Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1888-03-22
I'M A swARs1 OF BEES.
An Explorers Painful Encounter With a
Persistent Enemy.

An Explorers Painful Encounter With
Persistent Eneny.
Schweinfurth gives the following de-
scription of painful encounter which
he and his men once had on the White
Nile with some very small but powerful
enemies. The boat was being towed BY
the crew. As the rope was drawn along
through the grass on the banks. it hap
pened that it disturbed n swarm of
bees. In a moment. like great cloud,
they burst upon the men who were
dragging; every one of them threw
himself headlong into the water, and
: hurried to regain the boat The swarm
followed at their heels. and in few
seconds filed every nook and Granny
of the deck. What a scene of confusion
ensued may readily be imagined.
Without any foreboding of i'll. was
arranging my plants in my cabin, wheD
/ heard all around me a scampering,
which took at first to be merely the
frolics of my people. called out to
inquire the meaning of the noise but
only got excited gestures and reproach-
full looks in answer. The cry of Bees!
beesp' soon broke upon my ear, and l
proceeded to light pipe. My attempt
was entirely in vain; in an instant bees
in thousands are about me. and I am
mercilessly stung all over my face and
hands. To no purpose do try TO pro-
tect my face with handkerchief. and
the more violently fling my hands
about, SO much the more violent be-
comes the impetuosity of the irritated
insects. The maddening pain is now
on my cheek. now in my eye. now in
my hair. The dogs from under my bed
burst out frantically. overturning every
thing in their way
Losing well nigh all control over my.
self, l fling myself in despair into the
river; dive down, but all in vain, for
the stings rain down still upon my head.
Not needing the warnings of my peo-
pie, creep through the reedy grass to
the swampy bank. The grass lacerates
my hands, and try to gain the main
land. hoping to find shelter in the
woods. All at once four powerful
arms seize me, and drag me back with
such force thatI think must be choked
III ClO SOiI (S41Cd ~ DelON
on board, and flight is not to be thought
of.
In the cooling moisture [ had so far
recovered my self-possession that it &C.
Cured to me to drag out n sheet in
which to envelope myself, and this
measure at last gave me some protec-
ton. but had first gradually to crush
the bees which had inclosed with me
within the covering. Covering down
convulsively, fingered out thus three
full hours. whilst the buzzing contin-
ued uninterruptedly, and solitary stings
penetrated periodically through the
linen.
Meantime, by great self-denial and
courage on the part of my people, my
large dog was brought on board to me,
and covered with cloths; the other was
unfortunately lost; in all likelihood was
stung to death. By degrees every one
became equally passive as myself; at
length perfect silence reigned on board;
the bees subsidized into quietness. That
evening, and for the next few days, I
felt ready for an encounter with half a
score of buffaloes, or brace of lions,
rather than have any thing more to do
with bees, and this was sentiment in
which all the ships company heartily
concurred.- Youths Companion.