The New York herald., 1877-09-10
CLOUDS OF BATS.
A MISSOURI FARMERS WAR WITH THE WINGED
MICE-AN ASTOUNDING STORY.

a MISSOURI FARMEH WAX WITH THE WINGED
MIcE-AN ASTOUNDING STORY.
From tho st. Louis Globe-D Democrat, Sept. 81
curious story comes from Dog Prairie, st. Charles
county, concerning the manner In which tho house of
Mr.. I. j. McAtes has recently become infested with
bats. McAce lives In double log house, the outside
of which is weather. boarded. About two weeks ago
he noticed a largo number OF bats flying in the drec-
ton OF his house and concealing themselves in the
OF tho windows and under the weather board
ing. Hc Immediately began an onslaught on them
and in fow minutes had killed seventy, this number
being all he could with such weapons ho
then had at hand. Next morning none were to be
seen, but at twilight they returned in such vast num-
TO appal him. His attention was first directed
to the neghborhood Of his front gatc ut which point
he heard innumorabo fitting noises like storm In
the distance. Looking that way he saw what at rst
he took be black cloud approaching, but as 1t got
he realized that 1t horde of bats. AS tho
swarm neared the house It lowered, us ii making
ready TO alignt, and McAtee nstinctivey retreated
from the formidable enemy, rushed through the front
BY some means considerable number found entrance
into the room, and McAtec and hired man succeeded
with brooms in killing about ono hundred. On the
outside could be heard tremendous commoton, as II
The bats swarming and lighting among themselves.
After bats that had gotten into the had
disposed OF McAtee went through the back door into
the back yard and around 10 The south side OF the
house, where tho horde had congregated The scene
at the window is described by him to have been the
most extraordinary character The air was fied with
myriads OF BATS flying ana circing about In all direc
tions ana darling against zach other with audible force
huge and writning mass had settled on the window
SILL and tho entire frame. as well as the wooden part
OF the sash, covered with them. The weather
boarding Tor at least ve feet each side OF the
dow ana from the lower logs to the top OF tho house
was covered with the black throng. bright light
shone through the window paues and everything on
the outside was plainly visible. Though the greater
DOW general seu INSPECTION showed that thew were DIS
trbuted over the entire premises Hearing great up
roar in his hcnnouse Mr. McAtee rushed in that dl-
rectiou and found his entire fowl yard, IN which
were 100 fowls, including chickens, turkeys and
guneas IN the most extraordinary state OF perurba
tion An army oil bats had made shsir way through
the crovlces, and were INDUCING In sucn desperate
demonstrations oil fitting ana circng that evory
feathered inhabtant had boen irigh tened from It's
roost and the disturbed chanticeer, the csckng hen
and the shrll guinea mado night hideous with their
either invaded surrounded In the stable, where
three horses were munching their evening OATS there
dread paving and wninnyng, ana an examina.
ton revealed the fact that every stall ana trough
infested with bats and McAtee deemed 1t matter OF
prudence turn the horses loose In the pasture Tho
dogs-of which there were six on tho place-weht
AROUND bowling IN dismay at the strange spectacle.
As McAtee walked through the yard the air thick
with his hands and arms to keep thcm from striking
hm in the face.
tation McAtee at first did not know what to do,
but finally conceived plan which resulted in the
capture and death OF at least very largo num-
Der OF them. An hour had passed away. and the
pests numerous NJ the south window as
they were at ArsL He proposed 10 his hired
man that they raise the sash and let the bats In then
close the window shutters from the outside, and
ing thus trapped the game proceed to despatch In
the most expeditions manner. This plan at onco
put into execution. AS the window sash
raised thousands rushed In, and In five minutes there
was not vacant spot on ceiling, wall floor, table, bed.
post, bureau or CHAIR. The window was closed and
McAtee and his bired began the work OF desruc-
Some OF tho bats seemed to realize the dire tate
TO which they were doomed, and made desperate
efforts TO find egress through tho window pahcs.
Others made war ON The assaulting party, and the
hired man bitten once his lace and twice
his left hand The two men were armed with
hcves, and they made fearful havoc ameng the foo.
The slaughter continued hour and halt many OF
the bats being perched at points OF the ceiling difficult
TO reach The result by actual count was lO3 dead
bats. and their carcasses filled large barrel which
holds over nvS bushels Inouen TINS % onslaught
still hundreds. ana perhaps thousands, OF them
lett though, owing to the darkness, 1t was found
practicable to make further war on them. Noxt
morning when McAee awoke not bat was TO be seen,
all the survivors having disappeared as mysteriously
a. they came.
II seems however, that the bats were determined to
make McAtees house their haunt and the following
night they swarmed as formidabiy as on their hrst
visit, and three thousand killed. They still
persist IN coming, and up 10 this time there have been
upward o thousand slain, and though there
q visible and gratifying falling OIL in the number of
invaders, they yet nfest the premises IN sufficient
numbers to be very troublesome. Where they come
from why they have selected that particular place
resort two steries which have not yet been
fathomed. 1t Is believed that they como from
mense thicket aoodt ten miles up the Missouri River
whore they breed in countless quantities. 1t is known
that this thcket or swamp Is thickly infested with
thom, and stil hunters have often found them
merous In certain spots that they could not make
headway without great annoyance. McAtee consders
the visitation serious calamity and Is carrying
relentless OF DETERMINATION The invading bat Is
of the common insectvorous species, quadrupeda and
with body much like that Of u mouse. The story
certainly an extraordinary one, and Its truth Is
vouched for by several reliable witnesses.