Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1911-09-28
Observation-Disclosures
THE 'HoPPERs IN '7s.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.

From the Armstrong Journal.
The 4th Of June. 1873 there came up
ON us the first visitation of the grass
hopper. DIOR be it known we had a
visit from them second time.) Ere
yet the settler had beheId the graceful.
insect. his attention was called to the
fact that something terrible was about
to happen. II strange noise like unto
the rush of distant waters seemed to
fill the immensely of space. He looked
first one way then another, but nothing
met his gaze to cause alarm. He stood
still. every conjecture staggered, pres
entity he beheld the hopper alight, then
another and another till he recognized
that they We're rather plentiful-he
looked up--consternation took posses
sion of him-the upper air was filled
to overlooking with the pests. the suns
reflection from their gauzy wings pre-
sented All appearance not unlike
SNOW storm; down they came faster
and faster. till the soil was sick as 1T
anticipated results in the near future
destruction want. misery and perhaps
death ann told that strong men cried
as they beheld the almost actual reali-
cation of a picture which had been
painted very indelibly upon their young
imagnations by reading of Jewish
traditions, for be 1t known that many
settlers were simple minded enough 10
argue that the pests We're not hop
pers." but locust. Their numbers war
ranted you on counting upon the entire
destruction of every available green
thing on the face of the earth. but the
reader is aware that such did not come
To pass. else there would not have
beer the writer hereof and some OF mis-
neighbors
The hopper" made his appearance
here about midday and they continued
To drop all afternoon. Their numbers
may be imagined when ! inform YOU
that one mans curiosity led him to
count the 'hoppers"T clinging In one.
strong blade of grass which contained.
l7--another instance MIR. and Mrs. j.
W. Harrison. in the dusk OF the eve.
ming, took out u bed sheet and spread
i, beneath small cottonwood bush.
about seven or eight feet high. which
grew near their sod habitation. They
then shook the bush and dumped the
'hoppers' caught into candy pail and
found they had twothrds full. They
wer- more numerous in some spots
than i'll others. and frequently a team
going along the road would come to
a full stop because of their annoy
ance. They left toward the latter part
Of August. after depositing their eggs
ana after the small grain had been
principally devoured. What a splendid
opportunity WIS here offered. IF the
worst came to the worst for adopt
ing the diet of that ancient man. called
John save that honey was wanting
Cup To that time had not heard of a
bee tree being found in this part OF the
countrS.) Some OF the settlers main
tanned that the "hoppers'' We're sent
AS Il scourge on account of our iniqui-
ties, but showed their inconsistency and
their unwillingness to take their share
OF the castigation. by procuring tar,
.f,f ~ t,xav.
| Of iron scoop. with Il low wheel at each
( side, and hauled over the fields drawn
by a single morse rode by small boy
OF girl. This was not done TO catch
the old "hoppers' but to catch the
young brood that Matched out the fol-
lowing spring. When the young driver
thought he had "A good "catch." the
scoop was hauled to one side of the
grain and the tar set on fire. This DONE
more tar was spread on and the horse
again started. to the end that the full
price OF iniquity might not have to be
paid. 1t will be remembered that it was
just before and after the second in
I auguration OF Grant, that Uncle Sam
had SO much trouble with the Modoc
Indians. This Indian trouble being
fresh i'm the minds of the people here.
when the hopIers" came, they were
named "Modocs. We have had Il few
small! grassloppers with us ever since
Them in all respects, but size and
| which are believed to be their acclimat-
| ed and degenerate progeny.
J The eggs of this great army of veg
etarians hatched out in May "a, and
after they were but a few days old they
We're noticed making directly for the
| fields of small grain, wheat being their
! favorite repast. BY the first Of June
they had reached maturity and took
their flight. having destroyed much of
the small grain and also some Of the
| corn. They left behind them many
thankful, though half starved people. 1t
was with respect to the destitute condi-
| ton of the inhabitants OF the township.
| caused by the "Modoca." that the board
| of trustees met on the 9Th day of April.
| 1874. with a view to securing part OF
i me donations that We're coming into
other parts of the county for the grass.
| hopper sufferers"