NEARLY KILLED BY BEES.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 February 1918, Page 4

NEARLY KILLED BY BEES.

SYDNEY January 30,

- An extraordinary accident befell a South Coast farmer last week. When, as a result, uf.his experience with three hives of bees he was admitted to the Wooloongong Hospital, his face was so swollen that his closest, friends would not have known him. His nondition was serious, and for some time demanded shilled medical attention. This farmer, whose name is Hartley, and who is a resident of.Darke’s forest, |md gone to another district, Clifton, and bad there purchased three hives of bees. He loaded them in the trap and set off for home. The house jogged along serenely, the sun shone in a cloudless sky, and the farmer smoked a contented pipe. So they came to a railway crossing. Those who have ‘travelled in Australia lfiow something to the Australian roads. The road at the crossing was, of course, out of repair and bumpy. The cart humbed through a rut, struck a rail, and bumped again, badly. The jolt disturbed one of the hives, just sufficiently to release half a dozen infuriated bees. The insects with promptness and foresight made a rear attack on the old horse, and stung him severely. The quadruped, partly astonished, partly hurt, aiul wholly indignant, immediately bolted., Disaster followed disaster. The mad jolting of the sort upset the other hives, and in a minute several thousand irresponsible bees were loose and on the warpath. The horse stung and stung again, increased his pace to such'an extent that Hartley could not jump, and the unfortunate man was forced to stay with the maddened insects and protect himself as best he could. Those on the road saw ah amazing sight, a somewhat stoutisli horse galloping as never stout horse galloped before, a bumping, jolting cart attached; and in ■flßs cart a bewliiskerod mail, yel ing and howling, and mmarently struggling with' something invisible. But on general principles, everyone in, the way tried to stop the runaway, and this was eventually done, the wretched horse was cut away, and the farmer bolted from bis place of torture. Hartley was picked up, very kindly cared for, and taken to tlie hospital. He suffered great pain. N# fewer than 200 bee stings wore taken from his face.