Her Heroism Defies Skirts

1916

Woman, Fully Dressed, Saves Girl From Drowning.

TRENTON, N. J. — Without stopping to take off her skirt, Mrs. Sadie Carr of Brookville leaped into the Delaware River and saved a 19-year-old girl.

A Y.W.C.A. party is camping at Brookville and several members went swimming. Miss Jeannette Paul, a stenographer, became frightened when she found herself far from shore, and screamed. So did the other girls.

Mrs. Carr, who lives in a bungalow near by, ran out and saw the girl. Without a moment's hesitation she plunged in and brought Miss Paul to shore. Stimulants were given the girl, and she was soon able to return to camp with her friends.

—The Saturday Blade, Sept. 16, 1916, p. 3.

Dr. Herron On His Farm

1901

Denies That He Intends to Found a Socialist Colony at Metuchen.

The publicity lately given to the affairs of the Rev. Dr. George D. Herron and particularly his alleged intention of starting a socialistic colony on the farm at Pumptown, near New Brunswick, N. J., has resulted in bringing hosts of visitors to the Herron place, says the New York Times. There was a small army of them there the other day. Swarms of bicyclists and others who went to take a look at the farm succeeded in changing the rustic quiet of the place into a free for all picnic ground.

Dr. Herron has given out the following letter:

"The reports about our making headquarters for our socialistic work at Metuchen are pure fiction. My wife's mother presented to her a little garden and fruit farm of 25 acres near that place, upon which my aged father and mother, with an invalid sister, are to spend their declining days and where I hope sometimes to escape from the stress and storm of work for a week or two of quiet.

"Our farm has nothing whatever to do with my work as a socialist, and the story of a socialist colony being founded there is without any foundation whatever. I have no designs whatever upon the farm or the good people of Metuchen beyond occasionally helping my father to raise potatoes and ducks and enjoying the luxury of being let alone in peace and quiet."

Wild Ducks Freeze in Ice, and Fly Away with the Lake

1919

Hunter Catches One of Struggling Birds by "Hind" Leg and Pulls It Down — Then the Whole Flock Becomes Exhausted and Falls Into His Eager Hands.

NEW YORK, N. Y. — Here is a real duck story. It is from South River, N. J., and the correspondent swears to its truthfulness. He walked five miles to deliver it to a South River editor, but has since been missing. The story follows:

Mayor-elect George L. Burton is never happier than when aiming his shotgun at a flock of ducks. However, according to a friend, he has never been known to bag a single duck until the recent zero weather. Here's how it happened: He was snugly stowed away in his houseboat when a flock of ducks flying over the bay with loud squawking awakened him at 10 a. m.

He rushed on deck and discovered he was surrounded by a flock of ugly ducklings, who threatened to carry away his boat. The leader of the squawky tribe decided, however, to take a swim in the icy water.

No sooner had they alighted than they were frozen fast by the zero weather. George noticed that the ducks were struggling to get away, but could not force themselves from their icy mooring.

This is my chance to get one, murmured Burton. Seizing his trusty gun, he jumped on the meadows and set out to bag a few. His approach frightened them, and with one supreme effort they struggled into the air, carrying with them a heavy sheet of ice, which bound them together. They flew directly over his head and were so low that George caught one of them by the "hind" leg and pulled it loose.

The loss of this duck — a large one — made the ice too heavy for the rest of the flock, which began to settle slowly. As they were circling over the houseboat, the old drake became exhausted. He could not hold up his end and, with a resounding crash, the entire flock fell through the cabin door.

When George returned he found he had captured a whole flock of ducks without the use of his gun. He is now telling his friends that he shot them.

—The Saturday Blade, Chicago, Jan. 3, 1920, p. 8.

Hearing for the Deaf on Pike's Peak

Editorial briefs, Sept. 1910

A deaf man who climbed Pike's Peak found he could hear at that altitude. But the difficulty of the cure practically lies in the fact that it takes up his residence where he can hear there will be nobody for him to listen to.

Tarred, feathered and bitten is the New Jersey variation according to that story of the victim wbo was left thus scantily attired as the prey of the mosquitoes.

When a young married couple go away by aeroplane on their honeymoon their destination is sufficiently uncertain to fulfill all the requirements.

Perhaps the same fellows who are searching for germs in ice cream this summer will be hunting for them in our buckwheat cakes next winter.

If they insist on confiscating ice cream cones the small boy and some big ones, too, will be robbed of one of their most palatable enjoyments.

Will the insurance companies demand increased premiums from those who love to see the airships go round?

Mine Fire Burns 25 Years

1915

Blaze Thought Conquered, Rages in Remote Gangways

HAZELTON, Pa., Dec. 16. — The Lehigh & Wilkes-Barre Coal Company is fighting a mine fire at Honey Brook No. 1, that was believed to have been extinguished twenty-five years ago. Stripping operations at the west end of the basin of anthracite fuel uncovered the flames, which were eating up measures which were flooded in the eighties.

In 1906, when the water was tapped from Honey Brook, nine men were choked to death by white damp found in the workings of a residue from the mine fire twenty years ago. No further trace of the blaze was encountered, but it is now believed that it continued to rage in remote gangways cut off by falls of rock from the body of coal that was being worked.



"Didn't Know It Was Loaded"

Pugilist Killed While Fooling With Man's Rifle

NEW BRUNSWICK. N. J., Dec. 16. — George Reed walked into a lunch room here and placed his rifle in a corner and sat down to eat breakfast. In a few minutes Severin J. Kucinsky, a pugilist, 25 years old, came in.

He greeted everybody cheerfully. Then he walked over to the rifle, picked it up and placed the muzzle against his heart.

"Now," he said to Reed, "pull the trigger!"

Reed did so. Kucinsky died two hours later in St. Peter's Hospital. Reed was arrested. He said he thought the gun was empty.

Hair Cut Off As She Slept

Printed Jan. 1915

Girl Awakes to Find Her Tresses, the Family's Pride, Gone — Act of Revenge

Orange, N. J. — When Mary Carnova, the thirteen-year-old daughter of Antonio Carnova of 12 Forest street, Orange, awoke one morning recently she found that her long black hair, which was of exceptional beauty and the pride of the family, had been cut off. She did not know how or when she had been despoiled.

The police arrested Polo Cripsy, aged fifty-one, a boarder at the Carnova home, but Carnova would not believe Cripsy was guilty, and the charge against him was dismissed. Chief of Police Drabell believes that the hair was cut off for revenge by some enemy of the girl's father.


To Mend Celluloid

Any article made of celluloid may be mended with collodion. Scratch the broken edges to be mended with a sharp knife until a smooth surface is secured. Apply the collodion and press tightly together for several minutes. Let stand for at least twenty-four hours. Liquid court plaster will answer as well, since the main ingredient is collodion.

Poison in His Coffee

1914

Neighbor Runs Four Miles to Save Man From Wife's Mistake

Passaic, N. J., Jan. 23. — Stanley Ferra, of Lodi, ran four miles from Lodi to a silk mill at Dundee Lake to save the life of Fred Godolen, an employee of the silk company. He succeeded.

Mrs. Godolen in preparing her husband's luncheon, poured his coffee in a bottle that contained poison. When she discovered her mistake she ran to the house of Ferra, next door, and asked him to go to the mill and warn her husband.

Ferra would not rely on the telephone, so he ran all the way. There was enough poison in the bottle, Mrs. Godolen said, to kill ten persons.

Horse Saves a Child

1906

Pet Animal Seizes Little Girl's Dress with His Teeth and Drags Her from Canal

Jersey City, N. J. — According to a story told to the Jersey City police the other day by Mrs. John Patrino, of 315 Pamrapo avenue, her three-year-old daughter Anna was saved from drowning by a horse named Charley, which is owned by her husband. The house and stable are near the Morris canal, and Anna is in the habit of playing on the canal bank.

The horse, which was a pet of the child, was running up and down the field, when Mrs. Patrino saw the child topple over into the water. She ran screaming to the canal, but before she reached it, she says, Charley had seized the child's dress with his teeth and dragged her to safety. As the mother reached them Charley set the child gently at her feet.

When Patrino heard his wife's statement he said Charley should have a padded stall and an extra feed of oats every day of his life. The police Were inclined to doubt Mrs. Patrino's story, but it was corroborated by two of her neighbors.


Housewife for Every Soldier

The war department has decided to furnish every soldier in the army with a housewife. This announcement though made with full authority, need cause no flutter of joy in their hearts of the waiting army of spinsters, for the "housewife" is not to be the helpmeet and partner that the bond of matrimony gives to man, but only a part of the soldier's kit. It will not exceed four ounces in weight and will contain assorted buttons, thread, needles, safety pins, ordinary pins, and if practicable, a small pair of scissors.

Rules for the Consumptive

1914

New Jersey Board of Health in Laudable Endeavor to Prevent Spread of Tuberculosis

Acting under a law of 1912, the New Jersey state board of health has issued the following rules, which are to be followed by all consumptives in that state:

1. All persons suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis (consumption) shall effectively destroy their sputum (spit).

2. All persons suffering from running sores due to any form of tuberculosis shall burn all soiled dressings immediately after removal.

3. The room occupied by a tuberculosis patient shall have at least one outside window.

4. No person suffering from pulmonary or other communicable form of tuberculosis shall handle food designed for the use of others except when necessary in the performance of household duties, unless the food be wrapped in such a way as to protect it from contamination or unless some necessary subsequent process of preparation such as cooking will sterilize it.

5. The manufacturing of any kind of goods for commercial purposes or the performance of any work known as "shop work" in the home of any person suffering from pulmonary or other communicable form of tuberculosis, is prohibited, unless the product is such as can be sterilized, and unless sterilization is done in strict accordance with the requirements of the local board of health.

Now That We Have Caught Your Eye

Advertisement, 1913

NOW
that we have caught your eye

We want to tell you about that new
Electric Iron

Just the thing for hot weather,
no red hot stove on a red hot
day — no walking, no lifting,
easy to regulate. Try one.

ADA ELECTRIC AND GAS COMPANY
Phone No. 78 — 209 W. Main

—The Evening News, Ada, Oklahoma, July 17, 1913, p. 3.

The Prison Blood Hounds – Prowling, Howling, Dreadful

New Jersey, 1889

The Prison Blood Hounds

How They Prowl Around at Night, Undisturbed by Visitors

Acting as assistants to the night watchman at the State's Prison are three huge blood hounds, who nightly are turned loose in the prison yard. The vicious glare of their eyes and gleam of their teeth have created a reign of terror among the prisoners, and doubtless the presence of three canine watchmen has prevented any plotting among the prisoners. For the thought that, although they may elude the ever-vigilant wall guards, yet these faithful retainers of the prison-keeper aided by their keen scent and possessed of such vicious dispositions may at any moment pounce upon the would-be jail-breaker is certainly enough to deter even the boldest from attempting escape. But not only the prisoners are forbidden in the yard after dark by the presence of these animals, but the officials of the prison are also under the ban, and can only enter the prison yard at the risk of being torn to pieces. One of these canines, Sultain by name, died recently but the other two still do effective duty.

They have acquired the habit of howling, and often disturb the stillness of the night with their bloodcurdling yelps, striking terror to the hearts of the lonely prisoners in their cells, whose ears are pierced by their unearthly growling.

With these dogs acting as guards, none of the prisoners are willing to undergo the risk incurred in taking French leave.

–Trenton Times, Trenton, NJ, July 1, 1889, p. 3.

Atmospheric Phenomenon Startles Jersey Folks

1922

Asbury Park, N. J., April 23. — Gaseous odors flashed through space to the south of this place at 9 o'clock tonight, disappearing in a thunderous roar and frightening residents of many coast towns.

Window panes in residences at Toms river were shattered by the explosion and the gas, polluting the atmosphere for more than a quarter of an hour, compelled the residents to hold dampened handkerchiefs to their nostrils.

In Lakehurst, many of the buildings were shaken, as if by an earthquake, but the gas was not noticed.

A party led by two town officials has set out for the spot at which the meteor fell. It is believed the spot is near Brown's-Mill-in-the-Pines, a village 30 miles from here.

The atmospheric phenomenon, according to many of the persons who witnessed it, lasted for about a minute. But a tiny streak of light at first, it became beautifully colored as it neared earth and at times it seemed to halt momentarily in space, adopted a new course, and then zig-zagged back again, witnesses declared.

The meteor fell in the sea, about a mile off shore at Seaside Park, 35 miles south of here, it is reported.

The celestial mass, as it struck the water, caused an explosion that shook the residences of the village and threw spray to a great height, residents say. Volumes of steam then arose and, drifting ashore, nauseated many.

Members of two coast guard companies say they believe the phenomenon was caused by a large explosive rocket. No trace of a giant rocket could be found, however.

—Oneonta Daily Star, Oneonta, New York, April 24, 1922, page 1.