Democratic Sentinel, Volume 18, Number 24, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 June 1894 — CLOUDS OF LOCUSTS. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

CLOUDS OF LOCUSTS.

Millions or Them Are Now Swarming Over New Jersey. The country all about Paterson, N. J., is overrun with seventeen-year locusts. Millions of them fill the air and light on the trees, covering the bark and leaves. When they take their flight all fruit'and leaves have disappeared. The farmers are talking about taking some concerted action against the pests before their crops are wholly destroyed. One afternoon last week a dense, black cloud was seen by residents of Pompton. At first they thought it was a storm, but Boon it was seen to be a swarm of locusts. As the locusts neared the village a train approached. The train was immediately in the

track of the locust®, who were about thirty feet from the ground, making a gradual descent as if about to attack the train. When within a few feet of the smokestack of the locomotive the engineer blew the whistle and sent a cloud of steam toward the locusts. The insects made a sharp swerve to the ea-it and flew to a mountain back of Pompton Lake. Many of them were drawn into the train by the rush of the wind, while others were hurled against the locomotive and cars and scattered dead about the tracks. The passengers caught the few that entered the car windows and no doubt took them home as curiosities. On another occasion locusts took possession of a train near Avenel, and for a time there was every prospect of the passengers having to abandon the coaches and let the locusts retain them. The heat had caused almo.t every window to be opened, and when the train came to Avenel the passengers leaned out to look at the hundred's of thousands of the locusts on the ground and in the air. They would have been satisfied with this, but the locusts were pot. Before the pasrengers were aware what wa 5 happening, the pests had swarmed up tne sides of the cars, and through the windows anl doors inside. Woman screamed, and stood on the seats with their skirts drawn up, so as to avoid immediate contact with the orajyling obje:ts. They soon had* to let go their skirt; and pay undivided attention to keopiug the locusts from their hats and laces. Tre more timid passengers started for the doors, but at that moment the cars started. The rush of wind seeaed to disconcert the pest?. Those on the outside of the cars dropped off, and those on the inside clung closely to the seats or floors', aqd were soon thrown out o: the windows by the train hands who started through the car?.

A SPECIMEN GROUP.