The Portland daily press., 1891-12-22
A QUEER FREAK OF BEES.
For Two Years They Make Home In
Private Residence.

~~~ ~
Private Residence.
Readers of the PRESS may remember that
some two years ago reference was made to
the fact that house on High street had
become infested with bees. Not much
thought was given to the industrious in
sects by the occupants of the house at the
time as they seemed inclined to mind their
own business and annoyed the family but
little.
Since the time spoken of the little swarm
OF bees have thrived amazingly and have be-
come such nuisance that Mr.. 81. T. Plum.
mer, the occupant of the house, felt called
upon to have them removed if possible. He
entered into negotiations with Mr.. john
son, who considered himself thoroughly
familiar with bees, and who agreed to rid
him of the pests provided he might have
them. To this prope sition Mr.. Plummer
readily consented.
1t may be we'll to premise here that Mr..
Plummer's house is one of the three-storied
Mansard roof style, and it was in one of
the castings of Aldermen window in the up
per story the bees first found Judgment.
From thence they have worked their way
up under the slate roof. From this impro-
vised hive the bees have sailed forth in
the season to gather the honey from the
flowers, and in the winter season have,
heretofore, been dormant. This season,
however, it has been little different.
Whether, as they progressed under the
roof. they found warmer quarters, or
whether the season has been so much mild
er, is question. Be that as it may, they
have disported themselves about the house
in way that has made the domestics en-
ployed in the family, If not the family
itself, very weary When the weather was
mild, and the upper story of the house
| quite warm, they would hum around and
occasionally give shy dab at whomsoever
was IN their way. But it was on the colder
mornings that the fun grew uncomfortable.
The bees would lie abobt the floor in a
half torpid state, and, as the girls got out
OF bed and pledded round with bare feet,
they not unfrequently stepped on one of
these little numb creatures. Then the bee,
resenting the familiarity. quickly prodded
the foot of the unfortunate girl, and
she needed no steam radiator, or
hot air register in the room, to
keep her circulation going, while her dis
gusted yell quickly informed the family
that "those pesky bees" were up to their
tricks again. 1t was a pleasant thing to
sit down at the breakfast table, and. on
raising the cover of the sugar bowl discover
that bee had got there before the person
raising it In some unknown manner, even
If, the cover having been removed before
the bread was placed on the table, his fin
gers In removing the white cubes didn't
encounter what Pat called "a little devil
with hot foot" and breakfast cease to in
terest him from that moment.
There were other serious annoyances al
so. Such wealth of honey has been
stored under the roof that when the wealth
er is warm it not infrequently leaks through
the ceiling and that is calculated In a great
measure TO draw the bees into the rooms
where 1t stains the csiling and walls. 1t is
an odd experience such as probably
was never before known to occur in pri-
ing has been hung out on the lines in its
spotless purity these mischievous bees
have frequently delighted in crawling over
the garments and spotting them all over so
that they had to be Immediately returned
to the tubs for a second wash. Occasional
ly the neighbors, too. had to subject them
selves to trouble from this lively little
army, and in some cases, at the proper
season of the year. doorstep parties had to
| be hastily abandoned.
Yesterday morning Mr.. johnson
went to work to remove the bees and
hlney. Two greet washtubs were
placed in position to hold the honey. long
and Mr.. johnson with his assistants,
armed and equipped as all good bee hunt
ers are supposed to be, proceeded to work.
They assembled the ladders, went onto the
roof and began to pound away, removing
| the states so as to get at the bees and hon
ey. Now. it happened that yesterday was
| very bright, mild day. The bees had
aroused from the languor engendered by
the recent cold snap. When they heard
| that internal racket over their quarters
they thought it was time to do something
thing about it. They did something. They
| few out from under the roof and the dor
mr. window in force. They went for Mr..
Johnson-who knew all about handling
bees-and his assistants, and the way they
drove them off of that roof and down those
ladders would have delighted an old sol.
dier. The assailers of this novel opening
made better time for minute or two, we
venture to say. than Nelson or Sunol.
They decided to postpone further opera
| tions for the present and until some good
| cold zero weather. Those wash tubs are
| not yet filed with honey. The honey is
still in the roof and Is likely to remain
there for some time yet.
It will be remembered that not so very
long ago, West & Calderwood. the bas ers,
Lord, the confectioner. land Schlotterbeck &
| Foss, had somewhat similar experience
with bees which came into their stores and
made things very disagreeable for little
while before they were got rid of.
1
Mt. Vernon Royal Arch Chapter.