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Show 354 Early Western Travels [ Vol 26 horse's body, the rider is made aware of the circumstance by a peculiar restlessness of the animal in every limb, which soon becomes a perfect agony, while the sweat flows forth at every pore. The last year * M was a remarkable one for countless swarms of these flies; many animals were killed by them; and at one season it was even dangerous to venture across the broader prairies except before sunrise or after nightfall. In the early settlement of the county, these insects were so troublesome as in [ 108] a great measure to retard the cultivation of the prairies; but, within a few years, a yellow insect larger than the " green- head" has made its appearance wherever the latter was found, and, from its sweeping destruction of the annoying fly, has been called the " horse- guard." These form burrows by penetrating the earth to some depth, and there depositing the slaughtered " green- heads." It is stated that animals become so well aware of the relief afforded by these insects and of thdr presence, that the traveller recognises their arrival at once by the quiet tranquillity which succeeds the former agitation- Ploughing upon the prairies was formerly much delayed by these insects, and heavy netting was requisite for the protection of the oxen. At an inconsiderable settlement called Cold Spring, after a ride of a dozen miles, I drew up my horse for refreshment" 7 My host, a venerable old gentleman, with brows silvered over by the frosts of sixty winters, from some circumstance unaccountable, presumed his guest a political circuit- rider, and arranged his remarks accordingly. The *• 1835.- FLAGO. MT Eight families from St Clair County settled ( 1818) in the vicinity of certain noted perennial springs in the southwestern corner of what was later organised into Shelby County. For some time the colony was known as Wakefield's Settlement, for Charles Wakefield, who had made the first land entry in the county in 1821. John O. Prentis erected the first store there in 1828, and shortly afterwards secured a post- office under the name of Cold Springs.- ED. |
