Riverboat scheme and a drowning rescue ruse
An ambitious con begins in Selom Alabama and ends aboard a Missouri river steamer. John J Murdoch recounts a late 1870s plan to raise money by staged heroics on the river, including a fake man overboard rescue and a hat full of coins from grateful passengers.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Sald
John J. Murdoch
Chicago
South
Selom
Ala
St. Louis
Missouri
Certs
Lowle
Regeuine
Contenia
Bowae
Bill
Murdoch
Theatrical Manager Relates Early Straw-Bed Movements
Murdoch recalls a life theatre tour in the 1870s and 1880s. A traveling company used clever ruses to fund tours, pawned watches for travel, and slept in straw on a bobsled run to Jamestown. Murdoch describes piano work by Murphy and grueling wagon tours in red wagons.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Mr. Murdoch
New York
Pennsylvania
Granville
Jamestown
Murphy
Bowe
Mins Murphy
Petter Clana of
Carried Bullet Long Time In Head In War Veteran
Abraham Eisler recently admitted to the Thida Pesth workhouse has carried a bullet in his head for fifty four years from a wound suffered fighting in the Awitrign rebel Mon. The item notes his long term injury and current institutional status.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Abraham Eisler
Thida Pesth
Almmne House
Mystery of Lost Sounds and Oceanic Echoes Across The World
A collection of curious notes on sound behavior, including a balloon experiment showing sound fading within proximity to earth yet echoing in bells and dogs. Also features Oriental paper making, rain of rats in Algeria, a lightning strike case, Berlin taximeter cabs, a hidden stash of greenbacks found after a rat encounter, and African Parti colored sheep.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Earth
Lightning Strike Splits Oak Near Vacant House
A May 2 storm in Gaithersburg Maryland struck a large red oak about thirty feet from a vacant house. A slab tore away, breaking into six pieces, with hundreds of small fragments scattered up to forty yards. One twelve foot piece cleared over the house, another struck a large tree nearby.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Gaithersburg
Estate For Orphans Benefit Will Among Remarkable Records
The will of Dr. George W. Ramsay, recently died in Washington Pennsylvania, creates a vast landed estate held in trust for his grand niece. Upon her death the estate reverts to Washington County to fund perpetual support for indigent orphans under 14 descended from the testator’s father, with beneficiaries expanding to all such orphans after 200 years. The estate’s future value is anticipated to grow by 2102.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
George W. Ramsay
Washington
Washington County
Pennsylvania
Very Tall Hats and Gray Suits Dominate Suburban Fashion
The Suburban gathering before the watering place season showcases bold summer outfits. Adrian Iselin Jr and William K. Vanderbilt lead in gray suits and tall hats, with B Berry Wall drawing attention in a Paisley shawl plaid coat and Havana brown dust coat. More men, including Hamilton Carey and Reginald Vanderbilt, display a range of cutaway coats, flat brims, and fashionable gloves, signaling transitions from spring to summer attire at the races.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Morris Park
Brooklyn
Adrian Iselin, Jr
William KK. Vanderbilt
Panama
Mr. Vanderbit
Mr. Vanderbilt
Peter F. Collier
B. Berry Wall
Weller
Phiz
Hempstead
Hamilton Carey
Sidney Smith
William
Whitney
Havana
Frederick Gebhard
London
New York Times
Two Good Irish Bulls from Philadelphia Times
The Philadelphia Times prints two Irish jokes about health and a street car chat. Dr O’Hague warns that impure water spreads typhoid. the second tale mocks spiritualism and cremation with a punchline about carrying ashes in a tin box.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Philadelphia Times
Pr. O'Hague
Minneapolis
Philadelphia
Ferdinand J. Creer
Sea Horse Caught By Merom's Mate in Gulf of Mexico
The Merom's mate, while in the Gulf of Mexico, found a four inch sea horse among sea grass in port at Baltimore. The creature kept alive in sea water for two days, then dried for preservation. This rare catch adds to two known Baltimore specimens and debunks myths of the horse fish.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Port Tampa
Gulf of Mexico
Baltmore
Neptune
Baltimore
Baring-Gould Remains Active At Seventy
The article notes Mr. Baring-Gould, nearing seventy, remains vigorous and prolific, credited to standing desk writing with a quill pen. It mentions his stubborn manuscript style displeasing printers and describes occasional leisure chopping trees, likening him to Gladstone in such practice.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Baring-Gould
Gould
Gladstone
Midweek Half Holiday Discussed in Spokane Merchants
Spokane merchants consider a midweek half holiday aligning with other regions where trades such as butchers bakers and candlestick makers observe a partial day off. Mechanics and laborers already enjoy a Saturday half-holiday, with extra evening shifts noted on certain days.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Spokane
Wash
Kingland
Also Mentioned on This Page
Iowa
Suema
China
Europe
Germany
East
Algeria
Bougle
Berlin
J. F. Finsney
Sub-Treasury
W. H. Lavigne
Riveraide
N. J
Mr. Lavigne
Major Finney
Camaroon
Africa
H. Love
Oral Onis
Nottoway County
Love
Alao
Virginia Wilde
New York American
Glover
Reginald Vanderbilt
W. Gate
Harry Payne Whitney
This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!