The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1877-10-06

and whinnying, and an examination re-
vealed the fact that every stall and
trough was infested with bats, and Nc
Aztec deemed it matter of prudence to
turn the horses loose into the pasture.
The dogs-of which there were six on
the placement around bowling in dis
may at the strange spectacle. AS Nc
Aztec walked through the yard the air was
thick with bats, and he had to keep up a
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 first did not
know what to do, but finally conceived a
plan which resulted in the capture and
death of at least very large number of
! them. An hour had passed away, and
the pests were as numerous at the south
window as they were at first. He pro-
posed to his hired man to raise the sash
and let them in, then close the window
shutters from the outside, and having
thus trapped the game proceed to dis
patch it in the most expeditions manner.
This plan was at once put into execution
As soon as the window sash was raised
thousands rushed in, and in five minutes
| there was not vacant spot on the cell
ing, wall, floor, table, bed-post, bureau
or chair. The window was closed and
McAtee and his hired man began the
work of destruction. Some of the bats
seemed to realize the dire fate to which
| they were doomed, and made desperate
efforts to find egress through the window
panes. Others made war on the as
saulted party, and the hired man was
bitten once on the face and twice on his
left hand. The two men were armed
with ax-helves and they made fearful
havoc among the foe. The slaughter
continued an hour and a half, many of
the bats being perched at points of the
ceiling difficult to reach. The result by
actual count was 4, 103 dead bats, and
the carcasses filled large barrel,
which holds over five bushels. Though
this onslaught greatly diminished the
number of invaders there were still hun
dreds, and perhaps thousands, of them
left, though, owing to the darkness. it
was found impracticable to make further
war on them. Next morning when Nc
Aztec awoke not bat was to be seen,
all the survivors having disappeared as
mysteriously as they came.
1t seems, however, that the bats were
determined tomake McAtee's house their
haunt, and the following night they
swarmed as formidably as on their first
visit and over three thousand were killed.
They still persist in coming, and up to
this time there have been upward of H.
600 slain, and though there is visible
and gratifying falling off in the number of
invaders they yet infest the premises in
sufficient numbers to be very trouble
some. Where they come from and why
they have selected that particular place
as u resort are two mysteries which have
not yet been fathomed. 1t is believed
that they come from an immense thicket
about ten miles up the Missouri River,
where they breed in countless quantities
1t is known that this thicket or swamp is
thickly infested with them, and still
hunters have often found them so nu-
merous in certain spots that they could
not make Roadway without great annoy
ance. Nc Aztec considers the visitation a
serious calamity, and is carrying on a re-
lentless war of determination. The in
vading bat is of the common insectivo-
rous species, quadrupedal, and with a
body much like that of mouse. The
story is certainly an extraordinary one,
and it's truth is vouched for by several
reliable Witnesses Louis Globe DEM
| OcTHt