Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1903-03-04
WINGED. MONSTERS.
Gigantic Bats That Infest the Phil
fppine Archipelago.

fppine Archipelago.
Officers and men of the American
army returning from service in the
Philippines are bringing with them
scme curious trophies from those is
lands and incidentally relate some
startling tales Of the strange animal
and bird life Of our new possessions
in the far east, says the New York
Times. BY far the most startling Of
these tales refer to the bats Of the is-
lands. The variety current in the
Philippines Is not the "Bat, bat, fly
under my hat" familiar to the Ameri-
can small boy. They are veritable
giants of the bat world, measuring
five feet from wing tip to wing tip.
Their bodies ARE as large as those OF
foxes and their heads are not unlike
these animals heads In shape.
The Philippine bats make their
homes in the caves (Which are very
plentiful in the forest districts Of the
islands) in large colonies, clinging to
the sides and roofs Of the caves dur
ing the day and coming out in count
less hordes about dusk to feed and in
dulge in their aerial stunts.
Many stories are current as to the
effect Of the first experience with
these giant bats upon men fresh from
the states. Raw recruits assigned to
picket duty on the outskirts Of camp
at late dusk have rushed into quar-
ters white with terror. Recovering,
they would relate, amid the suppressed
mirth of their more seasoned fellow
soldiers, how some enormous thing
(and in these recountings the bats were
more bulk than they actually possess
ed) had come upon them silently
while they were patrolling their picket
line, without a sound this ghoulish
spectre, with nothing about it to sig
Nifty life but a pair Of extremely
bright eyes that shone out from the
somber blanket like a pair of demon
lights, had swooped so close to them
that they felt the rush Of air against
their faces, some averring that they
detected the smell Of sulphur. All in
all, the thing was just a trifle too un-
canpy for them and their superstitious
horror had gotten the better Of their
physical bravery and they had. un-
hero-like, fled.
To the wives Of the American off,
Ger the giant bats were a special dread
and annoyance. At home they had
always harbored a creepy dread Of the
smaller winged rodents there that
have tendency to intrude In bou-
doirs, half believing in the bats
human hair, but this could be coun-
teracted on the evening stroll by the
affecting Of 'fascinator." Not so in
the Philippines. 1t was altogether too
great a strain on the imagination to
think that this remedy would suffice
to shield one from the unwelcome curl
osity of the winged monsters that
circle the air there.
Of these giant bats, astray from it's
bearings, penetrated to the dining
room of the most fashionable hotel In
Manila at time when the room was
crowded with American and European
guests after the concerts.
It's appearance in the room, as it
fluttered excitedly about, attempting
to find an exit, created as much Of a
stampede as an earthquake or a vol
canic eruption. Women fled in Shrek
ing terror from the room, fighting and
struggling at the doorways to escape
from the uncanny intruder and men
rolled under the tables and sought
refuge in corners and behind every
convenient shield. And it was some
time (the bat in the meantime having
been captured by the hotel attendants)
before quiet was restored and things
had assumed their wonted gayety.
Parties Of Americans and Europeans