Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Published in the Sangamo Journal, Springfield,Illinois on Saturday, August 24, 1833
Boston, July 26.
A long conversation with the captain and crew of the brig Palos, of New York, which arrived here yesterday, leaves no doubt at all on our mind that they were in truth favored with a fair sight of the serpent, as stated in the morning papers. They were becalmed off the Graves, or nearly so, about an hour, and during all that time the animal was continually appearing and disappearing, frequently within three or four rods distance, or less, and in such a manner that the shape of the head was distinctly discerned by all on board. The boat was put out by three of the crew, and they pursued him for sport, some time; but he dodged them when they approached, and immediately after would show himself in another direction. The head is described by the steward as resembling that of the shovel nosed shark, quite long and wide, and white underneath. The length is generally agreed upon as from 70 to 90 feet; the size as exceeding that of a barrel. Capt. Miltimore has not been, heretofore, a “sea serpent man” but feels no doubt at all as to the appearance in this case, and every person on board, about a dozen, agree with him. The Boston Pilot, also an unbeliever, is now convinced of his error.
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Published in the Sangamo Journal, Springfield, Illinois on Saturday, August 10, 1833
[From the Kingston [U. Canada] Chronicle,]
A very affecting account of the effects of this terrific disease has been communicated to us, which occurred in the family of Mr. Moss, a respectable farmer, residing near the village of the river Trent. While Mr. M. and family were sitting at home, a dog belonging to the house, suddenly flew at his master, and bit him very slightly in the hand. He then attacked a daughter about twelve years old, and bit her in several places. A son, a young man of 18 or 20, endeavoring to beat off the mad animal, received a wound upon the lip, and how it was inflicted in the confusion and terror of the moment, whether by himself with the cudgel he was using, or by the dog he cannot tell. The daughter [an interesting young woman] lingered along for several days in the horrors of insanity, and died. The father is now in such a state of frenzy, that he is obliged to be chained; and the young man, laboring under the agonizing apprehensions that he is also infected with madness, his mind haunted with the death of his sister, and the terrifying situation of his father, is in a condition scarcely less pitiful than that of the unhappy maniac.
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Published in the Sangamo Journal, Springfield, Illinois on Saturday, July 13, 1833
A coachman in England was lately, kissing his favorite horse, when the animal, wishing to return his fondness ten fold bit off his nose and swallowed it.
Published in the Waukegan Daily Sun, Waukegan, Illinois on Tuesday, August 29, 1922
There are bees and flowers whose random meetings result in a curious phenomenon. On the single dahlias and gaillardinias of the garden, bees are often to be seen in a maudlin state and these bees are more frequently of the black and yellow banded kind. If you take such a bee off the gaillardia the insect will remain in your hand, indulging in quaint antics or simply trembling in every member. Presently, however, it will recover and fly off straight to another gaillardia flower and in a very short time is again in its former state of imbecility.-Exchange.
Published in the Chicago Daily Tribune, Chicago, Illinois on Sunday, February 21, 1892
Mammoth Hunt by Five Thousand Persons in Southeastern Kansas.
Kansas City, Mo., Feb. 20.-[Special.] At 9 o’clock this morning an enormous wolf hunt started over Crawford and Bourbon Counties in Kansas. As a result about 300 wolves lie dead tonight. Both counties and others adjoining were scoured by over 5,000 men, women, and children armed in all conceivable ways. Two thousand jack rabbits were also captured in the general roundup. Owing to an error in signaling there was one break in the line which reduced the number of captures, but another hunt will take place next Saturday to finally wipe out the foxes and wolves of Southeastern Kansas. There was but one accident, Thomas Perkins of Farmington being very seriously bitten by a couple of wolves. He will not recover, as he was torn fearfully by the infuriated animals.
This “drive” has been planned several times, but on each occasion severe weather spoiled the performance, although a week ago the party organized and but for a mistake in signals would have had a very successful hunt. The two railroad stations to which strangers came from a distance are Farlington and Englevale. All of the houses there were open to visitors as early as Thursday, while today there was not sufficient accommodation for the hungry outsiders. The Commander-in-Chief, Capt. S. H. Gass, is an old-timer who had charge of several of the last wolf hunts that took place in southeastern Ohio, something like twenty years ago. He is well posted on the habits of the wolf and the best methods of capturing him. His immediate aides were Gen. G. W. Swan, Col. Ora Williams, Olpha Jones, and Roland Bass.
The hunt was divided into four lines, each having more than 1,000 men in the party. Each side was fifty miles long, the square working to the central round-up. The west line, which formed on the eastern edge of Allen and Neosho Counties, was in charge of Col. D. B. Sanderson, Commander. The North line was commanded by Col. John Landers. The East line was in charge of Maj. Park L. Keener, and the South line conducted by Col. James Bass.
Under the plan the lines began to move toward a hollow square at 9 o’clock this morning. The west and north lines moved about four miles and then awaited orders, while the other lines pushed in more rapidly on horseback, driving wolves, foxes, and jack-rabbits in front of them.
Saturday, December 1, 2012
Published in the Waukegan Gazette, Waukegan, Illinois on Saturday, January 7, 1882
The London News gives this: A cat, all black, except its perfectly white tail, was presented to the town of Agnone, Italy, many years ago. They put it in the theater to clear it of rats. They soon found that the cat was fraternizing with the rodents, and had become their king, and shared its food with them. The custodian of the theater often observed the rats participating in the food of the cat, who, when they fought among themselves for some dainty morsel, restored order by a cuff of its paw. Time passed on; the cat became old and toothless, no weapons remaining to him but very long claws, which, however, were proportionately weak. Of late years the theater has been always closed, and the rats had increased enormously. Last week a revolution took place among them, and when poor Coda-bianca tried, as usual, to restore order, the rats turned upon him in a fury and bit him to death. At down the next day Coda-bianca was found dead in the middle of the stage, like some tragic hero. The youth of Agnone made a solemn funeral, carrying Coda-bianca through the streets on a bier, covered with black velvet, and leading in strings the numerous progeny of the celebrated cat, all black with white tails, like himself, and of the same gentle and intelligent disposition. Coda-bianca at the time of his death weighed ten kilogrames, and the number of his children was 100. A speech was made in the town hall of Agnone, and it was decided to take revenge on the rats by scattering poison all over the theater.
Saturday, December 1, 2012
Published in the Waukegan Gazette, Waukegan, Illinois on Saturday, January 21, 1882
A lady in Houtzdale communicates the following remarkable story to her parents in this place. A Swede miner of that place on Sunday last went upon the mountain to gather whortleberries. Not returning home in due time search was made for him, when he was found dead, with innumerable rattlesnakes fastened to and feeding upon his body. The searching party had much difficulty in dislodging the snakes so as to recover the body, and then only succeeded after building a fire around them and the free use of firearms. The man in the search of berries had evidently invaded one of the haunts of these dangerous reptiles, who usually gather in mass to chosen localities, and fell a victim to their united assaults.-Altoona [Pa.] Evening Call.
Saturday, December 1, 2012
Published in the Waukegan Gazette, Waukegan, Illinois on Saturday, February 4, 1882
L. L. Burch, of Teifair County, Georgia, killed a bald eagle which measured eight feet from tip to tip of wings. One of the feet was sent to the local newspaper office, and the claws from point to point measured eight and a third inches. The monstrous bird had a grown sheep down when M. Burch discovered it, and forced him to relax his hold by sending a rifle-ball through his eagleship.
Saturday, December 1, 2012
Published in the Waukegan Gazette, Waukegan, Illinois on Saturday, April 15, 1882
One of Barnum’s elephants sits in a chair, drinks from a bottle, wipes his mouth with a napkin, and then calmly fans himself. This entirely upset the gravity of Evangelist George Pentecost, who was one of the visitors to the quarters on a recent afternoon; and when he saw the napkin deftly picked from the table he roared with laughter, and, hardly knowing what he did, excitedly lifted his hat and bowed profoundly to the beast.-Worcester Gazette.
Saturday, December 1, 2012
Published in the Waukegan Gazette, Waukegan, Illinois on Saturday, August 12, 1865
In the early part of the summer an incredible number of black gnats made their appearance in the Mississippi Bottoms, and attacked not only cattle and horses, but also birds, wild turkeys, deer, and other game, with such ferocity as to kill in a short time quite a number of animals. After the disappearance of the gnats, a disease broke out among the cattle, horses and hogs, and has been raging for some time, and is still prevailing. The losses have been very great. One planter lost over two hundred hogs and seven horses and mules, besides oxen and milch cows. Another has lost thirteen mules and horses, and hogs and cattle in proportion. This are but instances.