Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Published in the Illinois Intelligencer, Vandalia, Illinois on Monday, July 30, 1827
    The most justifiable act of this kind of which we have heard, is the following. A Kentuckian belonging to a surveying party, under an officer of U. S. Engineers, swimming in St. Johns’ River, was seized by a large alligator and taken under the water. In a short time the Kentuckian and the alligator rose to the surface, the latter having the right leg of the former in his mouth, and the former having his thumbs in the eyes of his antagonist. The officer immediately gave orders to his party, who were in a boat a few yards from the combatants, to go to the relief of their comrade, but the Kentuckian peremptorily forbade any interference, saying, “give the fellow fair play.” It is needless to add that the gouger obtained a complete victory. Having taken out one of the eyes of his adversary, the latter, in order to save his other eye, relinquished his hold upon the Kentuckian’s leg who returned to the shore in triumph.-N. Y. Courier.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Published in the Illinois Intelligencer, Vandalia, Illinois on Friday, September 15, 1826
    Nevotcreskask, May 9th.- The horse races which took place last year at St. Petersburg, between English and Cossack horses, suggested to some of our proprietors of studs, the idea of trying the strength and celerity of their horses by long races. The horses of Count J. Platoff had gained the prizes in all the races of ten and twenty wersts which had taken place for several years on the banks of the Don, but contrary to expectation, they were beaten by many others in a race of 63 wersts [42 miles] on the 6th of November. In order to re-establish the reputation of his horses, Count Platoff immediately proposed a longer race, which took place on the 28th of April.
    A piece of ground on the other side of the Don was chosen for the purpose, the length of the course was to be 60 wersts [40 miles.] Count Platoff offered three different prizes, with the understanding, that if either of the prizes was gained by one of his own horses, it would be given to the owner of the horse that immediatly followed. The ground, on being measured, was found to be 67 wersts, [44 and three quarters miles] and perfectly level.
    There were brought for the race twenty-five fine horses from the studs of General Hovaiski, and several other Tartar and Kalmuck horses; Altoyak, a horse of Circassian breed, belonging to the Ataman of the Cossack Makaroff, which gained the prize on the 6th of November, and five horses belonging to Count Platoff. Kalmuck and Tartar children, elegant-dressed, were the jockeys. All the horses started with the rapidity of lightning at 25 minutes past nine in the morning.
    While the spectators in the tents were discussing the probable result of the interesting contest, a cry of “they come” was heard, and the victor had already reached the goal. It was Jason, a grey horse of Count Platoff’s which arrived without being exhausted, followed at the distance of 130 sagines or 300 yards by a horse of the Crimean breed, belonging to the Ataman; the third and fifth horses also belonged to the Count; the fourth, of Circassian breed, to the Sotnik Persianoff, and the sixth to the Cossack Scheldoudiakoff. Jason had run the sixty-seven wersts in two hours and five minutes. If we compare this race with that of the 4th of August at St. Petersburg, we shall find that the English horse ran the 74 wersts [49 and three eights miles] in two hours and forty minutes, which is 231 and one-quarter sagines in a minute. Now, Jason ran 263 sagines in the same time; so that he would have beaten the English horse by twenty-one minutes. Jason and ten other horses arrived at the goal in a gallop, and are in good condition: but the excellent horses of the Cossacks, Makaroff, Parschekoff, and others, could not support so severe a trial, and died either during the race or soon afterwards.
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Published in the Illinois Intelligencer, Vandalia, Illinois on Saturday, January 5, 1828
    A child was left tied to a chair, in a house near Easton, Md. while its mother went for a bucket of water-during her absence, a hog entered the room, upset the chair, and threw the child into the fire, where it was so shockingly burnt, that it survived only a few hours.
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Published in the Illinois Intelligencer, Vandalia, Illinois on Saturday, March 3, 1827
    Major Denham relates that the Tibboos, in central Africa, keep their horses entirely on milk of the camel, grain being too scarce and of too high a price to be employed for that use. The milk is given to these animals, sweet and sour, and this traveller says he never saw horses in a better condition.
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Published in the Illinois Intelligencer, Vandalia, Illinois on Saturday, October 7, 1826
    On Friday last, [1st inst.] a spider was discovered by the workmen in the Rock Creek Mill, apparently in contact with a small black snake, about 9 inches long. When first discovered, the snake was snapping at the spider, and at each snap or jump of the snake, the spider lapt his web round the snake’s head, and still kept looping him up to his fastening. This combat continued all day on Friday, and all Saturday, until the evening, when the spider completely conquered, and had killed the snake. On Sunday, [yesterday] he had him well lashed about the head, middle and tail, and had him hoisted eighteen inches up in his web, where he is now hanging, and the spider feeding on him. What is remarkable, is, that this spider is not bigger than a common fly. They can both be seen in the web at the paper-mill, and all the above facts attested by Wm. Leish, foreman, Edward Levis, George Miller and Samuel Norwood, workmen in the mill, and by all the hands working there.
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Published in the Illinois Intelligencer, Vandalia, Illinois on Thursday, June 29, 1826
    A very Sagacious Elephant has been recently exhibited in Providence Rhode Island. Last week, while she was travelling with her keepers towards Connecticut, having just left the village of Chepachet, in Gloucester, two guns were fired upon the poor animal, within about fifteen feet of the person who was leading her, five bullets from which penetrated the brain, and caused her to fall, and almost instantaneously to expire on the spot.
    The animal was said to be worth $12,000. Every effort has been made, but hitherto without effect, to arrest the cruel and cowardly miscreants who were guilty of this act, and who immediately fled.
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Published in the Illinois Intelligencer, Vandalia, Illinois on Thursday, June 1, 1826
    On Sunday afternoon, a monstrous catfish weighing 40 pounds, was caught on board the steam-boat Enterprize; when taken on deck, a bunch of tape worms some thousands in number came from his mouth-on opening his maw the following articles were found in his belly. The maw of a large fish full of provisions, the claw of a hawk, one pound salt beef, the jaw-bone of a hog, the teeth of which were partly digested, a lightwood knot, and about a pound of cornbread besides several rib bones of a hog; this is a fact that can be attested by the Captain and mate of the Boat, and by a gentleman of high respectability of this city.
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Published in the Illinois Intelligencer, Vandalia, Illinois on Thursday, May 18, 1826
The New York Truth Teller, on the authority of a correspondent, states that a sailor in the Greenland Fishery, after having struck a whale, fell overboard; but soon found himself mounted on the back of the whale, and had presence of mind enough to put his hand in the blower or spout hole to secure his seat, being unprovided at the time with either saddle or bridle. Contrary to custom, John’s pony kept near the surface of the water, and bore him in such style and at such rate as never mortal rode before-the boats all the while in full chase, and the crews over and over singing out “hold on John.” In this way he posted full a mile, and was then taken on board one of the boats.
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Published in the Illinois Intelligencer, Vandalia, Illinois on Thursday, April 6, 1826
    A correspondent of the Missouri Republican, speaking of a hail storm on the Dardenne, says, that there were killed in one small lake or pond, upwards of five hundred wild ducks, some of them having their necks cut entirely off. What rare sport for gentleman gunners, except indeed the trouble of bagging the game.
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Published in the Illinois Intelligencer, Vandalia, Illinois on Thursday, March 30, 1826
    A Dutch paper mentions the following singular occurrence as having recently happened at Bautam, in the East Indies, for the authenticity of which it says it can answer;-A man fishing on the banks of the river Tyeliman, heard something splash in the water, and perceived a Tiger at no great distance, swimming from the other side of the river. The fisherman thought he should best provide for his safety by climbing a high tree, and had scarely effected this, when the tiger reaching a tree that hung over attempted to get upon it. At that moment an alligator of the largest size darted out of the water, seized the tiger, and dragged him back. This gave the fisherman courage to look at this strange sight, and be witness between the two most rapacious animals of these countries. Six times the two combatants appeared above the surface of the water, exerting their utmost efforts. The water was dyed with blood, and the tiger, which was seized by the alligator across the back, became at length the prey of the latter.