Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-06-07
Stays 162,8OO FLIES
Burdette's Army Wreaks
Havoc in FIyviIIe Siege.
ONSLAUGHT DAYS RECORD
Invaders Prevent Reinforcements of
100000 to Insect Ranks.
OTHER GENERALS ON MOVE
Flank Movements in All Sections
Reduce the Foe by
Thousands.

| Surprising his own record of the day
before by nearly 10000 points and es-
tablishing mark which health officials
of the District declare never has been ap-
preached in the showing of an individual
contestant for single day in competi-
tons of the kind. Layton H. Burdette,
| the fourteen-year-o fly "swatting" won
der OF the Industrial Home School, yes
terday delivered to DR.. Murray at The
Stars anti-fy campaign headquarters. in
the municipal building, 162. 300 insects.
Tuesday Burdette turned in more than
10000 flies. and Wednesday more than
10000. The latter showing. health au-
| thorties said at the time, constituted the
| best days record by single competitor
established in any of the anti-f1y cam
paigns conducted in this or any other city.
| In order to make certain of his title of
champion fly "swatter" of the nation,
Burdette yesterday delivered almost
three times as many flies as on Wednes-
| day, and he is now leading the June
campaign by the safe margin of 1871, 200
points.
Combined Showing Good.
i Not only did Burdette establish a rec
| ord yesterday, but the combined showing
| of all the contestants was the best made
in any one day of the present or Of the
| two former campaigns. Tuesdays total
| showing was 103, 900 and Wednesdays
105.0 600. Yesterday the figures jumped to
$50 500, or an increase over Wednesdays
score of 1870
| The total slaughter produced by the
| campaign to date is 635. 400. This is near
~ 100000 flies more than were killed
during the entire month of May. DR..
| Murray. early in the week, predicted that
| by Saturday the showing of the present
campaign would be half million flies
| destroyed. Indications now are that fully
| a million flies will represent the slaughter
| of the first week Of the present thirty.
day campaign. Yesterdays results have
| strengthened the belief that the three
| million flies will be killed during the
| month.
All Increase Scores.
| All of the leading contestants increased
| their scores yesterday, Lawrence Fitz-
| gerald making the second best showing.
| This "swatter'' delivered 3S, 400 flies.
William Steiner made almost as high a
record, his score being boosted by $4,000
| points. Mark Trice brought In 1890 flies.
The standing of the four leaders is as
follows: Layton II. Burdette, $4,000;
Lawrence Fitzgerald, 16S,OOO; Mark Trice
1880. and William Steiner, 5000
When the fact is considered that the
activities of Burdette alone for the day
probably will prevent 10000 flies from
coming into existence before the end of
the season the beneficial results being ac-
complished by the campaign can be APP
preciated. On the assumption that half
OF the 1872 800 insects turned in by this
contestant were females. DR.. Murray es-
Inmates that as result Of their extermi-
nation fully 100000 flies will be pre-
vented from developing during the re-
naming summer months. The insects,
which might have become an enemy of
the city's health interests, If placed in
line, DR. Murray states, would extend
for distance of sixteen miles.
Swatter Being Used.
One of the interesting features connect
ed with Burdettes splendid showing is
that his army Of Industrial School asso-
ciates which is securing Georgetown and
other portions of the northwest section of
| the city in search of the germ carrying
pests employs exclusively the "swatter"
| as the most effective means of extermi-
mating flies. 1t is stated that practically
| none of the flies turned in by Burdette
| was caught in traps.
| Lawrence Fitzgerald. second highest
| contestant, has made his score In the
| campaign without assistance. He has
| relied entirely on traps and has delivered
| several thousand insects each day since
| the campaign began.
Most of the trapped flies are extermi-
| mated by drowning. but DR.. Murray has
| discovered that William Steiner resorts to
| the use Of gasoline fumes. Sulphur fumes
| may be employed with equal effect. but,
| so far as is known, this method has not
been adopted by any Of the contestants
Boxes Found Too Small.
The children are waging the crusade
with such vim that. in several instances.
the regulation size boxes provided for the
delivery of flies to campaign headquar-
| tiers in the municipal building have had
to be abandoned. Yesterday Burdette
was forced to use shirt box in which to