Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Published in the Sangamo Journal, Springfield, Illinois on Friday, October 6, 1837
At a squirrel hunt which recently took place in the neighborhood of Fishing creek, Tyler county, Virginia, 13,000 squirrels were killed. The party consisted of 60 men, 31 on each side, and the hunt continued two days. The corn crop in that neighborhood, it is said, was in danger of being annihilated by this little animal.
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Published in the Sangamo Journal, Springfield, Illinois on Thursday, May 18, 1843
A hen, belonging to Benj. Gallaway, Esq. of Weakly county, Tenn., was sometime ago bitten by a rattlesnake, but by proper attention, the wound was cured. However strange to tell, we are informed that every egg laid since that time by this hen, has a picture of a rattlesnake represented upon the shell.-Mr. Galloway, who is afraid to use these eggs in the family, has kept them, and will with pleasure exhibit them to the inspection of the incredulous.-Mills Pt. Herald.
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Published in the Sangamon Journal, Springfield, Illinois on Saturday, July 25, 1835
The Nantucket Enquirer says, that a Mr. Hale, of that Island, was recently seized by a whale, while sailing in an open boat, and shaken for some moments as a cat shakes a rat and then thrown to the distance of several yards. The editor adds, that the whales have become unusually fierce and cross. We do not wonder at it. They are an injured race, and it is high time they should show a proper resentment.
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Published in the Sangamon Journal, Springfield, Illinois on Saturday, September 16, 1837
Mr. Elaskim Thomas, returning on Saturday week, from an excursion on the Catskill mountains, heard a great rustling among the leaves close by, and presented the startling sound of rattles, apparently, of an enormous snake. He stood momentarily upon his guard, and it was well he did so, for, on looking about him, he presently discovered the appalling sight of a rattlesnake, with his head four feet from the ground, his body coil above coil, his eyes flashing fire, his skin every minute changing color, and long fangs displayed as in the very act of springing upon his intended victim.
Such a sight would have stricken terror into the soul of almost any other man, except the old gentleman in question. But Mr. Thomas elevated his rifle, which fortunately he had with him, and let fly a charge directly into the mouth of the snake, which passing through his brain and out the back of his head, killed him dead on the spot. He then dragged him to the village of Catskill. The snake was 11 feet 9 inches long. Circumference 12 inches, rattles 33, length of his fangs 2 inches. He must have been the patriarch of all “serpents.”
Catskill Recorder.
Published in the Sangamo Journal, Springfield, Illinois on Saturday, June 16, 1838
Last winter during the hard frost which prevailed in England an inhabitant of Gloucestershire, back of the Sovern, near Bristol, lost a fine goose, which it was supposed had dived under the ice of a pond where it was wont to take its recreation, and lost its life. Five weeks afterwards the ice became partially dissolved by the mild weather, a strange looking skeleton, clad in rotten feathers, and in appearance the very ghost of a goose, emerged from the water, and proceeded to make acquaintance with the denizens of the kitchen. At first the proffered familiarity was all received, but at length the missing goose of five weeks previous having come to mind, the poor bird “had his claim allowed” and by dint of nursing, recovered, and is likely to brave many more winters. The poor animal’s body must have been for five weeks immersed in the water, by which the feathers became completely destroyed, and its retention of life under the ice can only be accounted for by the daily watering of the horses having left space between the ice and the water, which enabled the bird to breathe. Its attempts to liberate itself by pecking up at the ice had completely worn away the bony part of the bill.
Published in the Sangamo Journal, Springfield, Illinois on Saturday, May 9, 1840
It is reported that a rebellion broke out in a small detachment of the unmuzzled Bloodhounds on board of the flirt, causing terrible bloodshed, biting one of the keepers on the leg, and lock-jaw ensuing.
Published in the Sangamo Journal, Springfield, Illinois on Friday, April 24, 1840
On the 24th ult. the elephant and rhinoceros, of the New York City Zoological Institute, got together and had a regular fight.-Before the keeper could part them, the rhinoceros was dead. He was valued at $15,000.
Published in the Sangamo Journal, Springfield, Illinois on Friday, March 20, 1840
It is certain that some 30 or 35 bloodhounds have been brought from Cuba to Florida, to be employed against the Seminoles.
Published in the Sangamo Journal, Springfield, Illinois on Saturday, November 9, 1839
We see it publicly stated that Col. Taylor has had orders to import Blood Hounds from Cuba, to hunt down the Seminoles. We confess that such an arrangement jars upon the feelings; altho’ we are not prepared to say that direful necessity may not justify the employment of such savage allies. It was one of the most odious charges against the inhuman Cortez that he tracked the Mexicans with bloodhounds; and we must say that it requires the strongest possible case to excuse our government in imitation of that brigand.-St. Louis Gaz.
Published in the Sangamo Journal, Springfield, Illinois on Friday, August 27, 1841
Mr. Rice, of Ripley, Erie County, Pa., has an extensive establishment for keeping bees. Twenty years ago he had but one swarm, from which in twelve years he had 396 swarms. The Erie Gazette states, that they had then become so powerful, that they commenced depredations on the neighboring tribes, going out on predatory’ excursions to the distance of two or three miles, much to the annoyance of the unfortunate neighbors. He then killed off a number of swarms, and obtained over two tons of honey for the New York market. He has now adopted the patent hives for a part of his bees, in which small glass apertures for access from the main part of the hive. In this way, by drawing the slide the bees can be seen at work, and the amount of the honey ascertained.