Good Fortune Saves Child

1916

Taken From Cistern Apparently Dead — Doctor Passing.

GUELPH, Ontario, Canada. — While playing around the yard the 2-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Bruce McPhail of Rockwood fell into a deep cistern in which there was about four feet of water. Other children gave the alarm, and help was soon at hand.

Fred Hamilton went down in the cistern and got hold of the child, but efforts to get them both out failed, with the result that the little fellow fell back into the water. E. Carton descended to the bottom of the cistern, and finding the child, managed to hold it above the water until those above were able to pull it to the surface. When taken out the little one was black in the face and apparently dead.

With rare good fortune a doctor was seen passing the house, and he lost no time in starting measures for resuscitation. It was some time before his efforts were successful, but eventually the child was restored.

—The Saturday Blade, Chicago, Sept. 16, 1916, p. 5.

Squirrels Raid An Attic

1915

Confiscate Winter Supply of Black Walnuts, But Family Capitulates

Huntington, Indiana — A squadron of flyers has laid siege to and captured one stronghold in the heart of the residence district of Huntington. The besiegers have appropriated a winter's stock of supplies and those assailed have capitulated.

The squadron comprises a number of flying squirrels. A winter's supply of walnuts was scented in the attic at the home of Clinton Butler, an Erie engineer. An opening into the attic was discovered and possession taken by the squirrels. The scamperings of the squirrels were heard by the Butler family during the day and their chatter disturbed the sleep of the family at night. Investigation resulted in solving the disappearance of the nuts.

In an effort to win the friendship of the little animals food is set out for them.


Flower Stems Saved Her Life

Newport, Kentucky — Mrs. Ida Muth owes her escape from death by drowning to a large bunch of withered canna stalks and flowers she intended throwing away. She stepped upon the cover of an abandoned cistern, which gave way and she plunged into 12 feet of water. The canna stalks proved buoyant and for many minutes they kept her head above water. Her screams brought help.

Cleaning Cistern Finds $50,000 Bonds

1908

Vineland, N. J., May 22 — All Newfield was excited when it was learned that A. S. Kandle had found $50,000 worth of bonds at the bottom of an old cistern he was cleaning. Kandle is the village barber, and soon his shop was besieged by anxious neighbors and friends, whose congratulations were most hearty. The bonds were issued by the West Jersey railroad forty-two years ago to John Kandle, father of the barber. The elder Kandle died about fifteen years ago, and old neighbors recall to mind his oft-repeated assertion that he had wealth but could not use it. The reason is now found to be that somehow the bonds got into the cistern, where they have lain for over forty years. Kandle immediately took his find to a lawyer friend in Camden, and as the lawyer advised silence until he could make an investigation, Kandle refuses full details.