Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1911-05-13
After Vegetation Was Gone the
Insects DeyOured
Clothing.
FARM ERS IN DISTRESS
Simple Continuance That Was Instru-
mental in Exterminat-
ing Pests.
Br CHARLEs g. HoLLERAueH.

{Copyright 1911. by Charles c. HolIebaugh)
The winter of 1873 and 1874 was
Zone long to be remembered by the
people living at that time in north
eastern Kansas and southeastern Ne
braska, from the fact of its being un-
usually long and severe. The MiSSou-
ri river was full of ice as early as No
vember of '73, and by Thanksgiving
day people with teams were crossing
the river on the ice.
There were heavy snow falls as
late as March of "a and, as~this was,
and still is, an agricultural country
the farmers were late with their
spring work. Owing to the lateness
of the season, plowing did not COM
mence until late in April, but when
spring came everything was favorable
to facilitate the work, which contin-
ued uninterrupted, until the crops
were planted, which quickly grew,
and everything seemed auspicious for
a bountiful harvest.
Summer came, small grain, such as
wheat, oats, barley, rye and all kinds
of early vegetables, were harvested
in abundance. Corn and the later
vegetables, not yet matured, showed
promise of enormous yield.
Then comes the never to be forgot
ten 10th day of August of 1874, a typ
ical August day, but day long to be
remembered for the havoc wrought
in few short hours. The morning
dawned, bright and warm, not a
cloud in the sky, but at the
noon hour, while the people were
resting from their toll, and enjoying
their midday meal, 1T suddenly be-
gan to grow dark.
The people growing alarmed, rush
ed from their homes crying "a storm
is coming up!'' They saw-not a
storm, but sight, beautiful, dazz-
ling, bewildering, for the sky was full
of what seemed to be bright parti-
cles of silver and gold, sparkling in
the MONDAY sun. AStoniShment, be-
wilderment, CONSERVATION now filled
the minds of the people, question af-
ter question was asked, and though
many answers were vouchsafed, too
soon the truth was to be learned, for,
on they came, Slight breeze from
the west now sprang up, the air filled
with these bright PARTICLES
creating a slight ripping sound as of
a small brook falling over stones.
Louder and louder grew the sound
until it became 4 roar. Darker and
darker~the air until the fowls with
terrifying sounds sought their roost-
ing places. thinking night had come
The air grew heavy and sitting, the
grasshoppers for such indeed they
were. now began 10 alight, and as
soon as they struck the earth, began
their destruction, that by nightfall
] very little of any vegetation was
! left.
After they came to the ground, the
air once more became bright, the
fowls came from their roosting plac-
es and feast, for them began. As l
said, when the choppers { as they
were at once named, and henceforth
were known alighted, they began
their destruction.
Such, indeed, was the case, nothing
escaped, they even tried to eat the
boards of fences, shingles on the
roofs, and clothing, no matter wheth-
er hanging on clothes lines, or worn
by the people. Before seeing this,
the women, thinking to save
their choice flowers, covered them
with bed quilts, sheets and ETC., only
to have them in few minutes com
pletely riddled.
The railroad tracks were so slippery
with the insects that trains were sew
eral days in making the trip from At
Gibson, kanS., to Lincoln. Nebr.
SCENE OF DESOLATION
The morning of August 9th dawn
ed, sight heart rending beyond de-
scription was to be seen. The trees
and shrubbery were stripped of their
foliage as by winters icy blast, the
ground, which the day before was
covered with a rich carpet of green.
was now brown and bare. Corn
which was just changing from the
milky stage TO one of ripening, was
now cut and torn as by some huge
machine. Flowers, blooming the day
before, had now totally disappeared