Western Carolina Democrat and French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1913-1915, 1915-06-03
MYRIADS OF LOCUSTS ARE
ABROAD IN THE COUNTRY.
Little Pests Are Here With Their
Music After an Absence of IL Years
Interesting Locust Stories.

! The little pests that infest the coun-
| try once in period of seventeen
years, are abroad in the land. They
j are known as locusts. Their unceas-
| ing noises are heard in the woods and
their old discarded houses in which
they have been sleeping in the earth
are to be seen on nearly every bush
and tree of the forests.
To some who have not been in sec
lions visited by this little harmless
looking creature but which are plaguy
in some communities, the little must
clans are quite curiosity for the rea-
son that they come every seventeenth
year. They are little more than an
inch in length and about one half an
inch in diameter with wings protrud-
ing far behind. On the thin, filmy
crystal wings are to be found "W,'
which some people, who like to become
legendary, claim means war, others
saying that they sing Pharaoh, Pha-
raoh" and are associated with the To-
Gust of the plaques of Egypt as told in
tho Bible. The insect is of a dark 1
color nearly black, with large red
eyes.
OAusS LAY anu
Even on the outskirts OF the city
they are heard by the thousands and
their chorus is. composed of the music
of so many of the little creatures that
it can be heard for long distance,
the noise resembling to some extent |
that of the buzzing, monotonous din |
of the steady exhaust of steam en- |
CINE, or the lonely chorus of numer-
GUS small frogs in pond during the |
spring season. There is no cessation |
in the music, being continuous through |
day and night according to those who
claim to be familiar with the orgies
of the little pests.
The bugs are said to be poisonous
and while they are not very injurious
in this section nor of a migratory |!
character they are said to deYour the
vegetation of the country in some
places. Their evil doings are very
limited in this section.
People Prayed for Deliverance.
Probably one of the most interesting
stories told of the locusts in modern
history is that by Rev. r. N. Wilcox
When asked by a representative of the
Democrat to tell something of the To- {
thick in and around Hendersonville
hey are more numerous and quite a
source of annoyance in the Upward [
section of the county. Mr.. Wilcox {
proceeded to tell of an occurrence in
he state of Minnesota. He stated that I
hirty-four years ago the locusts we're
10 numerous in that state that they {
lte all the vegetation from the earth
Ind as result there were practically
10 farm crops spared. Time rolled !
IN and just beforet the approach of the {
lext period of seventeen years the
)eople became apprehensive and were G
planning to leave the country for fear
here would be a repetition of the \
plague from the locusts. Considera- /
lie thought was given to the situation '
md as a result the governor of the .
tate and the general assembly issued
proclamation, calling on the people
O engage in day of fasting and pray
r. But just as it is in this day when
Lfter long drought people unite in
,raying for rain, there we're some OF
title faith who hooted at the idea. AT
my rate the more faithful engaged in
asting and prayer just before the
season of the locusts, praying for de-
iverance therefrom. Nov, whether
you take it as a natural course of
events or direct answer to prayer"
the minister ga very /
strange thing happened" Mr.. Wilcox
aid that there was in the early sum-
ner an unusually hot spell of weather
or a few days. The locusts burst
'orth from the ground by the millions
out just before they began devouring
a sudden cold spell swept
he country, the thermometer dropped
lar below the freezing point for the
irst time ever known at that season
and the entire crop of locusts was
killed.
SENATOR o. MAX GARDNER