Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-08-15
THE BOSS" MOSQUITO STORY,

The average Jersey MOSQUITO is acknowl
edged by all with whom he has come in
contact to be an exceedingly bloodtnirsty
wretch but of all the stories related con-
corning his vicious ways, in all probability
none can equal the tale told by Captain j.
w. Anderson, of the British bark Emmau-
uel Swedeuborg. The Swedenborg arrived
at this port on last Saturday from Scsia.
with cargo OF iron. She was lying in the
river until yesterday afternoon, when she
was docked at Willow-street wharf. Here
itwas that Record man found the amiable
skipper III his cosy cabin, busily engaged in
applying poultices to his face, hands, arms,
neck and ankles, in oider to allay the pain
and take down the'sweliing caused by the
bite or the pestiferous insects. When
questioned the Captain said SIT was
about o'clock in the afternoon, when
fifteen miles off Cape May, that we saw to-
wards the north great cloud of insects
bearing directly down on US. Three min
utes after we sighted the moving mass our
ship was ercircled by hordes of mosquitoes.
They must have been wearied by their long
flight from land, for they immediately took
up positions on the deck, on the sails and
among the rigging. at this juncture we
picked up pilot, whom we eagerly be.
sought to explain where the visitors came
from, but he was too dumbfounded to make
any reply. After they began their feast
on the exposed parts Of US helpless souls it
was terrible. Some of the men cried out in
agony at the way they were bitten. Go
where they would it was all the same.
Down in the cabin many fled for relief, but
it was CT no avail, for it seemed as though
there were as many below decks as there
were above. | noticed all that attacked me
were thin and mean looking. Some had
bills half an inch in length, which they in
serted IN ones face and arms with marked
viciousDess. 1t took but second or two
for them to eat enough to fatten them be.
yond all belief. 1t took all our time to kill
the critters as they aGghted ON us. At the
end of the first half hour they began pierre
ing our clothes. When I found that the
devilish fellows were crawling up my legs,
l hastily went to the cabin and put on a
pair Of big boots and climbed into heavy
winter overcoat. When l sailed out on
the deck again l thought l was proof
against the bites OF the mosquitoes.
Not so, however. They managed to bother
me almost as much az before. By this time
many of the crew had swathed their faces
and necifs with shirts, leaving only space
enough W see was QfJVen almost
desperate, and climbed up to the main.
top, thinking to escape the ferocious ami.
mails. You may know how glad was
when l found that they had not got up so
far. The first mate called to me- to know
how it was up there. told him to come
up and to bring as many of the men aloft
as could be spared. This he did, and there
we staid all night. When supper time
came, our Chinese cook went below and
filled basket of cold victuals, which we
hoisted up to our perches in the shrouds.
The men took hour-turns in going down on
deck and managing the vessel. We slept
aloft, as we feared to venture on the deck.
About o'clock stiff breeze sprnng up,
and the mosquitoes began leaving ne.
Many OF them staid on the boat, however,
until we reached Delaware. At the Break
water l attempted to send dispatch to
the consignees in Philadelphia, but my
hands were bitten so badly / was unable to
write, and had to get the telegraph opera
tor to pen the message. | hope we will
never be compelled to again endure such
torments as we were subjected to during
the time we were on deck. My only fear
was that the mosquitoes might tackle the
pig-iron aboard and bring me out short
with the consigrees. Luckily was spared
this affection. II Philadelphia Record.