The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-07-30
TALKING ABOUT MOSQUITOES.

The news comes to Raleigh from other
sections 1--WE know about the pests in this
the mosquitoes have been more numerous
and more blood thirsty this year than
ever in the past A private letter from
Dare county says that the mosquitoes are
worse than ever known on the sea-coast
and the Newbern Journal gives this ter
rible account of the situation in that good
town:
''There was regular mosquito plague
last night, due to the northeast wlnd
which prevailed all day. The lower tenn
pcrature was relief but the complaint
of mosquitoes was widespread
"One gentleman said that in fifty years
he had never known them to be so bad
Another citizen suggested that the new
bridge was responsible as the insects came
across on it. but this is not to be taken
seriously. The mosquitoes were OF the
kind that mean business, they didn't
waste any time but presented their bills
at once.
'.various remedies were suggested for
the pests but some of the cures were
worse than the disease. 1t is well known
that a little oil of penny royal rubbed on
the face or hands will keep the insects
off. The late heavy rains have made the
mosquitoes very plentiful in the marshes
along the rivers and the wind brought
them in. At points on the coast they are
said to be so thick that a handful can
be scraped off the side of a building.
The Wilmington Messenger, referring
to the MOSQUITO says:
1.-The numbers are unprecedented. They
are terrific at night and remind you oc-
casionally of their existence by day. Our
mosquito is not so dangerous fellow as
the New Jersey 'Karosene mosquito,
new creation and to be dreaded. They
call it the 'Keroseneus HULK
A Virginia Mayor has discovered that
Where the mosquitoes thrive in small
numbers, they can be destroyed by pour
ing kerosene oil on the stagnant pools
of water. In order to cover-with kero-
sene--all the swamps and pools in East
ern North Carolina, where the mosquitoes
breed, the Standard Oil Company would
be run dry 1t is said too, that while
many mosquitoes can be killed by such
application of kerosene oil. there is
new and hardy species of mosquito that
thrives on kerosene OIL Describing this
species the Baltimore Herald says: The
fangs have become more pronounced and
an indescribable oleaginous appearance
has come over the formerly hungry look
ing mosquito and it adds that 1.-The real
danger of the new mosquito lies in it's in
nammable characteristics, which are SO
pronounced that the slightest contact
with fire, or even great heat, will cause
the kerosene to burst into flame. In this
condition the mosquito has been known to
frequently set fire to draperies and other
aimsy materials, such as light weight
gowns. worn by ladies in summer"
This sounds like ''whopper,' but the
Herald's reputation for reliability, except
in politics, is such as to leave no room
TO doubt the existence of this new species.
The heavy rains may have made the
mosquitoes more numerous than usual, but
this writer has seen the swarm OF mos
ouitoes so dense in the lower Pamlico
river as to make the white sail of YES
sci very dark, the mosquitoes covering it
completely. Talk about misery! You have
never known its true meaning until you
have been becalmed in an encampment of
singing and biting mosquitoes. Their mu-
sic is as terrible as the cry Remember
the Alamo" and their bite as penetrating
as the Cuban stiletto.