St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1867-06-14
4 STdrm of Bees on q Mans
Face.

In June. 1854. Mr.. Simmonds. 4:
farmer residing al Brookland Farm
Weybrid &c. WAS dressing in order to at
tend the rent audit at Woburn House
Before putting on lis coat, he perceived
from his window an unusually larg,
swarm OF bees, filling the air with theil
cloud and noise. Ii was, in fact. as HI
aticrward a>certained, two swarms thai
had come out of two distinct hives. ant
had united in the air. lie run out il
his shirt sleeves, and without his hat. tC
see where they would alight. The bees
after making some circles in the air. led
h.m off 10 the bank of the river Wey.
Thinking that the bees might cross the
river and perhaps escape, he adopted Z
plan not uncommon with bee-masters.
namely that OF throwing dust into the
air anon. the bees. This often make.
them settle quickly. They did settle
quickly. and tins more 50 than he ex-
pected, for in a short time the whole OF
one of the lar.est swarms lie had ever
seen. settled upon his head, face and
breast. They hung down in front like
a treat beard To the bottom of his waist
coat. Had he not been we'll accustomed
10 bees, and perfectly collected, his stu
ation would have been very dangerou.
onr: for had lac at all irritatcd this
mass of armed insects, he would no
doubt have received Il sufficient number
OF >ting> 10 have placed his life in peril.
lie was obliged 10 close his eyes slowly
and to keep hi> mouth shut. Then, in
order To- prevent them from entering his
no-trllS. which they cndcavoerd TO DO,
he SLOWLY thrust one hari through the
the mass, and with his two tcre-fingers
managed 10 keep drawing and pushing
:hcm away from his nostril> aS they tried
10 enter, hc breathing all the while as
softly as possible, This was necessary,
a. bee arr generally irritaied 10y being
brcathyd upon.
H. then BEGAN 10 consider what course
tie should take lie wa~ sons, distance
from hi> house and no one near him. or
within call. lli~ first thought was IL
walk slowly into the river Wev. and
.cntIv sink his head under the water and
then throw of the swarm. But a mo-
mrm;'S consideration dl>>ualci him from
that attempted remedy, He couW not
have di>rmGag'-l them all. for many We're
beneath hi< ncclrloih and hi- skin. and
still more were crawling down hi back.
lie found that if lac walked hc could no;
help disturbing the hangin. mass. and
that every little agitation. how ever
slight. CAUSED a hum and hiss from
some thousands lie then remembered
the account "lvcn In lhorlev'> work ol
bees of a swarm setting on the face AM
neck OF Il servant maid, who escaped un-
hurt lax the care and advice ot her mast
cr. be-. wiIhout irritating the swarm
havim. hivrd il from off her with hiv,
well >mear,-l with honey. To avoiL
aritaiimy The swarm. Mr.. Simmond,
slowly kmcli down on The grass and re,
manned perfectly sill. He then fo1nd q
number oi hee> Were gathering in a mas,
umler the wai>lband OF hi- trousers. il
the hollow ot his back. 10 which s;or
the Others were drawing. Indicating tha
the queen WAS there Fearin-. therefore
that the tighinesS OF the wai>lhan,l-
rendered tighter whenever he brcaihe,l-
mi-hi crush. or at ANY tate irriiaie TN
( part oi the swarm, hc slowly unhuttnne,
the trn;.t of his trousers.
Ii i not easy 10 conceive more help
l,>- condition than that TO which Mr.. sim
mumd> waS mow reduced. lie that wa
the master OF forty hives. from which h
could usually levy what spoils he pleased
KILN" his thousands 1T his pleasure viii
birthstone match. WAS now cnmpletel
in the power of one detachment oi' hi
own army. and WAS reduced 10 the mos
suppliani position. Even 10 call for hel
would have been dangerous. a. the Ice
near his mouth would have been m
duuhi,rllv irriiaic,l. and would have pru
bally entered his mouth. Al this mo
meni he heard a railway tram on III
Cherts5y Branch railway, from whic
he w..s about fifty wards Ii fortunaiel
happened that the engine driver wa
known 10 him. and had a little con
mission from him 10 sound his rslilwa
whistle If hc SAM anythiug wrong anon
: his COWS and sheep
The enginc driver seeing Mr.. Sin
: mond> on his knees with one arm extcnl
ed as if for help, and something Cd
= hamging from his face. sounded his whisil
WAS heard by Mr. Simmonis' wife, wi
supposed thai some COW WAS i'll. sent h'
son AMI farming man out into Il
: fields, They soon found Mr.. Simmon,
in the pre,licamcnt above described
. addition 10 the hanging mass, there VI
: cloud OF bees sill fiying around hin
20 that TO approach him was not Il
most agreeable Office. However. th,
l came near enough 10 hear him spca
, which hc did very gently, merely sayin
bring Il bu>hcl hive well rubbed Wi
. honey. and some bricks
While they were gone al the top
their speed for this, he remained perfcC
t " still. The tickling of the bees feet {
: MS face WAS almost unbearable, and 4
T danger OF irritating those that wee dow
: his neck and hack was imminent.
I. The most difficult part he had to pe
IL form, however. was that before meniiU
u ed, OF di>>;,u,ling the bees, with the a
: OF his two foreiingers, from getting
: hi> nnstrils. These bees were not in
( good humor, as they were breaihed up
'e and were also deferred from doing
d they pleased, and one bee showed
i displeasure by singing Mr.. Simmonls
ii the fork of his two fore-fingers- II
Ii was not pleasant of itself; but was
l. rious occurrence, AS it might be the pl
L lude TO 4 more extensive attack
avoided making any start when he "
-tung, and continuing 10 push away