The Topeka state journal., 1897-09-07
THOUSANDS OF BEES
Attack a Three Year-0ld Boy
in SWarmS.
And Nearly Kill the Child Be-
fore Rescue Comes.
Saved From the Insects by His Pa
rents But He is Still Unable to See

1t was a terrible experience that be-
fell little Victor Carlson, three years
old, Saturday afternoon, and one that
he will remember as long as he lives
If he RECEIVERS from his injuries.
The boy was set upon by a swarm of
bees and stung into insensibility by the
insects. His life was despaired of up
to yesterday noon, but in the afternoon
HIS condition slightly improved and now
it is believed that he will recover al
though he is yet in critical condition
Victor Carlson is a son of Charles
Carlson, eX-pOliceman, who is now en-
ployed as a stonecutter at the state in
sane asylum. He lives in a cottage on
Hawthorn street in Auburndale, and 1T
was but a short distance from his home
that the accident occurred.
The child was passing through yard
where several hives of bees are kept.
He had never been in the yard before
because cautioned by his mother not to
venture near the hives, but too young to
appreciate his danger he stopped when
in the midst of the hives attracted by
the buzzing of the insects about the
openings.
He carried a small bramble in his
hand, and after watching the bees for
a few minutes he yielded to a childish
impulse and struck one of the hives.
Instantly the bees swarmed out of
their shelter and flew at him. In mo-
ment his head and face and hands were
literally covered with them.
AT the first attack the child started to
scream and run, vainly endeavOring
with his hands to brush them from his
face and head. But before he had gone
more than a few steps he was blinded
by the bees Stinging his eyes and fell to
the ground screaming in agony. By
that time the rest of the bees had been
attracted by the commotion, and the
insect occupants of all of the hives
Swarmed upon the little PROSTATE
form.
Mr.. Carlson, who was busy at a
grindstone grinding his hammers, did
not hear the screams of his little boy
but was attracted by the cries of his
wife who had heard her son and was
hurrying to his rescue. He saw the
PROSTATE form of the child and the
bees swarming about him, and at once
realizing what had happened started
on a run to save the boy.
By the time his parents reached Vic
tor his closely cropped head and his
face and hands were literally black
fering has been temporarily stopped by
insensibility. Then commenced a fight
with the insects for the life of the boy.
AS soon as Mr.. Carlson reached his
son he picked him up in his arms and
started for home all the while brushing
at the insects with the hat he had
snatched from his head. In this way
he succeeded in freeing the child from
many of the bees, but by far the ma
jority stuck into the flesh, and it was
only by scraping the child'S face and
nead with a uSnC piece OF WOOD aIter
reaching home that the vicious insects
were dislodged.
A physician was hurriedly sent for,
and by the time he arrived the child
had regained consciousness under the
care of his mother. He lay in his bed
with his face and head and hands
bleeding and swollen, moaning pitifully
and presenting a terrible appearance.
His eyelids were puffed out and closed
by the swelling, and there was not a
point on his face which did not show
an insect sting.
The little fellow lay dangerously i'll
during the night and yesterday morn
ing, suffering excruciating pain. Yes
terday afternoon his condition was
somewhat improved, and the attending
physician thinks that he will recover
His eyes are still closed, and it is fear
ed that they are seriously injured.