANT STORY.

FTlGueS OF the DdSnlkOudy DGSluGS III
black kind. These Bashikonay ma,
well be called the lords of the forest
1t is the most voraciOus creature I eve
met. 1t is the dread of all living ami
mails, from the leopardrto the smalles
insects. It is their habit to .marcl
through the forests in a long, regula
| line, a line about two inches broad ant
often several miles in length all alons
this line are larger. ants, who act as off
cers-stand outside the ranks, and keel
this regular army in order. If the7
come to a place where there are no tree
to shelter them from the sun, whose
heat they cannot bear, they immediate
ly buildan underground tunnel, through
which the whole army pass in column.
to the forest beyond.
When they grow hungry, as by a sud
den command, the long flespread itsel
through the forest, advancing forward
attackingand devouringallliving things
with fury that is quite irresistible
The elephant and the gorilla fly before
them the black men run away; every
animal that lives in their line of march
is chased In an incredible short space
of time those that are caught are over.
,whelmed, killed, eaten, and only the
bare skeleton remains. They seem to
travel day and night. Many a time
have I taken to the water to savo my
self from them. When they enter a
house they clear it ofeverything. Cock
reaches are dGyOured in an instant
rats and mice spring around the room
in vain. They will not touch vegetable
matter, thus they are very useful clear
ing the country of many insects. When
on their march the insect world flies
before them, and I have often had the
approach, Of a Bashikonay ARMY herald
ed to me by this means.
Wherever they 90 they make a clean
sweep, even ascending to the top of the
trees in pursuit of their prey. Their
manner of attack is an impetous leap :;
instantly the strong pinchers are fasten-
ed, and they only let 90 when the piece
gives way. At such time this little in
sect seems animated by kind of a fury
which causes 1t to disregard entirely its
own safety. The negroes relate that
criminals, by which they generally mean
wizards, have sometimes been exposed
on the path of the Bashikonay ants, tied
to a tree so they might not escape. and
then be devoured to the bones. They
are larger than any ants we have in
America. The number of one of these
armies is so great that one does not like
to enterinto calculations, but I have seen
4 continuous line passing at a good
speed a particular place for twelve
hours. So you may imagine how many
millions there may have been.
-1.p-
EXCITEMENT IN A CIRCUs-We have
laughed heartily over the following ludic-
,ous story and would not deprive our
readers Of the same enjoyment
A number of years ago, when, Michi-1
gan was a now country, in Livingston
county, of--there lived family by
he name of Clayton, and one called Per-
lins also,-as well as great many
others. %.
Pete Clayton was a tall fine looking
ellow-noble specimen of our back
yoOdsmen-s standing six feet two in his
tockings.
Pete had taken a shine to Miss Sally |
Perkins, and it was known in fact that
hey were engaged. but the day when the |
mot was to be tied had not as yet been
.ivulged
In the month of August 1913, June's |
ircus came through their town for the |
Irst time, and in fact it was the first cir
us that had ever passed that way and .
here were great many people that had |
ever seen one, When the important
ay arrived, the town was filled to over
owing with a motley crowd, of course,
nd every young fellow had his Sal. Now
'ete wanted to get married on the com
lg Christmas, but Sally wished to have
put off until the next spring. When
he ticket wagon was opened the tent was
He'd in a hurry. Pete and Sally had
cen looking through the side shows and
hey we're late getting in,. and the per-
,rmance had already commenced. They
alked around, the entire ring, trying to
nd a seat, and although. they could seat
yo thousand people, every seat wac
Ill. ,-. ..tg.f
" Never mind, said Sal, I'D jest as
eff stand up
But the gallant Pete couldn't think Of
and said:
&" Wait mint, I'll get You chair"
I'd off he started, leaving Sal alone. t
Just at this moment the clown came in, S
'essed in his usual costume, and dane c
g around the ring, stopped right in q
ont,of Sal and began to sing. {
."Oh, Sally is the gal for me-" Y
This caused Sal to blush, for she {
fought the clown was looking at her. V
5 she stood near the ring, of course
lie hid the view of those lower seats be =
nd her, and as usual on such occasions, =
e clown cracks his jokes at the often J
rs until they take the hint and find {
at, but she said she had rather stand {
D. At this the clown commenced his }
kos. remarking to the ring MASTER a
50 There a chance for me now.
" \ chance for you?' G
" Yes, don't YOU see that gal has lost v
n beau, and she is locking at me, | t
now" and turning three or four somcr- ?
ults, he stopped directly in front of f
Il and began to sing q
80 Sally is the gal for me, h
Iwould not have no other, I,
Aud if Sal died to morrow night,
Id marry Sally mother.