The Press., 1886-06-03
ATTACKED RY YAMPIRE BATS.

Some years ago, Oapt. O. H. Rogers, of the ship Ph9bus, with a small party of gentlemen, was ascending the Limbaug river, in Borneo. They came to the place where it receives the waters of the Madi- hit, a small current flowing in an easterly direction. Nominally, the party was out on an exploring expedition, but it is safe to say that the love of adventure brought them thither more than the interests of science.
 While travelling onward, and quietly on the watch for deer, they discerned some- thing lying on the ground not far off, above which lowered a swarm of what they supposed to be insects. Their first thought was that some beast had fallen dead, and was thus being devoured. Capt. Rogers remarked that the supposed insects could not be insects they were altogether too large, and altogether too small for birds of prey.
 Here was a mystery, which needed only to be explored. The party advanced 10 the spot as hurriedly as possible, when To to their utter astonishment, it was found that it was man who had fallen, instead of beast, and that this man had been be- set and overcome by vampire bats.
 What to do first, they did not know. They dared not approach too near the spot, for fear of being attacked in a simi- lar manner. But not a moment was to be lost. The poor, unfortunate fellow was yet alive, for every now and then there was visible movement of the body.
 ''I have an idea" said Capt. Rogers, which may work we'll in this case. Let us charge our rifles well with powder, and fire into the midst of them"
 The party thought the idea good one, and made haste to carry it into effect.
 The discharge was heard, a dense, sul- phurous gas was generated above the pros- trate victim, and the vampires, in terrible consternation, flew away with rapid speed.
 After the smoke had cleared away, the gentlemen approached the spot. Many of the vampires were lying around, evidently disabled from the effects of the powder. Those were mercilessly crushed by the butt ends of the guns.
 With all possible haste, attention was given to the victim. He wore only a h-cloth. The sight was fearful to behold, and we forbear to picture it in the vivid language of Capt. Rogers. The fel- low was literally punctured all over the ground was moistened with the blood flowing from his veins, and the blood still poured out.
 Not one of the party knew enough of surgery to be able to suggest any remedy for relief and all of them were too much excited to conjure up remedy from com- mon sense and experience.
 Several minutes elapsed before thing was done, except to give the man a draught of fresh water:
 At length, one of the gentlemen, recall ing to mind the fact that tobacco ashes arc available for q sting, and believing that
 
 a quantity of tobacco from his pouch, and, laying it on the ground, at once set it on fire. Two of the other gentlemen did | likewise.
 Soon enough ashes were obtained to try the experiment. Having washed away the bloody gore, they smeared these ashes over the lacerated portion of the mans body. The sole effect was to stop the blood, and to cause on intense smarting. The fellow seemed at last to rally from his miserable plight, and, failing to raise his head, he made signs of gratitude to those who had 80 kindly befriended him.
 After a short time, he was enabled to speak and, through the Malay interpre. ter who accompanied the gentlemen, the \ following facts were obtained F.
 He said that he was on the way to q neighboring village, and that, when night had come on, he had lain down to sleep until sunrise. Towards morning, he was suddenly awakened by loud noise, and was terribly frightened to find himself ly- ing in blood.
 Strange to say, he felt little or no pain but, upon endeavoring to get up, he fell back completely exhausted, and soon he was so weak as to be unable to move at all.
 These facts were gained after many pauses; and it was with great difficulty that even this slight information was ac- quired. The fellow could speak only with the greatest effort, and then it was 80 nearly inaudible as to be barely understood. The remainder of the story is best given nearly in the words of Capt. Rogers, who col-cludes
 "There was no use talking further about the matter. I suggested to my friends that there was only small chance of saving the mans life for it really seemed as fl fully two-tbirds of his blood had flowed out. MT. H said that it might be well to carry him to a spot, only few rods of, where the trees would shelter him from the sun. It was a good idea, and we did so For nearly four hours and @ half we sat and watched the man, trying our very best to think of something for his good. He was too far gone to eat anything, and we had to pour water down his throat by degrees.
 | "Well, the worst came it last, as we knew it would. Suddenly the man threw his arms upward. They fell with thud- and all was over.
 "We merely laid the body in hole near by, and covered it with leaves"