Thursday, November 22, 2012
Published in the Sangamo Journal, Springfield, Illinois on Wednesday, November 21, 1849
The Cumberland [Md.] Alleganian states that on Wednesday last, an Irishman, who resides near Lonaconing, threw from his stomach a living snake five or six inches in length. For several years past he has been in bad health, and lately subsisted almost wholly upon milk. On Wednesday, at the earnest persuasion of several of his countrymen, he was induced to drink with them. Directly after swallowing the liquor, he was seized with vomiting and threw up the snake.
Thursday, November 22, 2012
Published in the Sangamo Journal, Springfield, Illinois on Wednesday, December 5, 1849
Capt. Seabury, of the ship Minerva, which arrived at Lahaina on the 15th of August, reports hearing from the ship Alert, Green, in the first part of the season, who, being on the Tartary Coast, sent two boat’s crews in after wood. They not returning as expected, he sent a third boat, which was also detained. The ship was thus left with a single boat’s crew, and continued standing off and on for two weeks or more, before he had any intelligence of the boats. They finally all returned to the ship, and related that when they landed the natives made them prisoners and took them back through the country and villages for the purpose of exhibition. They were treated in the kindest manner during their imprisonment. When their keepers had exhibited them to their satisfaction, they returned to their boats with everything belonging to them; not even the smallest article was missing.-Boston Courier.
Thursday, November 22, 2012
Published in the Sangamo Journal, Springfield, Illinois on Wednesday, December 19, 1849
We stated a few days since that a large Lynx had been killed in Weare, N. H., by a lad of sixteen years of age. A gentleman from that vicinity has given us the following particulars of the exciting event:
On Saturday, Oct. 27th, a party of individuals in Weare started out on a squirrel hunt, and among the number was Master Almond Favour, a youth of sixteen years, who was armed with a small gun, intended only for squirrels, partridges and other small game. During the day his dog treed a large loup cervier-a species of wild-cat, or lynx. The courageous lad, not wishing to lose so good a “count,” for his “side,” although his gun was loaded with a slight charge of small shot, drew up the weapon and fired, the charge taking effect in the shoulder of the animal.
The animal apparently took but very little notice of the wound, and, after walking back and forth upon a large limb several times, all the while eyeing his two antagonists below, he deliberately backed down the trunk of the tree and sprang at the lad; but the faithful dog interfered, a sharp contest ensued between the two animals.
At length the dog was overpowered for a moment, when the lynx made a second spring at the lad, but was again prevented from effecting his object by the interference of the dog, and a second fight ensued between the two. While this was going on, the lad laid aside his gun, and, arming himself with a stout club, he in turn went to the rescue of his noble canine friend; and, seizing a favorable opportunity, struck the “varmint” a heavy blow between the ears, which laid him dead at his feet. After resting awhile, young Favour shouldered his game and started for home. Before he had gone far he came across the mutilated carcass of a fresh-killed sheep, upon which the animal had probably breakfasted that morning. The loup cervier weighed twenty-seven pounds, and his longest tusks measured two and a half inched in length. The lad received $2 bounty from the town, and also disposed of the skin for a handsome sum, thus making a profitable day’s work.-Boston Journal.
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Published in the Waukegan Gazette, Waukegan, Illinois on Saturday, September 17, 1881
It is well known that geese and ganders become greatly attached to persons who habitually feed them and treat them kindly. But the attachment is seldom so great as that manifested toward an English miller who keeps a flock. The faithful creatures had repeatedly followed him a mile to the village on week days, when he went to attend to business. It did not occur to him that possibly they might some day want to follow him to church. But on a recent Sunday they seemed to be in a devotional frame of mind and marched behind him as he went to the sanctuary. Arriving at the door they wanted to follow him in, and probably would have occupied his pew had he consented to let them do so. He undertook to make them understand that he wanted them to go home, but the innocent and awkward creatures failed to grasp the idea. Finding it impossible to make them return without committing violence on them, the miller was compelled to abandon his religious privileges for the day and proceed homeward at the head of the file of his feathered pets.
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Published in the Sangamo Journal, Springfield, Illinois on Saturday, March 9, 1839
A courier relates the following incidence of canine sagacity:-An instance of canine sagacity occurred in this city a few evenings since, which deserves to be recorded. A dog belonging to a merchant in State street, having been shut out of the counting room, was heard pawing and rubbing against the door for a long time, evidently very anxious to be admitted. No notice was taken of him, however, and he remained outside until a gentleman entered the room, when, as he opened the door the dog came in with him. After a few moments the dog was observed to have something in his mouth, which, upon being taken from him by his master, proved to be a ten dollar bank note. The dog must have picked it up in the street, as it did not belong to any one about the store. What renders the circumstance more remarkable is, that the dog will almost invariably tear in pieces any old scrap of paper that he finds.
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Published in the Waukegan Gazette, Waukegan, Illinois on Saturday, May 7, 1881
Rumors recently got afloat at Donovan that the grave of Emanuel Siegel had been robbed, some time ago. The coffin was uncovered, and its only occupants were found to be sixteen huge bull-snakes, in a torpid condition.
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Published in the Waukegan Gazette, Waukegan, Illinois on Saturday, July 23, 1881
We all know the nursery story of the tailor who pinched the elephant’s trunk when the intelligent animal was soliciting sweets through Snip’s open casement, and how the wise beast, on returning the same route soon afterward, regaled the tailor with a shower of muddy water she had carefully sucked up from the roadside, just to show that she bore him no special ill, but that two could play at joking; but according to a note in the Hereford Times, elephants can be grateful as well as vindictive. Some weeks ago Bostock and Wombwell’s Menagerie again visited Tenbury. Our readers will remember the elephant Lizzie’s wonderful recognition of Mr. Tisley, chemist of Teme street, when on a visit to that town about two years since. The animal then went out of the procession to greet him at his shop door, remembering him as her deliverer from intense pain, causes by an attack of colic, brought on through drinking cold water when journeying to Tenbury on a previous visit. Mr. Tisley, on visiting the menagerie the other evening, was again at once seen and recognized by Lizzie, who embraced him with her trunk in such a manner as to cause some alarm to her keepers, but an affectionate hug for her preserver was all the poor creature intended.
Doubtless her remembrance of her friend will never be effaced, since this is the second time she has greeted Mr. Tisley in such a startling manner.-Land and Water.
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Published in the Sangamo Journal, Springfield, Illinois on Friday, September 11, 1840
This extraordinary curiosity was discovered about two years since by a party of trappers belonging to Capt. Bent’s company, lying on the side of one of the beaver dams of the Rio Grande of the north, [a stream emptying itself into the gulf of California,] whose water it is said possess the petrifying qualities, in an eminent degree, it’s shores abounding in specimens of animal and vegetable productions in a petrified state. The petrified buffalo is described by those who have seen it, to be as perfect in its petrifaction as when living, with the exception of a hole in one of its sides, about four inches in diameter, around which the hair has been worn off, probably by the friction of the water in which it must have lain in for ages past, to have produced such a phenomenon. The hair on the humps of the shoulders, neck, forehead and tail, though converted into almost a smooth surface, may be easily discerned. The horns, eyes, nostrils, mouth and legs, are as perfect in the stone as their pristine state.
The country in which this rare specimen was found, is inhabited by the Eateaux, a roving tribe of Indians who subsist, a great portion of their lives, on insects, snakes, toads, roots, etc. This tribe being particularly hostile to the whites, renders the acquisition of their curiosity, not a little hazardous; notwithstanding this and many other difficulties to be surmounted, such as distance, expense, &c., our enterprising citizen. Captain Charles Bent, contemplates procuring and bringing it to the United States with him during the ensuing autumn.
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Published in the Sangamo Journal, Springfield, Illinois on Saturday, June 29, 1833
Leibnitz tells of a dog in Germany, that could distinctly pronounce thirty words. Goldsmith informs us that he once heard a raven whistle the tune of the Shamrock, with great distinctness, truth and humor.
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Published in the Waukegan Gazette, Waukegan, Illinois on Saturday, January 22, 1881
One of the wealthiest and most eccentric nobleman in Europe, Prince Joseph Sulkowski, Duke of Bielitz, arrived at Copenhagen a few days ago, on his way to Norway, where he proposes to spend the winter in bear hunting. He was accompanied by a numerous suite, consisting of a highly salaried lady companion, a maitre de chapelle, a reader, a body surgeon, a valet de chambre, two running footmen, an enormous mastiff, a huge orangutan, two voluble parrots and several cagefuls of singing birds. One favorite member of his household, a Bengal tiger, he had been compelled to leave behind him at Hamburg, as the steamboat authorities respectfully but positively declinned to convey that princely retainer across the seas. Prince Sulkowski’s personal habits, as described in a letter from Copenhagen, are somewhat out of the common. He rises at one p.m., breakfasts an hour later, and listens to musical selections performed by the members of his household until seven. From seven to eight he takes a nap, which is followed by more chamber music until one o’clock a. m., his regular dinner hour. Having dined sumptuously, he sallies out on foot, accompanied by his secretary, and walks about the town until seven, when he returns to his hotel and goes to bed.-London Telegraph.