Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1877-10-04
Another Western Phenomenon.

A st. Louis paper last week published
the following: A curious story comes
from Dog Prairie, St. Charles county,
concerning the manner in which the
house Of Mr.. +. J. McAtee has recent
ly become infested with bats. McAtee
lives in double log house, the outside
OF which is weather-boarded. About
two weeks ago he noticed large num-
ber OF bats flying in the direction of hi.
house and concealing themselves in the
corners of the windows and under the
wea.her-boarding. He Immediately be-
gan an onslaught on them, and in few
minutes had killed seventy, this num-
Der being all that he could reach with
such weapons as he then had at hand.
Next morning none were to be seen,
but at twilight they returned in such
vast numbers as 10 appall him.
His attention was first directed to the
neighborhood Of his front gate, at W which
point he eheardinnumerable fitting NOISES
like storm IN the distance. Looking
that way he saw what at first he took
TO be black cloud approac hing, but as
as il got nearer he realized that it was
horde of bats. A. the swarm neared
the house it lowered, as if making ready
to aiight, and McAtee InstInctivcly re-
treated from the formidable enemy,
rushed through the frore door, closed
the shutter and lowered the window
sashes. BY some means a considerable
number found entrance into the room
and McAtee and hired man succeeded
with broom in killing about one hun
dred. On the outside could be heard
n tremendous commotion, as if the bats
were swarmlng and fighting among
themselves. After the bats that had
gotten into the room had been disposed
OF, Nc cAtee went through the back door
into the back yard and around to the
south side of tho house, where the horde
had congregatcd.
The scene at the window Is described
by him TO have been OF the most extra
ordinary character. The air was filled
with myriads OF bats, flying and circlins
about in all directions, and darting
against each other with an audible force.
A huge and writhing mass had settled
on the window sill, and the entire frame,
as we'll as the wooden part of the sash,
was covered with them. The weather.
boarding for at leas, Eve feet on each
side Of the window, and from the lower
logs TO the top Of the house, was COW
cred with the black throng. A bright
light shonc through the window panes,
and everything on the outside was
plainly visible. Though the greater
part OF the invaders showed prefer
ence for this window, general inspee-
'ion showed that they were distributed
over the entire premises. Hearing q
great uproar in his henhouse, ME. Nc
Atee rushed in that direction. and found
his entire fowl yard, in which were $50
fowls, including chickens, turkeys and
guineas, In the mos, extraordinary state
of perturbation.
An army Of bats had made their way
through the crevices, and were indulg-
ing IN such desperate demonstr st,ons OF
fitting and circling that every feathered
inhabitant had been frightened from its
roo>t, and the disturbed char,icleer. the
cackling hen and the shrill guinea made
night hideous with their notes Of alarm
Every clubhouse on the place was either
invaded or surrounded. In the stable,
where three horses were muching their
oats, there was a dread paving and
whinnying. and an examination reveal
ed the fact tha. every stall and trough
was infested with bats, and McAtee
deemed il \ matter Of prudence TO turn
the horses loose in the pastire. The
dogs went around bowling in dismay a.
the strange spectacle. As McAtee
walked through the yard the air was
thick with bats. and he had to keep up
continuous fighting with his hands
and arms to keep them from striking
, him IN the face.
Overcome and confused by this phe-
nomenal visitation, McAtee at first did
not know what 10 do, but finally con
eeived plan which resulted In the cap
ture and death of at least a very large
number OF them. He proposed to his