The Republican journal., 1876-08-31
The Grasshopper Plague in Colorado.

A private letter to the Boston Traveller
from Platteville, Colorado, tells a sad
story of the ravages of the pest of the far
West-the grasshopper. Tie writer, I'M
der date of August I'd, says
That terrible scourge, the hopper,
has come in all his majesty and irressti-
bic power. l will give you faint idea
of how he works. Our neighbors from
50 to 100 miles down the Platte are in
mortal fear of the "a fends, who, at
times, swoop down upon our frontiers
men with such barbarous and relentless
fury, not satisfied with simply killing
their victims, but delight in most I'M
heard OF mutations OF their bodies, espe-
cially of women and children. But we,
who dry up nearer the mountains, and
cultivate our fields and gardens with the
aid Of the little water that can be coaXed
out of the rivers and streams, while feel
ing secure from molestation from the red
devils, had begun TO hope that we might
escape the ravages of a foe but little infe-
rior to them | refer to that Egyptian
plague. the locust. called here the grass
hopper.
You have doubtless read about them.
but reading Of them will convey no more
vivid or accurate an idea of the terror
and devastation they spread over the
country than does the Bible account of
purgatory to Sioux Indian. This morn
ing we were proud and happy in the pos
session of a beautiful garden, filled with
everything that will grow in this high
and dry climate, from all of which we
anticipated much comfort. But how sad
and disappointed are the hopes of the
wicked especially in Colorado. After
zen O'Clock in the morning our attention
was called to a rumbling, dismal sound.
as of many earthquakes, and Immediately
the air was darkened, the sun hidden
from view by myrads - thousands Of
| bushels-ot these terrible insects, which
in a few moments began to settle down
| upon the gardens and fields in every di-
rection. For an hour or two. all hands,
men, women and children. sailed forth,
armed with every conceivable weapon,
to fight the hoppers off our garden. But
AL in vain. While we men were driving
Oft one thousand billions. four times as
many more would settle down behind us
over and all around US, until in utter de-
spar, we were glad to beat an VICTORIOUS
retreat to the house. They filled aGd
covered everything. The vegetation, the
earth, fences, stables, house and ALL
were literally black or brown with them,
| and in the bitches and holoWs, they
lay, or crawled. from two to four inches
deep. BY night our beautiful garden
of nearly two acres was as barren and
gloomy a looking spot as the eye ever
rested upon, and we felt as though
we had had a funeral. For months
we had worked, early and late, carrying
water Of the amount of thousands of pals
full, to nurse and encourage the growth
of our trees, fruit and vegetables, but in
| about as many hours all was gone. Over
100 large thrifty trees, 200 blackberry and
raspberry bushes, strawberry patch. pie
plant, horse radish, so small trees, a thou
sand melons, an abundance of sweet corn,
bushels of tomatoes, half grown. an as
paragus bed, lettuce, beets, ererWhing
taken and nothing left. And all this does
not Jegtn to convey an adequate idea OF
the gloom and alarm these insects spread
over the land. They came this time from
southwest. Within twenty miles of us
many hundreds, and probably thousands
of acres Of corn and oats were devoured
in single day. Most Of the wheat, which
is by far the safest crop in the country.
was too far advanced to afford the animals
much comfort, as they prefer the tender
blade
The young hoppers destroyed some OF
the crops early in the spring, and many
ranchmen planted a second time After
the great flood which deluged the country
about six or eight weeks ago. it was
thought the young hoppers had been most
ly washed away, and perhaps they were.
But while they exist anywhere OH earth,
they are liable to come to us. A journey
of thousands miles, with fair wind is a
tritling matter with them.
While writing, | learn that one field OF
corn and oats, over forty acres, are almost
gone and still going. So we are in sorrow. p"