The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-06-06
WORLDS LARGEST BEEHIVE.
Millions of Insects Inhabit n California
Cavern.

Millions of Insects Inhabit n CALIFORNIA
Cavern.
From the Philadelphia Record.
Did you ever see a bee tree with a
swarm of bees around it? Well. mag
Nifty this about 10000 times and you will
have a slight idea of a natural beehive
in Mendocino county California. II is
a rift in the face of "A cliff and tradition
has il that there is a large cave on
the inside. where the myriads of busy
insects make their homes. This great
natural curiosity is known to resi-
dents of the adjacent country as bee
rock" and they have grown to look
upon it as commonplace, when in real
ity it is the only beehive of the kind IN
existence.
There is no danger of a person get
ting very near to this natural beehive
without knowing II. for at all hour OF
the day a swarm of insects hover about
several hundred feet in all directions.
An incessant, maddening buzz fills the
air that can be heard an eighth or "a
mile and serves as a warning not TO
venture too near. But men do venture
hear after having first put on a SUI
of leather clothing. fastened "A mask of
wire screen around their hat bands and
lighted a good big torch. These pre-
cautions are absolutely necessary.
1t takes nerve to approach close to
the opening in the rock the expo
rience is a never-to-be-forgotten one.
Bees To the number of millions of mil
lions will light on the intruder, hum
ming Nfendishly and endeavor to sting
him to heath. They form "A perfect
cloud, and the air is filled with a fetid
smell and a fine dust that gets through
the wire screen and causes an irrtta-
ton to the eyes. The tiny insects really
shows signs of viciousness and ny into
the flame of the torch i'm countless
numbers. as though they intended to
extinguish it. Round and round they
fly. with a deafening buzz. and strong
indeed Is the man who can stand the
onslaught Of the tiny foes for more
thar a few minutes.
II is almost impossible to make u
lust where the entrance to this natural
beer've IL. There is "a sort of cavern
in the cliff that seems To have n crack
through the inner wall from top to
bottom. but most Of the bees hover
| around a hole about rs inches wide and
appear To make that the point of in
gress and egress. Many days IL is i'm
POSSIBLE even To see the cliff. So thickly
covered Is il with insects. and they roll
i'm and out Of the opening like a stream
of molasscs.
During the summer dead birds can
ALWAYS be seen on the round around
the mouth of the hive. They have been
stung to death while attempting to fly
! through the SNdiHlS OF 1nSfflS. FOUR
footed creatures never venture within
half a mile. seeming to know that death
turks there. In front of the mouth If
the hive there is a pile of dried honey
that has flowed from the interior. IL
looks like a heap of molten lava that
has been hardened after being dis
charged from a volcano.
A PARTY of men living in this vicinity
claim to have entered the beehive sew
eral years ago. They selected a cold
day in winter, when the bees were
hal dormant. and poured coal oil and
benzine around and into the opening.
Then they made a big fire Of wood. 20
that the whole cayern was filled with
flames. hen they poked redhot EN-
beers down into the opening and 80
killed every bee In IL.
But there was not much To see after
the men got inside-only a large cave.
with the walls covered with wax and
dried honey. and enough of the sweet
ness in pools in the bottom to last a big
city several years. OF course the honey
was unfit for use. on account Of being
full Of dead bees and ashes from the fire
The men. however. did not linger in the
cave any great length of time. as IT
was foul smelling and sitting. Al
though countless millions of bees must
have been destroyed on this occasion
the next summer hey were as numer-
Gus as ever and just as vicious.
Indians Of the neighborhood say tina
in the good old days the bad men OF
their tribe were bound hand and foot
and carried TO within a short distance
blankets. There the helpless creatures
were left TO suffer the agony of beinl
stung TO death.