Tecumseh tragedy and other oddities from distant lands
A chaotic collage of incidents and curiosities: a Tecumseh river tragedy where a baby vanished after a boy vanished into the river, a catfish hunter reveals child remains, medical musings on a Grand Duke, births and royal legends, oddities from Texas to Ireland, clams as currency, aggressive birds, postal dampness, a spider with a human face, a chair dream inventor, marching ants at Hood Hill, red cows reputed milk, New York tenements, Stanley’s fame, a Vienna concert tribute to a blind composer, and a Warsaw clock railway diorama of a four-country time zone station.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Tecumseh
Oklahoma
Cannes
John James
Envey
Wavon
George
Uiness
Has
Tuman
Caucasus
Germany
Daugh
Ireland
Bristol
Engad
Rade
Inside Russia’s Grand Gostini Dvor Bazaar
The Gostini Dvor is a vast covered bazaar in Moscow with hundreds of shops selling every item imaginable from hair pins to sealskin coats. Merchants, mostly Russians in traditional attire, close each night by sealing doors with wax, stamping with their seal, and saying prayers.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Russia
Moscow
St. Petersburg
Bofton
Paris
New York Press
Primitive Nevada Justice Story of Bill Stone’s early defense
The Kansas City Times recounts Bill Stone defending a horse thief without counsel in Nevada. Stone’s plea of guilty led to a five year sentence after a dramatic five minute defense, marking his first case decades ago.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Nevada
Bill Stone
Stone
Kansas City Times
Beggars and Begging Laws Through English History
A Chicago Herald note recounts historic statutes on beggars from 16th century England. It cites Richard III era measures punishing able bodied beggars, Henry VIII licenses for impotent beggars, and Elizabethan penalties including whipping burning and death, with repeated severe provisions across reigns.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Richard Hl
England
Henry VIII
Elizabeth
Chicago Herald
Singing Birds and Canaries Rise in Import Trade
The New York Post reports the 1840s growth of singing birds imports from Germany to New York, expansion from thousands to tens of thousands yearly, and the Canary Islands canary as the prized songster. It notes transport, care, and training methods, and highlights the birds' longing for liberty and the care required to maintain vibrant song.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Germany
New York
Tso
Trermany
Canaries
Hartz Mountains
Atlantic
Toussenel
Canary Islands
Canary
Greece
Sicily
New York Post
Life in Amor China Reveals Poverty and Resilience
The United States consul reports Amor Fukien as a million strong city with low wages and frugal meals. Children work early and gamble young, while families barter for rice and vegetables. Despite hardship, Chinese children remain mostly happy.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Amor
Fukien
United States
Bedlee
Amos
Amo
Ele
Chines
China
Monster of Languedoc Terror in 1764 France
In March 1764 a hybrid creature described as man bear and wild boar surfaced near Gervandan France. It terrorized several provinces until December when a peasant woman encountered it. Reports say it resembled a death headed human with a lion like body and hyena laugh. It killed sixty three people by 1768 before Sieur Rhinehardt killed it.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Pierre Despire
Ervandan
France
Professor Sanches
Languedoc
Sieur Rhinehardt
Duke of Orleans
Gervandan
Fear and Cholera Fearful Bed Experiment
Washington Star recalls a 19th century tale where fear drove a man to die of cholera after sleeping in a bed previously used by a corpse of a gunshot victim. The siren of panic haunted Vienna during an 1850s outbreak and a pardon led to a fatal bet.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Wien
Vienna
Great General Hospital
Alserstrasse
Franz Holmer
Franz Josef
Washington Star
Also Mentioned on This Page
Thaveon
Mitchell County
Texas
Great West
Himas
Uts
Waich
Opy
Penelope
Dery
Haya
Egginton Datta
Tazy
Oldtown
Boston Transcript
Mount Desert
Bailey Hoover
Curtiss Ranch
Woodlands
Cal
Fair Ranch
Knight's Landing
H. C. Lockitts
Monroe
Joan A. Starnes
Newburg
N. Y
Mr. Staples
Ulverston
Hood
Great Britain
New York City
Transvaal
Mr. Stanley
Kruger
Stanley
Warsaw
Poland
Life In
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!