Recovers Long-Lost Watch

1915

Eighteen Years in Mill Race and Still Running?

PENN YAN, N. Y., Dec. 16. — One day eighteen years ago W. Henry Townsend, county superintendent of the poor, lost a watch from his pocket. He worked at two tasks that day — assisting in cleaning out a mill race and unloading straw. He searched the straw without finding the timepiece. The mill race was soon full of water so that further search could not be made.

A few days ago the race was cleaned out and a watch was found. Townsend examined it and found in it his old timepiece. It was in excellent condition after its long rest under the water.

One of the official's friends asked him if the watch was still running and Mr. Townsend gravely replied that it surely was. It was a stem winder, he said, and very likely the action of the swiftly running water had kept it wound up all these years.


"Spook" Creates Terror

MAUCH CHUNK, Pa., Dec. 16. — A black-gowned figure, whose face is hidden by a long black veil, has been terrorizing people of this section for some time past. The "spook" only appears at night.

The Hand Upon the Jail Wall

1896

Upon the wall of cell No. 7, in the County Jail at Mauch Chunk, Pennsylvania, is the imprint of a man's hand, which would not attract attention were it not for the strange story connected with it — a story which can be vouched for by many of the town's citizens.

Alexander Campbell, of Lansford, was an occupant of the cell in June, 1877. The Mollie Maguires were holding their reign of terror throughout the coal regions at that time and he was arrested and sentenced to be hanged in connection with the murder of John P. Jones. He stoutly asserted his innocence, and it was only through the confessions of his comrades in crime that he was convicted. The night before he was hanged he stood on his cot, and, it is said, placing his hand upon the wall, he declared that in proof of his innocence the imprint would remain upon the wall forever. The impression of the hand can be as plainly seen now as if placed there yesterday, though the walls have been whitewashed often.

The phenomenon has been viewed by many, but none of them has been able to suggest a plausible solution of the mystery.

The cell is regarded with awe by the prisoners in the jail, and if any of them become unruly the warden has only to threaten them with a night in cell No. 7. — New York Herald.

Croaking Ape-Man is Captured; Man of Mystery

Pittsburgh, 1920

Ape is Captured; Man of Mystery

Has Terrorized Greensburg and Homestead for Weeks. Will Not Talk.

Pittsburgh, Aug. 26. — The supposed ape that has terrorized Greensburg and Homestead for two weeks is believed to have been captured Wednesday in a heavy wooded thicket in Baldwin township. It is a man and, nearly nude, with matted hair on his face and head six inches long, so closely resembled an ape that the officers who came upon him unawares were in doubt for several minutes in what category to class him. When captured the man was sleeping beside a fire. On being awakened he sprang at Constable Risenbarth and attempted to sink his teeth in the officer's throat. It took several minutes to subdue him. Apparently unable or unwilling to speak, the man sits moaning in a cell in the Hays police station, occasionally giving utterance to deep guttural sounds resembling the croaking of a huge frog.

The ape-man first appeared in a section of West Virginia bordering on the Monongahela River. For several days depredations committed there were laid to his door. His next appearance was in Westmoreland county, in the vicinity of Greensburg, where he came unawares onto a quiet poker game in a small shanty and, after scaring the players away, quietly disappeared with the "kitty." After terrorizing several families in Westmoreland, the ape-man appeared in the vicinity of Homestead, where the killing of sheep and dogs and the milking of cows aroused the entire countryside. Several posses thought they had him cornered in an abandoned mine, but Tuesday the ape-man appeared near Carrick, and attacked Mrs. Netti Schaffer, who as picking elderberries near her home. Her cries for help brought aid and the ape-man fled.

—The Gettysburg Times, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, August 26, 1920, page 2.