The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1906-11-15
When the Bees Swarmed
Tcopyright ls6, by G. II. sutcIlYe

IOufteeu uines lne pHymaster anu
his safe and escort passed over his
route and returned smiling. When
they started out for the fifteenth trip
Mexican Charlie" had his plans all
laid. He was Mexican half breed,
and when you have such a man look
out for deviltry. He was hanger on
around the stage stations for hun
bred miles up and down the line. He
was gambler, horse thief and sus-
pected of murder, and he had the nee
essary qualifications TO make him n
leader of other bad men. lie was
two months making his plans, and
they were laid for the complete wipe
out of the entire party. lie didn't pro
pose to leave singl, man alive to
Identify him afterward.
When the roundup was completed
the outlaw gang numbered an even
twenty men. and all were armed with
Winchesters and revolvers. The route
was gone over and the spot finally
settled on for the attack was midway
between Forts Davis and Concho.
There the rude mountain road wound
upward for half mile to pitch sud
denly into ravine with walls fifty
feet high and its length half a mile or
more.
To collect nineteen outlaws together,
hide them away for n week, hold
them steady and fit out n part of the
number with horses and arms was no
slight undertaking, but the half breed
accomplished it, and that
without arousng suspicion. On the
first day of certain July the outlaw
band was posted In the ravine. and the
major left Fort Davis at an hour to
bring him TO the spot at about noon.
Whites and Indians were at peace
and the country quiet and the pay
master and his escort had not the
slightest hint Of the reception the out
laws had In store for them.
1t may have been known TO the
Indians that the caves and
rrevices In the walls of the ravine
were inhabited by wild bees, but II
certainly was not TO the whites. They
lad bred and swarmed there for
rears. On this July day there was an
lngry buzZlng high above the heads of
he outlaws, but they gave 1t no atten-
ion. The rocks were warming up and
he bees getting ready TO swarm.
Scouts had been sent forth to find
,ther crevices and report, and thou
ands upon thousands Of the hot head
d insects were ready to swarm out |
nd follow their leaders to new homes. |
Stretched on the shelves or posted
,ehlnd powders, the outlaws were
Waiting for their prey. They got the
ignal that the escort was coming |
cross The fiat; then that II was toiling
~ the long hill; then, after "a mood
lents wait, that IL was about to enter |
he ravine. The half breed had told |
lis men over and over TO fire to kill, |
0 wipe out every soldier at the first
olley, but he told them again. There
'ere twenty bullets for eleven men
nd every outlaw having rest for his
lie and target not twenty feet
way.
OF a sudden one Of the bee scouts
attlod down on the bare hand of one
the outlaws. He sought to flick 1t
r, and the insect stung him and few
way. 1t would seem as If 1t flew up
} the Others and warned them OF the
espassers and melted them to battle.
'ithin minute a perfect cloud OF
ZEN descended. They were angry
Id excited and looking for fight
be outlaws could make no defense
,alnst such an enemy. In thirty sec
IDS they were almost literally cover