“It seems as if every year adds to the list of pests which are sent for some reason to torment poor suffering humanity.” said a lady to a reporter. She evidently had something on her mind besides potato bugs, cabbage worms, grubs and thousands of destructive insects which prey upon vegetation generally and on “every thing green” except white geese and college freshmen. “I have been bothered by carpet worms, moth millers, red and black ants, roaches and Croton bugs, but they are nothing compared to the latest pest.
    “What is this plague?” said the reporter.
    “Is it possible that you never heard of the ice-worm?” said the lady with astonishment depicted on every feature of her countenance. “Why, I recollect that the ice crop along the Hudson was ruined by this pest several years ago, or, at least, the newspapers said it was. The worm moved West, according to report, and at least two years ago it was stated that the ice dealers inclosed their store-houses with fine-wire netting to keep the worms from getting at the congealed water. It would seem that this precaution was unavailing, and scientists now say that the worm is left in the water in the shape of an egg, frozen up in the ice and hatched out in the spring.”
    “How does it affect the ice?” asked the reporter.
    “Its ravages are not apparent until the cakes of ice are broken up for use,” was the reply. “If the men who deliver the day’s supply notice that a cake is light weight they don’t say any thing, but put it in the refrigerator with as much apparent muscular effect as if it were solid instead of being a hollow delusion. The trouble comes when it is broken up for table use. The thin shell is fractured easily, and out comes a wriggling mass of long black worms as thick as my finger, and anywhere from six inches to a foot long. My Bridget nearly went crazy the first time she saw these horrible creatures, but now we are all used to them. They are harmless and can be tamed and taught many little tricks, and thus they afford endless amusement for the children. They must be kept in a cool place, however, else they die at once. We find just as many of these worms in lake ice as in that taken from the canal, but the latter are the more ferocious and show fight when touched. If you will call about dinner time I will give you a chance to interview the pests.” The reporter did not call as he had another engagement.—Rochester Post-Express.

From— Iron County Register. (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.), 19 Sept. 1889. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress.