Pickpocket's Hand in a Mole Trap

1905

Louis Hugon, a young pickpocket of seventeen, had a most unfortunate experience this afternoon while exercising his profession.

A crowd had assembled around a fallen horse in the Place d'Italie, and Hugon saw a lady whose bulging pockets offered all kinds of tempting possibilities. Without further ado he deftly introduced his hand, but instead of grasping the expected purse, found his finger securely caught in a new mole trap which the lady had just purchased.

With Spartan-like heroism, he uttered no cry, but tried to withdraw his hand. The lady, however, became conscious that something was wrong, and Hugon was seized by the bystanders and handed over to the police. The latter took him to the Hospital de la Pitie, where the amputation of his finger was adjudged necessary. — Paris correspondence, London Chronicle.


Descended Mountain on Skis

Norman Libby of Bridgton, Me., recently made the ascent of Mt. Washington and made the descent to the base on skis, without mishap, being the first man who ever successfully made the attempt.

"Rides" Avalanche, Killed

1914

Rancher Thought It Great Sport to Slide Down Mountain Side on Mass of Snow

Jackson, Wyo., Feb. 7. — That "Windy" Hickman, a rancher, of the Jackson's Hole district, was killed while trying to "ride an avalanche," was the word brought here by James Fitzmeier. Fitzmeier himself was buried, but escaped alive after digging himself out of the snow.

The two men were on the Conant trail when the snow slide struck, carrying them down a mountain side. Hickman was delighted and shouted a suggestion that they "ride her; it's great sport!"

"Hickman was shouting and laughing like a schoolboy as the avalanche swept him down," said Fitzmeier. "He seemed to regard the experience as a lark. When I went under he was about 15 feet ahead of me, balancing himself on one leg."