Telegram-herald. ([Grand Rapids, Mich.) 18??-1892, 1891-03-14
IN THE CLOAK ROOM.
Mr.. Cummings Overhsars some
Great Whopperx
Sam Rsserts~n- Of Baton Rouge. and Lat
rlesoa Moore. Of Texas. Describe the
strange snd Rsa1Arkxhle Animals
That Aeoond n tie Southwest
tooPrkISHr. 1871 I
WASHINGTON, Feb. Is. 1891.


! dropped into the Democratic cloak
room Of the Honse the other day. There
was q bright IRE in the little CRATE
The apartment was warm and eomforts-
bic. Seated near the CRATE were four
or I've Democratic Congressman, lolling
in easy chairs. rubbing their legs. and
enjoying tie bright glow Of the Goals
Among them were Hon Samuel Mat
thews Robertson Of Baton Rouge, and
Hon Lit;leton Wilde Moore Of La
Grange, Tex. Robertson is q manly
young fellow, with regular features, a
clear complexion end an eagle eye. lie
has pursued many deer through the
swamps of Louisiana and has won
National reputation as a bear hunter.
He succeeded his father as a member OF
Congress three years ago. Moore is a
tall gentleman. with blue eyes. sandy
hair, a ruddy complexion. and hchen
growth upon his chin. He is con-
ventional Texan in attire, manner and
conversation. He served in the confed-
crate army. and had been on the bench
In Texas for years before he entered
Congress.
Robertson was telling a bear story
when entered the room. He lamented
the appearance Of the screw-worm in
his section of Louisiana this year. lie
has lately been hunting in the Crosse
tete country on the border of the Atch-
afaylaya swamp. His party had run
dossn an enormous bear. and finally
killed it. The animal seemed 10 have a
magnificent pelt. AS usual there, they
slipped rope around its upper jaw,
tied the rope TO the tail of swamp
pony and dragged Bruin into camp.
When they came to skin the beast. they
found the hide utterly worthless. The
body was perforated with screw-worms.
Not q morsel the meat could be eaten.
Even the paws, which are regarded as a
great deIicacy in the South, were value
less.
Robertson asserted that this was the
first time he had ever seen the screw
worm in Louisiana. II had evidently
come over from Texas. Upon inquiry
afterwards he learned that coons, pos
sums. fox-squirrels, hogs. dogs and all
kinds OF cattle were infected with them.
"Why," said he, ''they tackle the blacks.
! heard Of a negro who was filed with
them"
A Northern Congressman sought in
formation concerning the sc-cw-worm.
Robertson said that as long as the skin
of an animal remained unbrekcn il was
safe. In going through the scrub. how
ever, cattle were frequently scratched
by briars and underground. Wherever
o trace of blood appeared it attracted a
ny that deposited larvm. He at first
said that the fly left behind it tiny
grub of unusual activity,
At this Judge Moore fred up. 'Noth-
ing of the kind" he said. The fly lays
an egg; the egg matches into a worm.
and the worm borcs into the hide, and
keeps on growing and burrowing, and
burrowing and growing, till it gets to
be grub nearly as big as your thumb.
We've always had 'em in Texas"
Possibly you are right" responded
Colonel Robertson. ''But if the fly de-
posts an egg, the egg matches nearly
on the instant. have seen a worm
wriggling like skipper within ten sec.
onds after the fly disappeared. When
the worm once gets to work, there
seems to be no remedy. The hog is the
only animal that can get shut Of them.
If his hide is perforated he plunges
into bed of soft mud and wallows
there. The mud plugs up the holes
in his hide and suffocates the grub.
Let a drop Of blood appear upon
the nose of a horse, tho leg of q sheep,
the back of mule, or the face @. man,
and the fly will be there. A negro in