Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-21
A LOCUST PLAGUE.
starvation Following Flight of These
Insects In BuenOs Ayres.
From the Philadelnhia Presa


Insects In Buenos Ayres.
From the Philadelphia Press.
The condition Of affairs in South America
owing to the locust plague as described yes.
terday by Captain d'Urso, commanding the
Italian bark Maria L., which has lust
reached this port from. La Plata, nea,
Buenos Ayres, with a cargo Of bones and
dyeWood, is horrible in the extreme
Unless some immediate relief comes to
the aid OF these miserable Inhabitants their
eHd from starvation is not far off, as the
hcusts have ruined and eaten up even
every blade CT green grass about this Sec
tlon Oh the country. They rise up as dark
clouds and sweep before the winds from
enc section to another, bringing destruc-
ton and ruin to all sorts of vegetation.
Railroad traffic just outside Of Buenos
Ayres was suspended for a time as the
trains could not move through the dense
clouds of insects, which for q time lowered
about the particular locality. The tracks
became so thick with insects that the
Wneels slipped as though running on an
cry substance and it was this, coupled
with the fact that the engineers could not
detect danger signals, that caused a sus-
pension of traffic.
In locality set aside by the government
1or the purpose there we're deposited by the
natives, who are rewarded Handsomely.
over LOCO tons of locust eggs, undergoing
process of destruction. This" said Can
tain d,Crso, Il know can hardly be credit
ed. but 1t Is solemn fact"
The natives are reduced to a condition.
or poverty and are almost desperate Rates
OF exchange are lower than ever known.
banks are becoming embarrassed daily and
the people declare that they cannot exist
much longer unless some relief can be had
Inc government Is using its every effort to
nc the country of the plague but so far
Without material success A commission of
scientists Is engaged in the study of the
obstruction of the insect, but at the time
captain d'Urso left it had not agreed upon
any fixed line of action. This commission
has encouraged the natives very much by
, me clrcuiation OF paper giving it as their
judgment the plague will soon abate. They
claim that the life Of the locust in any
nxed locality has never exceeded seven
years. ana that five have already been spent
IN south America. Although this years
plague has been their worst, this body of
scientists claim that the insect is becoming
oeDliltated, and with cold weather will die
out altogether -
tain dUrso says he recalls the fact that
there was wealthy gentleman in Buenos
Ayres, who had several acres of most beau
II ffuIy Cultivated with flowers of all
uescripucns. one night there came up q
favorable wind from the, locality where
these sWarms Of locusts were settled, and
carried millions of them down on to his
grounds. Within twentyfour hours there
~ 49,. ISAoiC a Dldue CI- grass ana Just
SO rapidly have disappeareAacres and acres
OF corn and wheat. Captain d'Urso was in
Aie1ers Africa. number Of years ago,
wnen locust plague swassso bad, but, he
says. 1t was nothing as compared with the
condition OF affairs in South America.
Farmers In South Ameficamare almost dis
tracted and are poverty ftricken. They
nave been unable to raise even enough corn
ana wheat for home use, and to them there
seemed to be no imnedtzfe relief In sight.
Just before the Maria l.. made sail from
La Plata the wind came on the land, and
IN few hours the vessel was one squirm-
ing scene OF these insects. Huge black
clouds OF them could be seen coming sea-
ara. The vessels canvas was Just being
bent her anchor was toye short, and Cap
tain dUrso says 1t was impossible to see
one inch of the white sails. In their efforts
20 save themselves from being blown sea-
ward myriads OF these insects clutched to
the canvas and there remained until beaten
on and killed by the sailors, who went
abort only after some forcible persuasion,
Many OF these locusts were from four to
hve inches long, and when killed were
swept UP and thrown overheard Captain
d'urso says that there is a religious sect
In South America which claims that the
locust plague has been sent down from
above rs q punishment to the wraneIine
fanatics. while there are others who hold
the faith that 1t is warning of the near
approach OF the end of the world