The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-10-31
MISSOURI BEE HUNT.
Old Bee Hunter Tells the story and
Gives n Convincing Proof of His

From the kansas City Journal

marvellous of the enigmas of natural
history in many ways, but scarcely
more so than the wild-bee hunters. In
the heart of a wood quite little dis
lance from Milan, in a cozy, scrupu-
lously one-story farm house he chanc-
ed to pay one of his mysterious visits,
did the old bee hunter. Drumming
with his big hands on the porch, his
long, dark beard dallying in the even
ing breeZeS, he awaited the arrival
from the fields the master of the house.
| had never been on a wild bee hunt
before, but had read of such in books
that smelled too strongly of the lamp,
but now that l was to participate in
one of the real things, 1 waited with
the utmost im7atience the farmers ar
rival home, for ehe wild bees had been
located on properly belonging to the
owner, ethics of ihe country being
against anything like vandalism above
all things. For the swarming of col
ony" was an event that added assets to
the lucky man on whose property the
occurrence transpired.
1t was with interest that looked the
old bee hunter over, he being char
acter most unique, widely known for
many miles about as the keenest scent
er of wild bees, even in that locality,
neighborhood full of such experts. He
was over SIX IeeI TAIL, WIFI d pan VI
piercing eyes, that seemed to look from
the bottom of the crows nest. for his
beard and his hair were as heavy as
mattress. A great SLOUGH hat topped
heavy head of hair, while his feet, shod
in heavy buckled shoes, were marvel
ously permanent bases" An ill-con-
cealed impotence and enthusiasm
lurked within him for the hunt to pc
settled and he told me how he traced
the bees.
WALL" said he, as he crossed his
legs again for the seventh time and
took a fresh chew of natural leaf, L
found them this way: by first going to
a place where they water themselves.
Yes, bees have their watering places
same as lots of things else. spotted
one or two bees that were particularly
fussy. They be a couple of new ga
loots, said 1 to myself, and I'll shadow
on 'em. that's me, little bees And so L
did. Bees, after they've watered, usu-
ally go straight back to the new place
that's going to be their home, or the
place." he chuckled. that they thlnk
ats going to be their nome LOT loI Vi
em get nailed.
"Wau I lost the scent once or twice
while in the heavy timber, but finally
| followed a bee from there on, across
| the creek, and he disappeared some
| where, 1 couldn't tell where. But L
was onto the job, as of old. l goes
| I'D and puts my ear against every
| tree trunk thereaboutS, and listens,
| for bees can't keep silent, wheh they re
| swarming, especially.
Sure 'nough, on putting my ear
agin a slanting lynn tree, hears
/ laundering of a racket, like Duzz
saw. the sound travels best on piece
| O. wood, we see. You are discovered.
| said 1 to myself, and your juice, II
| we've got any made yet, is mine. But
/ knew they hadn't been there long,
| by several signs. They weren't tightly
| enough for bees that leave the old
parent stand and settle somewhere
/ else aren't cross till they begin to make
| their honey"
He ran on In this way for some time,
saving that he had come to tell the
| farmer about it all and to have a hunt
that very night and take them hive
and all to add to other hives which
| comprised the farmers apiary. About
dusk the longed for came.
He was a joviaL intelligent farmer,
trimming over with all the hospitali-
| ty and good fellowship of his kind
found in old Missouri.
Right here in passing, be 1t said,
that the comic papers with their car
toonists had better revise the shrewd-
worn delineation of the typical farmer
| these DAYS. Some of the most highly
| educated gentlemen anywhere are fill
| ing up the rural districts of Missouri
| With his mail brought to him twice
| day; with his windmill pumping
| his private water works, saving ms
| wood, making his cider and for aught
| known to the contrary, even rocking
his cradles every Missouri farmhouse
| Is a city unto itself. His children are
| being taught studies particularly APP
| propriate for the farm work, such as
| agriculture that is scientific, etymology,
| and political economy.
| But to resume, he first set us out
an excellent cold lunch, it being al
ready way past supper time, OF inc
| famous acknowledged chicken, biscuit,
honey, big pickles, pear preserves that
were TRANSPARENT and many other
| dainties that went we'll with not only
bee hunters, but any one possessed
| of an affiatus.
A lantern, bunch of wooden cloth,
| an ak, and a bee gum," this latter
consisted of a plain square pine box
| together with a large piece of oil cloth
these comprised the outfit of the bee
| hunt.
| BY this time it was dark, and we
| started six of us, in single file. The
| old bee-man led the way with the lam
tern, joyously humming a tune the
burden of which was:
Little Billy Baxter
Was bit by a bee,
And little Billy Baxter,
Bawled, we see.
| A little church was passed, then We
| delved into the woods, very heavy, and
| tangled with brush and other under
| growth. The mellow rays of the Ian
| terms fell upon the trees and cast shad-
ows that fiickered and cut up antics
with all the popularity of a vitascopic
picture" as we moved along.
| The little train stopped a moment,
| the old bee hunter gave little whoop
| like a cracked caliope, whereupon,
| from the depth of the wood somewhere,
responded a whole chorus of mellow
| howls and joyous yelps from bunch
| of hounds.
my friends" said the old bee man,
but they are tied up tonight. 1 live
! down in that hollow about a half mile
| away, in a tent, me and my wife, and
| one little 'un-and the dogs"
After a tedious ramble, up hill and
| down dale, over creek and in yellow
mud, the old bee man suddenly stopped
| and gave a happy laugh, the rays of
the lantern making his eyes sparkle
with all the effulgence of a cats eyes.
1--WE are thar" said he; "jest put yer
ears to this" and he pointed at a lynn
tree that grew from the hillside, bent
at an angle of about forty-fve degrees
over the hollow.
We took turn about, placing our ears
at the trunk of the hollow tree. To
say there was a humming sound were
putting it too mildly; the sound that
came from 1t was, indeed, like buzz
| saw.
| .sxxo1I doun with the fraa said The