Notable misfortunes and curiosities from around the world
A digest of railway accident verdicts near Toronto and London, a Siberian horseman ride to St Petersburg, a wildcat tale from Hollister, a Queen of England church visit at Aix-les-Bains, and a string of odd incidents from America and Canada. The items include a Grand Trunk damage case, a meteorite coat scar, a cable repair whale find, and unusual local mishaps.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Hollister
Cal
George Noble
England
Origin of the Name William Through History
The name William emerged as a merit reward rather than a given late birth. It traces from Germanic warriors earning gilded helmets after defeating Romans. It traversed Frankish Guildehelm, French Guildeaume, Latin Gulielmus, and evolved through Guillame to William St Louis Republic.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
William Carron
St. Louis
William
Gildhelm
Guildhelme
Guildeaume
Guillame
Gulielmus
St. Louis Republic
Pony Express Feat: Russell Bets 200000 to Reach San Francisco in Ten Days
The 1860 pony express race linked St Joseph Missouri to San Francisco California. William H Russell bet 200000 that a mail line could cover 1950 miles in ten days aided by A B Miller. John Fray finished seconds before the deadline winning the wager as crowds watched on the riverbank at St Joseph. The 1860 feat showcased Western bravado and rapid courier innovations.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
St. Joseph
Mississippi River
Rocky Mountains
Pacific Slope
Wall Street
Washington
New York
San Francisco
Congress
Wiliam H. Russell
Flood
Russell
Plains
A. B. Miller
Denver
Colo
Miller
West
Baldwin
Artemus Ward
Artemus
Pony Express
Pike’s Peak
Jack Keitley
John Fry
Kennekuk
Kan
Keitley
General Gaines
Kanal
Salt Lake Valley
Platte River
Julesburg
Neb
John Fray
Fray
America
Kansas
John Fravy
St. Joseph Wis
Mind Telegraphy at Washington Across a Copper Wire
The article reports J Randolph Brown performing a wire test of mind reading before Congressmen. A copper wire linked Brown to a volunteer who read a number from his watch while Brown, blindfolded, wrote the same digits on a board. The feat allegedly proves mind telegraphing with no possible signaling. It cites a 28 mile test with ex Governor James Pollock involved in Wilmington and Philadelphia.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
J. Randolph Brown
Washington
Brown
James Pollock
Pennsylvania
Wilmington
Del
Philadelphia
Pollock
St. Louis Globe-Democrat
Brief Names in Brussels and Gagny Highlight Name Spelling
Le Soir reports a hawker in Gagny registered a birth with the mother listed as B initial only. The mayor verifies the birth record noting many Belgians and locals used single initials in place of full names, including a cross-signing recruit named O and a small parish named Y with about two hundred residents.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
le Soir
Gagny
Paris
Mairie
Rose B
Bay
Bey
Bai
Baie
Rue de Angle
Mr. O
Madame
Peronne
Ham ‘Ailway
Shaving His First Dead Man A Barber Describes Night
A barber recalls shaving a dead man in a lonely road house after a grim encounter with a body. He notes the moonlight over chestnut trees, the astonished eyes, and his uneasy start before finishing the shave for a five dollar tip. He also warns about difficult female patrons and jokes played during shampoos.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Ian
Japanese Suicides Detail Aged Over Fifty Dominant
A New York Times report analyzes Japanese records on death by own action. It notes most victims are over fifty, with many cases among twenty to thirty year olds driven by failed romance. July shows peak suicides, including a striking case at Nikko where a sixty year old woman killed herself near a shrine to die among the sacred groves.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Japan
Nikko
Tokio
Iremitsu
New York Times
Early Globes and Milestones in Globe History
Atlas of Libya is said to have used globes. ancient writers referenced them long before terrestrial globes. The oldest surviving globe from 1070 resides in Florence and shows 1015 stars. Arabian metallic globes from the 13th century remain, one with the British Royal Astronomical Society. Moliyneux advanced globes to 26 inches by 1592, with one in London’s Middle Temple. Hues’ Treatise on the Globes appeared and was reprinted in English. Window Cleaning Company in London advertises affordable service by experienced men.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Marlborough House
London
England
St Louis Republic
St. James Park
Pall Mall
Atlas
Libya
Florence
British
Royal Astronomical Society
America
Leonardo da Vinci
Windsor Castle
Mercator
Moliyneux
Middle Temple
Also Mentioned on This Page
Tures
Stranger Than Fiction
Toronto
Canada
St. Louis Express
Niagara Falls
Grand Trunk Railway
St. George
Hamilton
Grand Trunk
Omsk
Siberia
Peschkof
Blagovestchensk
Amoor
St. Petersburg
Irkutsk
Pat McGrath
Woodford
Pat
Missy
Santos
Santa Catharina
South America
Western and Brazilian Telegraph Company
Viking
Ellen Powell
N. Hughes
N. B. Baum
Toomsboro
Ellen
Tun Vale
Tiffin
Ohio
Chiquet
New Brunswick
W. R. T. Jones
Jones
Tiflis
Appling
Express Company
E. P. Padgett
Washington Courthouse
Aionza Prrters
Russky Vedomosty
Moscow
Stephen Burleen
Bridgeport
Conn
First Pony Express
William H. Russell
Globe-Democrat
Fort Kearne
Laramie
Wy. T. Bridger
Mont
Salt Lake City
Stah Camp Floyd
Utah
Carson City
I. T& Placerville
New
Sacramento
Eis
D. I
California
Sam Francisco
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!