Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1865-1872, 1867-05-17
Bees-A Swarm Of the Insects Settle on
O Mans faoe--A Dangerous situation.


Mans faoe-A Dangerous Situation.
A correspondent Of the London Field
gives the following interesting narrative
In June, 1854, Mr.. Simmcnds, farm.
or, residing at Brookands Farm, Wey-
bridge, was dressing in order to attend the
rent audit at Woburn House. Before put.
ting on his coat, he perceived from his
! window an unusually large swarm Of bees,
filling tho air with their cloud and noise.
1t was, in fact as he afterward ascertained,
two swarms that had come out of two dis
tinct hives and had united in the air. lie
ran out in his shirt sleeves, and without
bis hat, to see whore they would alight.
The bees, after making some circles Ia the
air, led him off to the bank of the river
I Wcy. 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, and this more 50 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 a great
beard to the bottom Of bis waistcoat. Had
he not been we'll accustomed to bees, and
perfectly collected, his situation would
have been a very dangerous one for, had
he at all irritated this mass Of armed in
sects, he wouldno doubthaye received
sufficient number OF stings TO have placed
his life in peril lie was obliged to close
his eyes slowly and to keep his mouth
shut. Then, in order TO prevent their
entering his nostrils, which they endeavor.
cd to do, he slowly thrust one hand
through the mass and with his two fore
fingers managed to keep drawing and push
ing them away from his nostrils as they
tried to enter, he breathing all the while
as softly as possible. This was necessary,
as bees arc generally irritated by being
breathed upon. He then began to con.
slider what course he should take. lie
was some 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 off the swarm. But
a moments consideration dissuaded him
from that attempted remedy. lie could
not have diseneaged them all, for many
we're between his neckclofh aud his skin.
aud still more were crawling down his
back. lie found that if he walked he
could not help disturbing the hanging
mass, and that every little agitation. how
ever slight, caused hum and a hiss from
some thousands. 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 un-
hurt by the care aud advice Of her master,
lie. without irritating the swarm. having
hived il from off her with a hive well
smeared with honey. To avoid agitating
the swarm, Mr. Simmonds slowly knelt
down on the grass and remained perfectly
still. lie then found number of the bees
were gathering in mass under the waist
baud Of his trousers, in the hollow of his
back, TO which spot the others were draw
ing, indicating that the queen was there.
Fearing, therefore, that the tigbtness Of
the waistband-rendered tighter whenever
he breathed-might crush, or a. any rate
irritate this part Of the swarm, lie slowly
unbuitoned the front Of bis trousers.
1t is not easy to conceive more hclp-
less condition than that to which Mr.. Sim
monds was now reduced llo that was
the master of forty hives from which he
could usually levy what spoils he pleased,
killing his thousands at his pleasure with
birthstone match, was now 80 completely
in the power of one detachment of his own
army, and was reduced to tho most suppl.
ant position. Even TO call ios help would
have been dangerous. ns the bees near his
mouth would have been irritatod, aud
would have probably entered bis mouth.
At this moment he heard railway train
on tho Chcrisey Branch Railway, from
which he was about fifty yards. 1t for
tunately happened that the engine. driver
was known TO him, and had little com.
mission 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 ono arm extended rs If
for help, and something odd hanging
from his face, sounded his whistle. This
was heard by Mr.. Simmonds wife, who
supposed that some COW was ILL., sent her
son and farming man out into the fields.
They soon found Mr.. Simmonds in the
predicament above described. In addition
to the hanging mass, there was cloud of
bees still flying around him, so that to
approach him was not the most agreeable
Office. However, they came near enough
to lnar him speak, which he did very
gently, merely saying, "bring bushels
hive, we'll 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 unbearablc, and the danger of
irritating those that were down his neck
and back was imminent
The most difficult part ho had to per-
form however, was that before mentioned,
Of dissuadng the bees with the ends Of
his two fore. fingers, from getting up his
nostrils. These bees were not in good
humor, as they were breuthcd upon, and
also deferred from doing as they pleased,
and one bee showed his displcasure by
stinging Mr.. Simmonds at the fork of his
two fore fingers this was not pleasant of
itself but il was serious occurrence, as
it might be the prelude to a more extensive
attack. lie avoided making any start
when he was stung, aud continued to
push away as gently as possible those that
were near his nostrils. This was the only
safe place to breathe from, as il was neces-
sary to keep his mouth perfectly closed.
| OF course the few minutes that eiups be-