San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1882-04-13

which would require the pencil, rather
than the pen. to depict in all its pathe..
tic horror. While the foundations OF
the Nile or the Ganges have liked
periodicity, which allows OF provision
and calculation, the risings OF the Mis-
sissippi are irregular and cratic TO
degree which at present renders precau'
tionary measures null aud void. Low,
lands become lakes-lakes full oil
treacherons whirlpools and currents
and the result of 20 years toll If ami
bilated in few hours. At this moment
vast nun beers of people are living upon
charity; aud that charity must be
brought and given in boats. The loss
of stock is enormous, and the destruc'
ton of property incalculable.
The Richland correspondent above
referred to announces circumstances
which do not seem to belong to civil
lied portion of the world, but rather
to those swampy regions of Africa des'
cribed in Livingstone's travels. the
home of the Tsetse fly. With the rising
of the waters new and terrible plague
made its appearance-the mercllGss
buffalo gnat. Natur, has taug Int the
wild buffalo means of protection
against this bloodthirsty enemy; the
buffalo, already better protected than
any other bovine creature against flies
by reason of its thick and splendid
robe, rolls itself in soft mud, which,
drying subsequently, forms curlass
i'm penetrable to insect weapons. Inc
domestic cattle, unaccustomed to such
enemies, are defenceless against them,
especially when fighting for life against
the pursuing waters. Over every knoll,
hillock and ridge where animals could
find footing, the buffalo gnats lowered
in clouds,-thick mists of singing,
buzzine insect life. The hogs, horses,
cattle and sheep died under their stlngs
in myriads.
Nor was this all. When those wild
creatures which rarely show themselves,
even to the hunter, become tanned by
suffering and fear, and voluntarily seek
protection from their greatest enemy,
man-as in Dore's pictured legends OF
the Deluge- the climax OF cataclysmlc
destruction would appear to have been
reached. And this has been the case
not only at Richland, but also, doubt
less, in many regions overfowed -,
The wild deer made no effort to avoid
men; on the contrary, they sought hui
man protection, and, covered with
gnats, the blood streaming over their
TANKS, often followed people home
who encouraged them. At Natchez a
troop of some forty deer actually en-
tered the town, and galloped through
the streets unmolested; for no man had
the heart to injure the timed, gentle
creatures during their flight from de-
structiOn.
Many of the hogs and cattle in the
flooded districts are said to have been
killed by gnats, and it is not likely the
plague will diminish if, indeed, it does
not increase-for some time to come.
The wild deer and other creatures are
being destroyed in great numbers by
the pests. Those protected and taken
home by kind-harted people soon ex.
PRED from the venom OF the insects
stings. Under ordinary clrcum-
stances an animal has the resort
of flight, or can at least rub the unpro-
tected portions of it's body against a
tree. But under present circumstances
they can only endure and die. They
are literally eaten alive. If they plunge
into the water to get rid of their tor
mentors their nostrils are attacked, and
swelling up, render natural breathing
When the poor ANIMALS
open their mouths to gasp for air, the
auge gnats enter and cause inconcelva-
ole agony. Pharaoh's plague OF lies
seems to have been revived III this
American Nile; assuredly, from all ac-
counts that plague of Egypt which
corrupted the whole land" could not
nave been much more grievous.