Rocky Ford enterprise., 1901-10-25

w uh ~ tAit uttrthptru We
the doctrine OF territorial expansion'
was II u case OF forcing higher order
OF civilization upon an energetic ami
unwilling race; was II retaliation for
real or fancicd insult To mn, lonnl honor:
was IL, perhaps. because OF mn Interest
In the slave trade or n gold mine or u
diamond mine; WAS II amy or none OF
these reasons that led To the terrific
and decisive battles OF which l was an
interested witness some years aGog II
will perhaps never lc determined what
We're the causes underlying a struggle
Of three days duration. marked by car
mage. feats OF strength and deeds OF
vnlor such ms Is rarely the lot OF his
torian To record.
was sitting one summer afternoon
In the shadow OF my cottage near u
stuntcd lilac bush when my attention
was attracted To II horde OF large black
ants crossing u narrow roadway which
lay between my house and that Of
neighbor Ia the same yard. Their oh
Jectivc point. soon perceived. was the
foot OF the lilac. the ground around
which had been honcycombcd by little
red ants half as large as the othcrs.
There seemed to bc an unusual excite
ment here. Possibly a sentry or scout
had brought news to the colony OF the
approaching army. At least they We're
not being attacked unawarcs. The IN
vndcrs were met near the foot OF the
bush and the war was on. The bat
tlcground was confined to u space per.
haps three feet square. but here among
the hillocks and ravincs In miniature
NIL the tragedies and irlumphs OF war
were enacted.
There was at first arrangement and
order when van met van. but the con-
iiIct soon resolved itself Into general
cntch-as-catch.can encounter. Woe To
the red ant luckicss enough 10 get
into the jaws OF Its larger Zoe. One
closing up OF those powerful instru.
mcnts and crushed. helpless mass
was flung aside. The smaller. however.
had the advantage both In numbers
and agility aud fought In pairs or trip.
lets. Thus. while the black ant gcncr-
ally killed one or more OF Its antago-
nists, IL was itself doomed. The dura-
tion OF u battle varied from 1--we To
fifteen minutes, ceased by the disap-
pcarancc OF the invaders. To b. sud
denly renewed later
II was pathetic during these periods
OF truce TO note the casualties and the
movements ON the fatcful field. Busy
little army surgeons or possibly mem
bcrs OF the Itcd Cross corps hurried
from one mnnglcd body to another.
Sometimes u feeble response ON the
part OF the wounded soldier to the
anxious inquiry OF the relief was no.
uccablc. The soiicitous and universal
sympathy OF the unharmcd for their
less fortunate companions was n sight
never to be forgotten. The ground
was strcwed with bodies In all stages
OF isinembcrmcDt-lces gone. nntcn-
me missing. head severed from the
body, the body itself sectioned. Here
and there one mortally wounded
dragged itself slowly and painfully to
some obscure spot to die. Others were
helped away to place OF security. but
In such condition that II is safe to in-
fer that they passed their remaining
days In hospital or some home for
the disabled. For three days. In ut
least rs many battles each day. the
conflict ragged. Each day witnessed a
perceptibie thinning out OF the ranks,
but the vigor and spirit OF the contest
kept up till near the close.
DESTROYS OF knowing what effect the
presence Of strange surroundings
would have on the combatants. pro-
cured large glass dish and captured
several of both species. This I repeat
cd Mt various times. Invariably. while
Mt first trying to escape, upon becom.
Ing aware OF each others presence
they grappled and fought to the death.
Falor. honor. hatred. revcnge-what
was it!-dominnted entirely over fear.
Against the stubborn resistance and
greater numbers OF their antagonists
the invaders could not hold out. A pan
ic finally seized the survivors such rs
comes upon human warriors-an un-
utterable. unreasonlng fcar-and, thor
oughly defeated In their object. what.
ever 1t might have been. for days af-
ter hostilities ceased any unusual noise
near their dwellings would send each
individual hurriedly to shelter as IL
an avengcr were ut his heels.