Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-07-02
MILLIONS OF BUGS
DESCEND ON CITY
June Flies Swarm About Lights
in Business District for
Many Hours.
CAUSE MUCH DISCOMFORT
Traffic is Threatened Because of Slip
perry Rails-Many Incidents
Reported.

Last night an immense swarm OF
June flies or river gnats descended
upon the city, swaTming about the
street lights and electric signs II
thousands. In certain places on Sec
ond avenue they were piled up on the
! pavement and street car traffic was
almost threatened because of the
slippery rails. Members of the femi-
nine sex who were abroad attired in
isummer garments, quickly found them
selves covered with the pesky things
from head to foot. The bugs swarm
ed about lighted store windows so
densely that the glass was to an ex-
tent obscured from view.
The coming of the June fly is sup
posed to indicate that the fish are
biting good, and if such is the case,
the local sea food quotation should
experience decided slump in the next
few days.
OLSEN REMINISCENT,
An argument arose last night as to
the longevity or otherwise of the
gauzy-winged pests. The principals in
the debate were Judge Oliver Olsen
representing the power of the law, and
Aleck Anderson, representing the
average citizen. Judge Olson claimed
that the June flies lived but 20 min
} utes, and based his statement on OBJ
servations made by himself in Alaska
years ago. The judge stated that one
night as he was seated in his law Of
flce, munching helping of pemmican
, and watching the thermometer drop
that the flies descended in such a
swarm as to completely bury the city
of Nome, much after the manner in
which Pompeii and Herculaneum were
cbli:erated by old Mount Vesuvius.
Three story buildings were completely
buried, and While the bugs were
struggling about the noise was terrific.
In exactly 20 minutes, however, the
humming ceased, and all was still
The bugs had died. Judge Olsen
! stated that il required a force of over
1000 men nearly three weeks to ex,
cavate the city of Nome and restore
things to their natural state.
ANDERSON TALKS.
( Aleck Anderson differed with the
l Judge. Il began to study the life ana
character CT the June fly at the time
} of my election to the proud office OF
mayor of Pretzel Alley" said Ander
: son, as he pulled a Cato contentedly
Il then learned, after much scientific
l research, that the June fly fingers fol
"a hours before crepe is hung on the
d. door. l am sure that l am right be
cause l can't lose.
4 Al over the city people were more
or less annoyed by the bugs. DR.. J
!, P. Comegeys was driving his automo
: bile down Second avenue when the
0 bugs descended upon it, and jumped
into the tank which had been allowed
d to remain open. Immediately tht
t machine stopped, and it was foynt
|. necessary to haul i. to the garage, il
:, order to clean the CRATES. The doc
S ter was forced to ride home on tn;
5 street car.
d BURN DEAD.
/ This morning three wagon loads o
d bugs were shoveled up on Second ave
S nue. and down on the levee a funera
e pyre was ignited. An imposing PHI
d Of bugs was burned, and the rive
d front was converted into a crema
tory, for the nonce. Much discomfor
d was experienced by Rock Islands cit
n zens.
e In fact the whole business part O
/ the city was bug house.