Finds Wandering Wife After 80 Days' Search

1920

Sight of Husband Restores Woman's Lost Memory.

SAN FRANCISCO, California. — William C. Brown, a grocer, prepared to return to his home here from Los Angeles, following the accidental end of an eighty-day search for his wife and their 2-year-old child, Helen June.

After having hunted thru three States — California, Utah and Nevada — Brown, on the last day allotted for his inquiry, paused to buy a newspaper in a Los Angeles street. Had he not done so, his search would have been futile.

The moment's pause kept him in front of a department store entrance till a woman and a little girl came thru the entrance in the crowd. They were the missing pair.

Not until she faced her husband did Mrs. Brown gain consciousness of where she was or what she had done during the last twelve weeks. She left home while in a state of aberration due to illness. The sight of her husband restored her faculties and she fell weeping on his shoulder.

—The Saturday Blade, Chicago, Aug. 7, 1920, p. 5.

Man's Death Due To Fright

1920

Acute Indigestion Sets In When His Horse Runs Away.

COLUSA, Cal. — Louis Zeisler of San Francisco died at Wilbur Springs, near here, as a result of being scared by a horse. Zeisler had been riding when the horse became frightened and ran away. Zeisler became ill and died. The inquest jurors decided death was due to acute indigestion brought on by "a scare from a horse soon after eating a hearty meal."

—The Saturday Blade, Chicago, Aug. 7, 1920, p. 3.

Wife Finds Right Key to Hubby's Love Code

1916

His Clandestine Missives Then Read Like Open Book to Indignant Spouse.

SAN FRANCISCO, California — A code used by Chester J. Capps of this city in writing affectionate letters to other women fell into the hands of Mrs. Eunice Capps, his wife, and thereafter the little love missives became to his wife an open book. The letters written in the code language were introduced in evidence before Superior Judge Deasy when Mrs. Capps was granted a divorce on the ground of cruelty.

Capps, an employe of the Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Company, invented his code to carry on a correspondence with Grace Durbrow of Fresno. The directions for its use are as follows:

"Write each word backward and add a letter both before and after, so when you read it, all you have to do is leave off the first and last letters of each word and read it backward, as follows:

"A-d-n-a-t spells and, with the first and last letters stricken out. "A-l-l-i-w-y, d-e-e-s-o, s-u-o-y-a, s-n-o-o-s-a."

The code fell into the hands of Mrs. Capps when the young woman to whom it was addressed found that Capps was a married man. Accompanying the letter addressed to Mrs. Capps and containing the code was a copy of a letter addressed to Capps which read:

"I have just heard that you have a wife with whom you are living in San Francisco. You are a liar and a scoundrel and tarring and feathering is too good for you."

Investigation started by Mrs. Capps brought to light letters which her husband had received and written to several other women and these were introduced in evidence. There was introduced in evidence also a lock of chestnut hair which Mrs. Capps found in a locket her husband wore as a watch charm, and a dainty handkerchief used by another woman.

Capps explained that the handkerchief was his sister's but had no explanation for the hair. The letters also, he told his wife, were merely such as might be written from a brother to a sister.

—The Saturday Blade, Chicago, Sept. 16, 1916, p. 4.

The True Poker Flat

1901

In 1852 Poker Flat produced $700,000 in gold bullion in a single month and celebrated the event with a triple hanging. Then came the public spasm of virtue which caused the John Oakhursts and the "outcasts of Poker Flat" to depart from thence and die of cold and starvation on the snow bound road to Sandy Bar. There are no "Oakhursts" nor "Uncle Billys" in Poker Flat today, and when the stranger makes the slow descent and suddenly by a sharp turn in the trail comes upon the famous camp he finds in that huddle of cabins little to remind him of the Poker Flat of 1852.

The famous slope presents almost a picture of utter ruin. There are but eight persons living in the old town, while a hundred dead ones sleep in the cemetery. Some of the graves are marked with wooden headboards, some with stakes, but many have nothing above them. Nearly all of them were laid to rest without religious rites save a Bible reading by old Charlie Pond, who, though a professional gambler, was selected for the religious office owing to his excellent voice and oratorical ability.

In 1853 and 1854 there were 2,000 souls in Poker Flat and 15 stores, 5 hotels. 3 dance halls and 7 gambling houses. There is but one man left today of that original company. He is an old and grizzled veteran, who delights to tell how in 1856 a circus came to town and sold 1,500 tickets of admission at $20 each. — W. M. Clemens in Bookman.

Steal Gold Cargo

1919

Scrap Iron Is Found in Boxes Packed With $50,000.

SAN FRANCISCO, California — A box supposed to hold $25,000 in gold coin shipped by the Anglo and London Paris National Bank of San Francisco on the liner Korea Maru Aug. 2 was found to contain scrap iron and metal washers when opened by the consignee in Hong-Kong, according to advices received by the bank and steamship company.

The bank, acting as agent for a New York firm, packed two boxes, each containing $25,000 in gold and the correctness of the shipment was certified to by three trusted employes.

Both boxes were put in the strong room of the steamship, but only one of them arrived at its destination with gold in it.

Officials of the bank said they believed the substitution of scrap iron for the gold was either made on board the steamer or after the consignment reached Hong-Kong.

—The Saturday Blade, Chicago, Jan. 3, 1920, p. 7.

Indians' Christmas Festival

1910

Miss Clara True, superintendent and special disbursing agent for the mission Indians in San Bernardino and Riverside counties, came to Los Angeles to purchase Christmas gifts for some of the Indians under her supervision.

The Indians near Banning are planning for their regular festivities on Christmas eve. They feast upon barbecued beef and play Indian games.

Miss True said the morals of the Indians of the reservations had improved fully fifty per cent, and that there was a noticeable improvement in their education and general condition.

"During the last century the Indians in this state have decreased at the rate of 50 per day," said Miss True. "About the time of the American occupation of the state there were about 210,000 Indians. Now we have 17,000. This amazing decrease has been caused by starvation, constant eviction from their hunting grounds, whisky and disease." — Los Angeles Examiner.


The Electric Light Dimmer

The "dimmer" system in use at the New Theater, in New York, is something new; the lights are controlled by automatic devices, whereby they may all be set at one time to any degree of candle-power, from 0 to 16, and then by the throwing in of a single switch they are all in operation at once.

Dog Rides a Dray Horse

1910

Sight Arouses Wonder and Applause of Tourists in Los Angeles

The old myth of the six-legged beast that rode the fiery steed is outclassed by a latter-day miracle in the achievement of a four-legged dog which rides a draught horse.

The record of past performances, barring allowances for nature faking, gives the story book performer the best of it in an account of a flight over the Arno, but for easy, safe locomotion, the dog, namely one Bob of Los Angeles, Cal., won all the blue ribbons in a spectacular tour of the downtown district, sitting, with a bland professional air, on the back of the big truck horse drawing a dray.

Tourists, natives, autoists, shoppers, oafs, louts and loungers stopped boosting the climate long enough to marvel and applaud. The horse has a back as big as a pool table, and the dog would be able to stick on if it had only two legs, but this does not lessen its pride in its achievement, and it is with the utmost condescension that it regards ordinary curs walking primitively on the ground.

The owner of the dog and horse, also placid and fat, with a broad back, modestly avoids the white light of publicity, content in the reflected glory of Bob and Jack, and refuses to give the address of the interesting pair.

Can't Stop a Woman From Changing Mind

1920

Girl's Damage Suit is On, Then Off, Now On Again

SAN FRANCISCO, California — As no one, not even a judge of the Superior Court, has the authority to question a woman's unalienable right to change her mind, no exception can be taken to Miss Helen Woodbury's indecision.

Recently Miss Woodbury, who is a stenographer, filed a $5,000 damage action against Mrs. Caroline Leebold alleging that Mrs. Leebold had enticed her to her apartment and then beaten her.

A few days later Miss Woodbury filed notice she wanted to dismiss the action. Now she has filed notice saying she wants to prosecute her damage suit.


Neighbors' Noses Scent Raisin Still

MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota — Led by the suspicions of neighbors and unusual odors, Michael Johannes, city detective, and police operatives raided the home of T. O. Bailys, where they said they secured a still, two barrels of raisin whisky and eight barrels of raisin mash. The still and liquor were found on the second floor of the house, police said.

In the same room, according to the officers, was a quantity of apples, oranges and prunes, cut up and ready for use in the manufacture of a new various of liquor.

Brutality Better Than Ardent Love, Asserts Wife

1920

Smothered by Kisses

SAN FRANCISCO, Cal. — How much should you love your wife?

This is the absorbing question brought up here by the divorce action of Mrs. Leigh M. Stewart, who sues her husband, Commander Stewart, because he loved her too much.

The divorce courts are cluttered with actions because "love has died." Now there comes the reverse — the newer and absorbing question for a judge to determine: Just how much should a man love his wife?

A modern cave man was Commander Stewart, according to his wife. A cave man with gentle human kindness, but overpowering in his love.

"His love for me was so overpowering, so terrible in its intensity, that it killed my own love for him. As I look back over the period of five years of our married life something tells me if he had loved me less I could have loved him more.

"He was never satisfied unless he had me in his arms, kissing me. He never seemed to be able to caress me enough.

"Then we married. It is easily imagined how he won me by this love, but later, incessant as it became, it tired me. I was never free from the very awfulness of his love.

"Life became hateful. Can you imagine sitting at a breakfast table with a man who wouldn't permit you to eat because of the time it took from kissing? At luncheon he would have thought up a new love poem, the kind he always returned with from a sea voyage, and I would have to listen to it. Then at dinner it was more kissing, kisses, kisses, kisses.

"Not so very long ago I tired so utterly of his kisses that I asked him to leave me alone for a moment. He flew into a rage and choked me. I thought then that he was going to kill me, and I can nearer at that moment to loving him than in any of the long years of our married life.

"His caresses were so tiring that brutality was welcome."

Laughing Gas Jags College Students

Feb. 1920

University Men Have Lively Scientific Experiment

LOS ANGELES, Cal. -- Scores of Occidental College men students took advantage of the opportunity of becoming intoxicated under jurisdiction of the faculty, and they apparently enjoyed it thoroughly.

"Laughing gas" caused the intoxication of at least half of the men students. Dr. Elbert E. Chandler, head of the department of chemistry at the college, administered the gas as a demonstration to the students to show how it affects them.

Athlete Becomes Bird

"Bobby" Hadden, captain of the basketball team, was the first. The gas transformed him into a bird, and he flew all over the campus. When he came from under the influence of the gas he was several blocks away chatting with a street light.

Louis McKellar, another student, upon taking the gas, began to call for a "seven" or "eleven."

Frank Carpenter played leapfrog and tried to climb several trees.

Andrew Grube ably fought and conquered an imaginary Jack Dempsey.

He Runs a Mile

Roscoe Alcock ran a mile race.

Bill Burns danced a jig.

"Andy" Dunlap just laughed.

"Buzz" Walker and "Bill" Work scared the girls.

Irye Townsend hunted for goldfish in the drinking fountain.

Fighters Seek to Settle Grudge Over Woman in Ring

1896

Britt and Lawler Indulge in a Fist Fight All on Account of a Woman

San Francisco, Cal., Sept. 18. — It took twenty-eight rounds of desperate bare knuckle slugging to settle the grudge that has existed for a long time between Jimmy Britt, once the champion bantamweight of the coast, and Frank Lawler, another well known athlete whose doings in the fistic arena have made him quite prominent.

Britt and Lawler were formerly friends but had a falling out over a member of the fair sex and decided to settle the controversy in a bare knuckle finish fight. Both being members of a well known athletic club that has turned out a great many good boxers, it was decided to hold the match there. The location of the ring was kept a secret until the last minute and while the fighters were in training, no one except a favored few knew where the mill was to take place.

These few selected a well known sporting man as referee and the combatants stripped and went to work. The first three rounds consisted of hot give and take work with the result that both showed signs of distress when the fourth round was called. From the fifth to the twelfth, however, the fighting was fast with honors about even. They took things easy until the twentieth when another fierce rally, nearly resulted in Britt going out from a right hand swing that landed on his neck. He recovered in the next round and from that to the twenty-eighth round had a shade the best of the argument, Lawler being tired. As there seemed to be little chance of a finish and both men were terribly punished the referee called the match a draw.

Animals and Birds To Talk

1915

So Says Garner, Who Has Spent Years Studying Monkey Language

Los Angeles, Cal. — "There will come a day," says R. L. Garner, who tutored Maeterlinck in the ways of animals, "when all animal and bird life will become articulate. A dream? Cannot the bee teach us a higher communism — the quick, effective elimination of the unfit and shirker? Cannot the birds tell us their secret of flying? Would we not like to know why the oriole, the oven bird or castle building ant are so much better engineers than we?"

Garner says he thinks the gorilla and chimpanzee more civilized than man because they are more monogamous. He spent twenty-five years studying these animals in the Congo and after a vacation will return there. It is from the gorillas and chimpanzees, he says, that "will come the first twin cables from which scientists will hang a bridge on which man and his lesser brothers of the world will meet in oracular converse."


Scientist Whips Polecat

Then University Gives Professor Two Weeks' Leave

Berkeley, Cal. — T. C. Hine, professor of the chemistry department of the University of California, fought a hard battle with a polecat in the library of the university recently.

Victory perched on the crown of the savant after he had bombarded his antagonist with some of the choice volumes of the university library's modern literature and followed up this strategic move by tossing a hat box over the invader.

A quantity of chloroform poured through a tiny hole in the box stopped the polecat's activities.

The professor has been given a two weeks' leave of absence.

Deputy Sheriff Is Peeved At Pink Pajamas

1915

Does Not Appreciate Thoughtfulness of Hotel Proprietor for Late Transients

Oakland, Cal. — Trouble reigned in the Hotel Crellin — and all because of a pair of pink pajamas. If Proprietor Louis Aber hadn't invented a new way to accommodate transient guests, or if he had made the pajamas blue or green, perhaps all would have been well — but Edward Squires, deputy sheriff from Nevada, will not wear 'em pink, that's final!

Aber had started a new scheme. Many belated dwellers in the outskirts of Oakland had appeared at his hotel, after missing their last cars, for night accommodations. Aber thought that it would be a clever concession to provide them with all the comforts of home — so he ordered that pajamas be furnished along with pillow cases and the rest of a hotel room's adornment.

Squires appeared to announce that he had missed a last boat to San Francisco. He wanted a room. Dash Katona, chief clerk, showed him to a room and left.

A few moments later the Nevada sheriff appeared in the office, red and angry, and with a pair of pink pajamas suspended scornfully from thumb and finger.

"Say," demanded the deputy sheriff, "isn't it bad enough to put me in another man's room, without putting me in a room with a pair of pink silk nightpants? I'm sore!"

The matter was explained, and the sheriff returned mollified, to sleep. But he didn't wear the pajamas!

Forced to Sleep in Hen Coop, Is Charge

1920

Man, 68, Gave Nephew His Money, Received Abuse, He Says

MARYSVILLE, Cal. — Fearing that his nephew would drive him into the street and he would eventually become a public charge and die to be buried in a pauper's grave is the reason given by Manuel G. George, sheepherder, for filing suit in Judge Eugene P. McDaniel's court to compel Manuel E. George to return $500 which the old man transferred to the younger man's account in a local bank on promise that the latter would care for him.

The complaint recites that he is 68 years of age and that when he went to live with his nephew the latter's wife and children abused him and he was compelled to sleep in a filthy chicken coop, although in ill health.


Steals a Dying Man's Watch

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. — As Samuel Sterling lay dying of pneumonia, his mother and sisters screamed and wept and the attention of passersby was attracted. A number of persons entered the house and went upstairs to see what was wrong. One of the strangers, a stout man about 25 years of age, grabbed the dying man's watch from a bureau, ran from the house and made his escape.

What Is a Dead Dog Worth? Up to Court

1920

$100 Is Value Placed by Woman on Animal Killed by Auto

SAN FRANCISCO, Cal. — What is a dead dog worth?

If it happens to have been a handsome pet of French poodle-Eskimo breed its value should be fixed at $100 at least, says Mrs. Ella Doyle.

But if it didn't know any better than to run in front of an automobile it isn't worth anything, replies F. M. Stich, a San Francisco merchant.

Justice of the Peace A. T. Barnet is to have the final "say" in the dispute.

The animal was run over and killed by Stich's auto while out for an airing with Mrs. Doyle, its owner. It is the contention of Mrs. Doyle that the machine was operated negligently. She asks $100 damages.

The dog was so intelligent it would even say its prayers before retiring at night, according to the plaintiff.

Was Entombed Fifteen Days

1906

Bakersfield, Cal., Dec. 24. — Lindsay B. Hicks, released from an entombment of 15 days in a caved-in tunnel, appeared well and happy after his gruesome experience, spending much time in receiving congratulations of friends and neighbors, to whom he related as best he could the feelings he underwent within the dark, close quarters of his tomb-like prison near the dead bodies of five less fortunate companions, while scores of men worked like beavers day and night for more than two weeks to save him from death by digging through many feet of earth and rock.

Hicks' bravery under the trying conditions won for him the admiration of hundreds of persons who watched the progress of his exhumation. So strong was Hicks at the finish that he helped to scrape away the last barrier of earth, and crawled, with slight assistance from death to life.

Hicks was not emaciated. He was so strong that the stimulants that had been prepared for him were not needed.

No sooner was the last segment of debris removed and the way left open, than Hicks began to scrape away the rocks and earth and crawl toward the opening. With arms in front of his head, he went into the miniature tunnel and began to work his way slowly through to the other side of a dump car, near which he has remained during the excavating. His arms were seized by Dr. Stinchfield and a miner. The two, exerting all their strength, pulled the miner into the main tunnel, where he was placed in a sitting position. The blindfold that Hicks had been ordered to put on was removed, as the tunnel was only dimly lighted by candle.

And there, 100 feet from the face of the mountain and within a few steps of the place where the miner had lain entombed for nearly 16 days, there occurred a pathetically joyful scene. Dr. Stinchfield, with tears in his eyes, and his hands laid affectionately on Hicks' shoulders, said: "Well, how are you, old boy?"

And there were tears in the eyes of Hicks as well, the only tears that he had shed in all the days and nights since he was entombed, as he replied: "I am feeling fine. I can never thank you, doctor, for what you have done."

While working on a tunnel that was building by the Edison Power company near Bakersfield on December 7, the vertical walls of a deep cut fell in on Hicks and five fellow workmen. It was at first thought that all had perished under the hundreds of tons of rock and earth.

Three days later a tapping on the rail of the little tramway running through the drift gave the first intimation that a man still alive was buried beneath the debris. A 70-foot pipe, two inches in diameter, was immediately forced through the debris. It reached the spot where Hicks was entombed. A heavy dirt car had become wedged in the debris in such a way as to keep the immense weight from crushing him.

When Hicks pulled the wooden plug from the iron pipe and called to the men above him his voice sounded like one from the grave. Through the pipe the men working on top learned from Hicks that for several hours after the cave-in he had talked with his companions, but that they had become silent and he believed they were dead.

By means of the pipe Hicks kept in communication with a big force of rescuers which was at once organized; milk was poured down the pipe. This was the only sustenance it was possible to give the man for nearly two weeks. During the first two days Hicks said he had existed on a plug of tobacco he had with him at the time of the cave-in.

He had just exhausted this when the pipe was forced into the crevice in which he was pinned. Every day gallons of milk were poured down the pipe to keep him alive.

In a narrow space under the car there was just room for Hicks to lie down. His prison did not allow of the slightest freedom of movement, and for days the man lay on his back, not daring to move lest he might disturb the car overhead and bring down upon himself an avalanche of dirt that would mean his death.

Through the pipe he directed the work of rescue, guiding the course of the tunnel the miners started toward his prison, so that it would not by some chance disturb the equilibrium of the car, which was all that lay between him and death.

—New Oxford Item, New Oxford, PA, Dec. 27, 1906, p. 1.

Starts for Money But Never Returns

California, 1917

A Mariposa street shoe store is short just one pair of $9 shoes and an attractive dark haired woman weighing about 170 pounds and standing five feet eight inches, is ahead one pair of $9 shoes.

According to a report made to the police department yesterday by the shoe store, the fashionably dressed woman, said to be strikingly attractive, entered the store Saturday night and after trying on many different shades and heights, finally selected a pair, and said she would wear them at once, and would the clerk please have the old ones wrapped up.

She said her brother was waiting for her outside and she would get the money from him, but she never returned, according to the report. The clerk was able to give an excellent description of the woman.

—Fresno Morning Republican, Fresno, CA, Sept. 10, 1917, p. 3.

Her Yawn Dislocates Jaw, Girl's Note Says

1920

Doctor Puts Painful Member Back Into Place

SAN FRANCISCO — Miss Rose Egan entered the Park Emergency Hospital and handed Dr. C. Silberman a note.

The doctor glanced at the young woman and smiled, without opening the note, the same as women are supposed to feel a letter before opening it in an effort to determine the identity of the sender.

But Miss Rose Egan did not smile. In fact, her face wore a pained expression.

So Dr. Silberman concluded he had better see what the note said.

"I have dislocated my jaw by yawning," it read.

"Will you be seated?" the doctor asked politely. Then he manipulated Miss Egan's jaw and in a moment it was back in place and the pained look had left her face.

"Just before breakfast," she explained, "I sat down to read the paper. I yawned. Something seemed to snap, and my jaw hurt. I tried rubbing it, but that made it worse."

"'Tis a pretty note," Dr. Silberman ruminated afterward. "But, for her sake, I hope she won't yawn so strenuously again."

Man, 87, Lathes House at Night; Is Jailed

1920

Complaint is Withdrawn and Aged Toiler Praised

OAKLAND, Cal. — The night laborer is not welcomed at Piedmont, Oakland's exclusive residence section. Because he insisted on lathing a house during the nocturnal hours, A. F. Emery, 87 years old, was taken into custody and spent the night in jail.

Within the space of a few minutes no less than eight telephone calls reached Sergeant Phil Brady of the Piedmont police at 3 o'clock a.m.

Brady hurried to a house in Piedmont Manor, and found a man lathing a house by the light of an oil lamp.

"What are you doing here at this hour of the night?" Brady asked.

"I'm working," replied the aged lather, "and no one's going to stop me."

Brady took Emery to jail, but when F. Paramino appeared to swear to a complaint and saw who was the night disturber, he refused to prosecute.

"Such industry should be rewarded, not punished," he said.

Horse Aged 41 Years Dies

1920

Was Thoroughbred Animal Known as John Paul Jones

MIDDLEBURY, Vermont — John Paul Jones, full-blooded Morgan horse, driven for years by Frank R. Stone, known as one of the oldest-in-service hotel porters in the country, is dead. Mr. Stone found John Paul dead in his stable.

The horse was in his 42nd year, according to his owner, and up to the time of his death seemed in south health, eating cracked corn and hay as well as any young horse.

He had been used in drawing baggage between the Middlebury depot and the Addison House, where Mr. Stone had been employed since 1866.


Prison if He Weds Within Two Years

1920

LOS ANGELES — Gordon D. Mills, who, according to Prohibition Officer Dodds' report, stole 146,519 nickels, 6,443 dimes and 796 quarters from telephone booths, will be on probation for two years, provided he does not marry Mrs. Florence McAllister or any other woman during that time. Mrs. McAllister said he thought Mills honest and that he was tempted and could not be blamed.