World of Odd Facts and Anecdotes From 19th Century Paper
Gan Wert Hulletin reports daily use of 1,500,000 postal cards in the U S while noting 48 languages in Mexico. A Sand pump near Boise City Idaho recently unearthed a flint idol from 520 feet depth. A tramp in Lancaster Pennsylvania jail regales staff with tales of travel. The oldest Hayfever Association member is Dr. Edward Townsend of Philadelphia, age 44, with hayfever since boyhood. Mrs Pamir H Suenman and her children stay at a Nonquitt Massachusetts cottage linked to the General. Mrs Sheridan has recovered health and strength.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
American Hayfever Association
Edward Townsend
Philadelphia
Pamir H. Suenman
Nonquitt
Mass
Tax on couples living with in-laws in Australia
A proposed Australian law would tax all married couples living with either parent in law. Couples residing with the husband's mother in law face a $900 levy while those living with the wife's mother in law would pay $120.
Japanese Cattle Slaughter Rises Through 1880s
A historical survey notes Japan increased cattle slaughter from 30,000 head in 1884 to 116,000 in 1885 and 130,500 in 1886, reaching 200,000 by 1888, reflecting growing meat consumption. It also mentions a famed English tree nicknamed the withering oak, 48 feet 7 inches in girth in 1744, which has grown only 17 inches over 145 years.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Japan
Woman offers seven story lodging house for workers
Mrs Exstory F Sueraro proposes in New York to erect a large seven story fire proof building to be presented to the Young Woman's Christian Association. The structure would serve as a lodging house and home for working women.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Exstory F. Sueraro
New York
Young Woman's Christian Association
Mrs Margaret Stuart Seeks Pension at 103 in Georgia
Mrs Margaret Stuart aged 103 of Plug Carroll County Georgia seeks a pension. She is widow of James Stuart who served in the Indian War of 1812 under Captain John Myrick.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Margaret Stuart
Plug
Carroll County
Swiss Blind Clock Uses Pegs To Tell Time
A clock designed for blind users in Switzerland marks hours with small pegs positioned at each figure. When the hour hand reaches a figure, a peg drops, allowing the owner to feel it and count back from twelve to determine the hour.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Switzerland
Diamond Crown for German Emperor Reported Weight and Adornments
A crown manufactured for the German Emperor by the court jeweler weighs three pounds and is set with a hundred fine diamonds. The crown for the Empress features eleven pearls and about fifteen hundred diamonds.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Tim
Turner Describes Harriet Beecher Stowe as Hopeless Imbecile
The telegraph declares Stowe has become a hopeless imbecile with a mind a complete blank. Once a great intellect and pride of the country, the loss is described as wrecking her stature.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Turner
Harriet Beecher Stowe
Telegraph
Emin Bey Falls From Veranda In Bagamoyo After Banquet
Emin Bey and Stanley arrived in Bagamoyo with a celebratory banquet before Emin inadvertently stepping from a high veranda. Reports warn of cannibalism in parts of West Africa near the British protectorate and frequent kidnappings. Six people were killed and eaten along the road from Bendoomah to Dodo and Kibbim.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Emin Bey
Equatorial Africa
Emin
Stanley
Bagamoyo
West Africa
Protectorate
Bendoomah
Dodo
Kibbim
Massachusetts Marriage Ages Report Highlights Breakdown
An official release on 39,478 marriages in Massachusetts last year shows 693 men and 215 women aged fifty or more, 19 men and 5 women over seventy five, and 7 men and 2 women over eighty. Males under twenty totaled 368 and females 3,218, with a few children aged twelve to fifteen among the females and a single fifteen year old male.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Massachusetts
Curious Bucopa name born from Buckley Coulter Davis trio
A Washington town Bucopa takes its name from the three railroad men Buckley Coulter and Davis. To settle who to honor, the first two letters of each surname were combined to form Bu co da. Fronton is touted as a future lemon hub with large lemons and high yields.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Bucopa
Washington
Buckley
Coulter
Davis
Fronton
Caloosvshutchie
Senate bill for naval shipbuilding and contracts
A bill proposed in the U S Senate by Senator Hale would authorize the President to contract for eight battleships of 7,500 to 10,000 tons, two armored coast-defence vessels, three gunboats of 500 to 1,200 tons, and five first-class torpedo boats. It allows the Secretary of the Navy discretion on speed premiums and authority to build at navy yards if contracts with large shipbuilders fail to meet a reasonable price. Vashti the Persian cat in a New York mansion hears a parrot squawk and banters with a human voice, startling the household.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Umited States
Senate
Hale
Secretary of the Navy
Navy Yards
Vasht
New York
Vashti
National Sunday rest law and Wyoming statehood bills
A weekly summary notes Senate petitions for a National Sunday rest law and bills for Wyoming statehood and a temporary Oklahoma government. Also mentioned are compensation for Confederate prisoners, election reforms, and nominations including Green Baum for Pension Commissioner.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Senate
Wyoming
Territory
Oklahoma
Reed
McKinley
Spooner
Boards of Trade
Chandler
Green B. Baum
House
Wepnrepay
George Washington
United States
Harrison
Cabinet
Supreme Court
Fuller
Tourspaxy
Butterworth
Ohio
Silcott
Cothran resigns seat to serve railway counsel
Representative Cothran of South Carolina's Third district resigns from Congress to take a position as counsel for a railway. Mrs. Scott Lord, sister of Mrs. Harrison, dies in Washington. Bread exports value reached 10,053,446 dollars for the period ending November. President Blaine at the Pan American Conference in Washington on the 18th appointed committees and the gathering adjourned to January 2. There were 290 U.S. business failures in the seven days to the 13th, vs 316 previous week. 305 for the same week in 1888.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Cothran
South Carolina
Congress
Scott Lord
Harrison
Washington
Cour
Blaine
United States
Various 19th century incidents hit New York scene and beyond
A roundup of 19th century items notes James Wurrley & Co. failed in New York for 500000, officers elected by the Players' National League with Cornelius Van Cott as president, a 400000 loss at McKesson & Robbins due to fire, a nitro glycerine blast in Butler Pennsylvania killing workers, Oliver Johnson’s death at eighty one, a foundry man delivering a missing 40000 pay car sum near Buffalo, a panic at Parke Opera House causing fourteen deaths, barb wire trust collapse reports, the death of Francais Boneau in New Bedford at 105, a violent wind storm in Westmoreland County, Albany piano maker James A. Gray found dead, York freight train collision destroying 2100000 in property, Aunt Mary Tyler of Mary had a Little Lamb fame dies in Somerville, an American chess correspondence tournament won by the Americans, the Boston labor meeting rejecting a third party, Warren Leland Jr declaring insolvency in Long Branch, and the Boston Federation of Labor calling for abolishing child labor under fourteen.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
James W. Wurrley & Co
New York
Players’ National League (Brotherhood
Cornelius van Cott
McKesson & Robbins
Butler
Oliver Johnson
Boston
Buffalo
N. Y
Parke Opera House
Johnstown
Philadelphia
Francais Boneau
New Bedford
Mass
Westmoreland County
James A. Gray
United States
Albany
York
Mary Tyler
Somerville
Mary
Canada
American Federation of Labor
Warren Leland, Jr
Long Branch
N. J
Federation of Labor
Multiple early 1900s tragedies and events reported
A summary of brief notices reports deaths including Justus Rathbone founder of Knights of Pythias in Lima Ohio at fifty, a fire at Gipps Brewing stable in Peoria burning ten horses, a drowning of Mr TriesAN McDenman and wife on White River, bank closure in Abilene Kansas, Sioux reservation land sale vote opening one million acres, hog cholera deaths in Greenwood Kansas, Libby Prison reunion in Chicago, Claud Augustine and three children drowned near Saukville Wisconsin after ice accident.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Justus A. Rathbone
Order of the Knights of Pythias
Lima
Gipps Brewing Company
Peoria
Ill
Triesan McDenman
White River
Shoals
Ind
First National Bank of
Abilene
Kan
Sisseton Reservation
South Dakota
Greenwood County
Libby Prison Museum
Chicago
Claud Augustine
Saukville
Wis
Notable Deaths and Political Upheavals Gather in One Report
The world records multiple events: Henry E. Searle, famed oarsman, dies in Melbourne on the 9th from typhoid fever. Poet Robert Browning dies in London on the 12th at age 77 after bronchitis. Cuthbert Bede, London contributor, also dies on the 12th. In Crete, twenty Christians are beaten after amnesty. In St. Petersburg, Ras officers are arrested for alleged plot to kill the Czar. Montreal’s major political group backs annexation to the United States. Jewels of the ex Empress of Brazil reported stolen on the 11th. German troops rout Bushiris in Zanzibar on the 10th, 28 killed.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Henry E. Searle
Melbourne
Australia
Zanzibar
Bushiris
Brazil
Robert Browning
London
Crete
Edward Bradley
Cuthbert Bede
Sive Ras
St. Petersburg
Russia
Montreal
United States
Multiple Disasters and Notable Deaths Across Regions
A series of incidents including a Buffalo grain elevator fire causing $125,000 loss, extensive destruction in New Carlisle Ohio, and the death of famed bass Carl Formes in San Francisco. Other items report a freight train plunging into a river near Hackensack New Jersey with three deaths, Dallas highwaymen hanged after robbery, Gompers reelected in Boston, flood damage in Sutter County California, a fatal express train crash near Washington D C, centenarian birthday in Illinois, Jake Kilrain fined and jailed in Mississippi, Havemeyer death in Paris, influenza outbreak in Berlin, Bank of Richfield Kansas failure, nitro magazine explosions near Warren Ohio, Gowen’s suicide in Washington, and Cronin murder jury verdicts.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Greene & Bloomer
Buffalo
N. Y
New Carlisle
Carl Formes
San Francisco
Hackensack
N. J
William Nixon
Patrick Harrington
M. Seeley
Dallas
Tex
American Federation of Labor
Boston
Samuel Gompers
New York
Sutter County
Cal
Washington, D. C
Lortipaa B. Sullm
Lynn
Knox County
Ill
Jake Kilrain
Purvis
Miss
Sullivan
Hi. C. Havemeyer
Paris
Berlin
Bank of
Philadelphia
Wormley
Washington
End in sight in Cronin trial defense pleas argued
In Cronin trial opening, defense attorney Forrest challenged circumstantial evidence and witness credibility. He argued no proven conspiracy at Camp V and faulted the State for supposedly perjured witnesses. He contended death cause unclear and demanded acquittal, dismissing Mrs Hoertel’s testimony as absurd.
Forty Seventh Day In Chicago Murder Trial Opens New Attacks
Attorney Forrest continued his assault on state witnesses in Chicago, challenging blood evidence at the Carlson cottage and alleging suppression of favorable testimony. He attacked the coroner's inquest distinctions and pressed alibi credibility for O Sullivan and Coughlin. He questioned the two knives found and the identification of ownership, arguing improbability of matching knives and stressing the state’s burden of proof.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Chicago
Forrest
Carlson Cottage
O'Sullivan
Matthew
Mark
Luke
John
Coughlin
Mertes
Nieman
Barney Flynn
Hynes
Mr. Conklin
Finishing Arguments End Suspects Case in Chicago Trial
On December 12 attorney Forrest wrapped up his address in the Dinan white horse alibi case and attacked the credibility of the Conklin identification and Burke's movements. He urged acquittal as no evidence beyond reasonable doubt. On December 18 Luther Laflin Mills notified he cannot deliver the Cronin closing. Judge Longenecker to close the case with the State's Attorney's remarks to begin at 10.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Forrest
Dinan
Martin Burke
Burke
Carlson Cottage
Winnipeg
Mortensen
Chicago
Luther Laflin Mills
Longnecker
Cronin
Mills
Longenecker
Cronin Case Closing Remarks by Judges in Chicago
Judge Longenecker urged acquittal if conspiracy to murder was unproven and warned against biased testimony. Judge McConnell read a detailed charge to the jury outlining murder definition, reasonable doubt, and the need to prove every element beyond doubt. The instructions emphasized presumption of innocence and careful assessment of circumstantial evidence.
Storm Toll From Destructive Storm Near Cambridge City
A major storm causes extensive damage across California and Indiana. In California near Santa Cruz and Colusa floodwaters wash away houses and overwhelm bridges while Sacramento reports levee breaches and rising river levels. In Indiana Perry’s Mount Calvary and Campion Gearry suffer unroofed buildings and collapsing structures as residents scramble to survive the powerful cyclone and accompanying torrents. Several drownings are reported in various locations as crews patrol levees and search for victims.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Cambridge City
Ind
Perry
Mt. Cal
San Francisco
Cal
Colusa
Sacramento Valley
Boulder Creek
Santa Cruz County
Joe Easton
Easton
Sacramento
Sacramento River
Marysville
Oroville
Red Bluff
Oregon
Co. T. Jones
Jostlett
Pirrspuran
Jeannette
Cyrus Coffin
Coffin
Sam Watson
Watson
Instructions on verdicts in murder and conspiracy cases
The passage outlines jury duties in murder and conspiracy trials. It emphasizes proof beyond reasonable doubt, that the prosecution must show the accused committed the crime, and discusses considering motive, avoiding speculation, and the proper standards for reasonable doubt. It also explains possible verdicts including guilty or not guilty and penalties including death or life imprisonment, with minimum terms of fourteen years.
Kettle Jack's Gang in Wyoming Fells to Lynching
In the Big Horn basin Johnson County Wyoming a mob of about 500 broke up the Kettle Jack gang by lynching eleven members and driving the rest from the country. The band had terrorized settlers, killed and stolen property, captured a leading citizen's daughter, and faced a rescue attempt that failed before the vigilantes ended the threat.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Art Matison
Wis
David Atewood
Wisconsin
Ith
Northwest
Jeffe'sox Davis
New Orleans
Big Horn Basin
Johnson County
Wy. T
Kettle Jack
North
South Dakota
Perry’s Mills
Cal
Joseph E. Eastman
Colusa
C. T. Jones
Cambridge City
Ind
Iowa
Des Moines
Tacoma
Wash
Jounx Zimmerman
Wooster
Norton County
Kan
Bettiy
Detroit
Irish National League
Kenny
Irish League
Cairo
Elkhorn
Kent City
Mich
James Gilmore
James McDonald
Hancock
Joan Gillman
Ettenhower
Empire City
Ore
Carter Williamson
Plaquemine
Dorseyville
Madison County
Wyoming
Cheyenne, Wy. T
Utah
Montana
Jones
Pekin Star distillery fire destroys facility in Pekin
The Star distillery owned by J. & G. Herget in Pekin burned early yesterday. Loss set at 40,000 with 19,000 insured. Night watchman Joseph Scheidel died in the blaze. several others narrowly escaped. The warehouse holding 140 barrels of whisky burned, cattle sheds with 500 head were saved. Distillery not in the trust. Origin of the fire unknown.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Prortaa
Star
J. & G. Herget
Pekin
Joseph Scheidel
Cronin Jury Expected to Return Guilty Verdict
The Cronin trial jury has reportedly found Daniel Coughlin Patrick O Sullivan and Martin Burke guilty of murder while Beggs and Kunze face prison terms. A split decision on punishment followed a lengthy deliberation with Culver maintaining not guilty until a final ballot shifted the group.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Cronin
Chicago
Daniel Coughlin
Martin Burke
Patrick O'Sullivan
John F. Beggs
John Kunze
Patrick Henry Cronin
Beggs
Kunze
Jolly Jokes and Quick Irish Laughs on Stage and Street
A collection of light humor and quips from a bygone column. Jokes cover baseball songs in bass voice, air the house scenes, biblical faith, Irish wit, an assault reply, a digging money gag, a sleeping baby, Columbus feel, a found dime, and church plate humor among rural ministers and worshipers.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
New York
McGinty
T. D
America
Gayly
Judge McConnell Instructions to Cronin Jury in Chicago
The judge told the twelve jurors they are the law and facts judges and may reject the court if convinced the law is wrong. He defined murder and substantial evidence, required proof beyond doubt of Cronin’s death, and explained that acquittal is required if any defendant’s guilt cannot be shown beyond reasonable doubt. Jurors were warned not to use others actions against a defendant unless they prove conspiracy beyond doubt, and to consider only evidence linking each defendant to the crime.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Chicago
Cronin
Longenecker
McConnell
Ilinois
Beggs
Camp 20
Patrick Henry Cronin
John Kunze
Daniel Coughlin
Patrick O'Sullivan
Martin Burke
John F. Beggs
Bergs
Udge
Simonds
Dr. Cronin
Burke
Carlson Cottage
Clark Street
Dinan
Coughlin
O'Sullivan
Fire at Allen House leaves lodgers fleeing in night clothing
In New Orleans at 2 a.m. fire gutted Allen House on 76 St. Charles with numerous boarders and the Nellie McHenry theatrical company escaping in their night attire to a neighboring roof. Several evacuees were injured as flames raged and fear grew that all inmates had not escaped.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
New Orleans
Allen House
St. Charles Street
Nellie McHenry Theatrical Company
Funeral Honors for Jefferson Davis in New Orleans
General mourning swept the South as Jefferson Davis was buried at Metaire Cemetery New Orleans after a large state funeral. Delegations from veterans and civic groups joined the six division procession followed by religious rites including bishops Gallaher and Thompson and the bugle call taps. Several memorials and services spread from New Orleans to Danville Charlotte Charleston and Richmond reflecting nationwide mourning.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Jefferson Davis
New Orleans
Confederacy
Grand Army
Metaire
Army of Northern Virginia
South
City Hall
Lafayette Square
Gallaher
Episcopal Diocese of
Thompson
Mississippi
Markham
Presbyterian Church
Hubert
Catholic Church
Bakewell
Martin
Sullivan
Galleher
Gordon
Congress
Union of States
Confederate States of America
Kentucky
Louisiana
Ishop Thompson
Darius Hubert
State Guard
Lee Memorial Association
P. F. Alba
Mobile
Danville
Charlotte
Charleston
W. Va
Nashville
Chattanooga
Yenn
Columbia
8. C
St. Louis
ex-Confederate Historical Society
Influenza Epidemic Hits Paris Mall Workers
The Paris report notes 670 cases among employees at the Magasin du Louvre, all simple influenza cases. They typically run about four days, with no severe complications reported.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Paris
Magasin du Louvre
Burglars Blow Safe In Kosciusko Store
Kosciusko Mississippi December 12 burglars entered Carter and Lee store and blew open a large iron safe securing nearly twenty five thousand dollars in cash no crew named yet to identify the robbers. Johnstown Pa December 12 death list from theater panic shows ten killed funerals Friday theater to remain closed officials blamed for unsafe building. Coolidge Kansas deserted ranch cabin yields corpses of a man and a woman murdered.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Kosciusko
Miss
Carter & Lee
Johnstown
Coolidge
Kan
Also Mentioned on This Page
Gan Wert Hulletin
John A. Arnold & CO
Mexica
Boise City
I. T
Lancaster
Graham
Madison
Cricago
Dee
Carlsons
Quonin
Tages
Circaco
the Times
Patrick O’sullivan
John Culver
Evanston
Culver
O’sullivan
The
Globe
Barbwire Trust
Towa
Des Moies
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!