Woman Drinks Three Poisons

1920

Is Then Rescued From River and Will Probably Live.

DIXON, Illinois. — Mrs. Sutherland of Oregon, widowed mother of three small children, attempted suicide by drinking the contents of three bottles of different poisons and then leaped into Rock River. Rescue from the river was effected quickly and it is believed she will recover.

—The Saturday Blade, Chicago, Aug. 7, 1920, p. 4.

Cockroaches Large As Mice

1920

Woman Catches Them With Mousetrap — May Try Cat.

TOPEKA, Kansas. — One Topeka housewife is offering a reward for some way to rid her house of cockroaches. She is wondering if any breed of cats will catch these pests. They have grown so large that she is catching them in mousetraps.

The other night she heard a suspicious noise in her kitchen. She set a trap. Next morning she found a cockroach which tried to steal the bait and met disaster. Thinking it was just a mistake on the part of the roach, she tried again, hoping to catch the mouse that had been keeping her awake.

The same thing happened, only the roach was twice as big — the size of a full-grown mouse.

—The Saturday Blade, Chicago, Aug. 7, 1920, p. 4.

Yank Sailors Wrecked on Wild Pacific Isle

1920

Two Modern "Crusoes" and Brides Rescued by Jap Ship.

YOKOHAMA, Japan. — Two American sailors named W. V. Dawson and E. Clifton have reached here after exciting experiences in the South seas. Their term of naval service expiring on the American island of Guam, they wedded native daughters of Uncle Sam's island and decided to take a honeymoon trip to Australia.

They embarked in a 40-foot launch. Underestimating the distance, they soon discovered that their food and fuel were exhausted. Then came a typhoon. The fragile craft was wrecked and the four newly married young people were thrown upon a desert isle, which they found entirely uninhabited.

There doubtless they would have continued a Robinson Crusoe type of existence had not a small Japanese trading vessel put in for water. They were rescued and taken to the former German island of Yap, where later they embarked on a Japanese naval supply steamer for Yokohama.

—The Saturday Blade, Chicago, Aug. 7, 1920, p. 4.

Pretty Egyptian 'Vamp' Weds Man Accusing Her of Theft

1920 (Click graphic for bigger)

Romantic Beauty Needs but Five Minutes to Persuade Accuser to Drop Charge and Go to Altar With Her — Declares She Is a Descendant of Cleopatra.

SAN FRANCISCO, Cal. — The Princess Della Pattra has made good her claim that she was a champion vamp. Brought here from New York on the complaint of Erich Buehle, a hydraulic engineer, that she had defrauded him out of several thousand dollars, in five minutes she had persuaded him to drop his charge — and marry her. And now [*it's likely there will] have been a little revenge connected with the wedding and that Erich may have more troubles coming.

Erich and the princess met out on the Pacific Coast some months ago. Erich had money. The princess had romance. Erich recounted his accomplishments and expanded upon his prospects. Della confided that she was a niece of the Khedive of Egypt and a descendant of Cleopatra. Her parents, she said. were Hassan El Kammel Bresla and Mardena Salempta, citizens of Alexandria. Pathos entered her story. She was not wanted in her homeland, so she had come to this great America to make a fortune — and to acquaint the world with her much libeled progenitress. To do this she must get into the movies.

Erich Finances Movie Ventures.

Didn't Erich think any director should be glad to employ her? Erich did. Then Della admitted that they weren't. Not a one of those studios out on the coast would give her work. No, but piff! What did she care for them! She would go East. She would become the greatest of Cleopatras. Yes, she would take her charms and her talent to New York. But Meester Erich — it was a delicate matter; she hated to speak of it — the trip, it would cost money. The waiting, that, too, would cost money. And money she had none. She, the niece of the Khedive of Egypt; she, in whom flowed the blood of the Queen of the Nile, was without the necessary.

A happy thought. Perhaps Meester Erich would make her the loan. She hated to ask it. She would pay him back. She would pay him double — threefold, when she should have made the success. Mr. Erich would and did. Several thousand dollars there were in the package he handed her. The princess was overjoyed. She would write him every day. No, she would send him the wire — the mails were too slow.

Erich was at the train when Della — and his money — went away. Weeks passed, and Erich heard from neither. He grew impatient. His impatience developed into anger, and he went to the police. The police listened to his story. It sounded bad for Della, so they wired detectives in New York. It wasn't long till Della was found.

Della Makes Peace.

She was taken before a judge. She heard that Erich was anxious about her — and his money. She laughed. "I want to go back," she said. "I want to talk to Erich. I know everything will be all right after I see him." The judge doubted Erich's reception, but he showed her her ticket for San Francisco.

In San Francisco she was visited by the young engineer. They talked together alone, and Erich obtained her release. For a few days their names were out of the papers. And then one morning Erich Buehle and Princess Della Pattra appeared at the window of the marriage license clerk. They went from there to the offices of Judge Bernard J. Flood, picking up an audience of newspaper men and courthouse employes as they went. And there the ceremony was read.

The Princess wore a sumptuous gown of rose in which she had created a sensation [**] before upon her arrival from New York; under it were silver pumps. An oriental touch was given by a black lace harem veil and great hoop earrings which might have delighted her ancestress.

All Solemn but Della.

The words of the ceremony were solemn; the judge was solemn; more solemn than either was Erich, bur there was nothing solemn about Della. She couldn't keep her eyes from wandering coquettishly toward the little group of newspapermen who composed the audience, while her lips were parted in a smile, which with the dazzling expanse of tiny white teeth it revealed, must have made even the Judge's mind stray.

But what could one expect? Surely, not that the princess should enter matrimony in the same manner as those of less amorous antecedents. Della has inherited too great an understanding of love and lovers to be much impressed by any of love's formalities. It was pretty serious business for Cedric, but for Della it was a lark.

"All lovers quarrel," Della said. "The more they love the more they quarrel. The more 'caveish' the man, the more severe his actions to win the woman he loves."

Under her arm she carried a cookbook. "We go to a hotel for supper," she said. "After that I take my cookbook home and I cook some hotcakes."

—The Saturday Blade, Chicago, Aug. 7, 1920, p. 4.

[*] Some words, letters mostly gone. This phrase is partially a guess.
[**] Missing approximately 5 or 6 words.

Store Is Robbed Four Times

1920

Police Catch the Thieves in Their Fifth Bold Attempt.

NEW YORK, N. Y. — The fifth annual opening by burglars of George Horton's store in Yonkers, took place, but the police caught the robbers red-handed.

Sergeant John Wilner and Patrolman John Shannon were trying doors in the neighborhood just before daybreak when they were attracted by a noise in the store. Going to the rear, they found a window open and goods piled up outside ready to be removed.

The police opened fire and captured three of the four men. They gave their names as Morris Hayes, Angelo Rito and Gordon Allen. The police say the robbers had $10,000 worth of stock packed up ready to motor away with.

—The Saturday Blade, Chicago, Aug. 7, 1920, p. 4.

Woman Shoots Out Her Aching Tooth

1920

BALTIMORE, Md. — As remedy for a toothache Mrs. Teresa Kwedar, 50 years old, of Mount Winas, sought to shoot out the offending tooth with a .32 caliber revolver. Mrs. Kwedar was brought to St. Agnes Hospital here with a bullet wound near her right ear. Her husband said she had carried out her threat to shoot her tooth out if it did not get better. At the hospital Mrs. Kwedar said the wound was less painful than the toothache.

—The Saturday Blade, Chicago, Aug. 7, 1920, p. 4.

Clubs Huge Shark To Death

1920

Life Guard Kills a 450-pound Maneater With Oar.

EDGEMERE, N. Y. — A shark weighing 450 pounds was captured and killed on the bathing beach here by George Weiss, a life guard.

Attracted by the screams of bathers, who fled from the water, Weiss saw the shark plunging over the breakers. He jumped into a small boat, drove the shark into shallow water and clubbed it to death with an oar.

—The Saturday Blade, Chicago, Aug. 7, 1920, p. 4.

Kansas "Goat Gland Specialist" Missing

1920

Wife Tells Sheriff She Has Come to "Close the Deal."

MILFORD, Kan. — Indications are that the "bubble" formed here when Dr. John R. Brinkley, "goat gland specialist," put this small village "on the map" by his famous "discovery," which he claimed would restore youth to the aged thru gland grafting, has burst.

The "bubble" showed signs of weakening when Brinkley departed for parts unknown two months ago, followed shortly by thousands who had swarmed into Milford, seeking the "fountain of youth."

Following the arrival of the "specialist's" wife here with the announcement that she had come to "close up a deal," the sheriff of Geary County was called upon to take steps to block any move looking to the removal of the "gland hospital's" equipment.

—The Saturday Blade, Chicago, Aug. 7, 1920, p. 4.

Own Home Is Lost By "Home Mender"

1920 (Click graphic for bigger)

MRS. DANIEL F. SULLIVAN AND HER WAIFS.

Don't for a moment think that the babies in the arms of Mrs. Daniel F. Sullivan in the above picture are all the "family" of "waifs" she has adopted. No, no! These are just all she could hold of the scores of infants she has made happy in her luxurious home. But now Mrs. Sullivan faces the loss of that home thru the alleged desertion of her husband. She is suing for divorce and alimony on those grounds.

WOMEN WHO HELPED WAIFS DESERTED BY MATE.

Is Now Alone After Having Helped Needy of City for Three Years.

One, who for three years has made the homes of others bright and cheerful, today finds herself without a home.

Hungry urchins and needy families came to her when in distress and found solace and food.

And now Mrs. Daniel L. Sullivan of Chicago has lost her own home in the process.

She established the fact when she filed action for divorce against her wealthy husband, who was first interested in her charitable project and then bored to distraction and desertion.

It was in seeking for a suitable memorial for her son, McKenzie Lowndes, that Mrs. Sullivan decided to bring the suffering children of poor parents into the beautiful Sullivan home in Chicago. She began with five and there were times when she had fifty.

She Made Them Happy.

They were fed, dressed well, given toys and medical attention and when they were quite happy Mrs. Sullivan usually took steps to return them to their own home, made materially comfortable for their home-coming.

Mrs. Sullivan began plans to make it a permanent institution, encouraged by thousands of letters commending her work or thanking her for priceless aid to individuals. Her husband was worth nearly a half million dollars, the home was ideally located and fitted for the charity and the routine of "trouble seeking" had been established. Families in misery knew where to apply.

Then, just as the organization was to be enlarged and the work amplified, Mrs. Sullivan received a telephone message from her husband to have dinner with him. She kept the appointment and waited for hours, but when she finally returned to her home she found a note pinned to her dresser in which Mr. Sullivan explained that he had left the house forever.

Three times thereafter Mr. Sullivan returned for brief visits, but for a year he has not even communicated with his wife.

Mr. Sullivan went away for the last time late in 1918.

Foundlings Brought Her Trouble.

Mrs. Sullivan states in her bill of particulars that she was married at Milwaukee, Aug. 21, 1911, and that for years she lived very happily with her husband. The beginning of their troubles came one year after Mrs. Sullivan had taken in the first foundling in the endeavor which subsequently made her known and loved thruout the poor sections of the city.

The plan for making the memorial a charity on a great scale has failed with the absence of Mr. Sullivan, but "the mender of broken homes" is still active in a limited sphere along the same lines proposed at the time of her own problem's development.

In her action Mrs. Sullivan will ask substantial alimony, contending that her husband is worth at least $300,000 and has an income of not less than $30,000 a year.

—The Saturday Blade, Chicago, Aug. 7, 1920, p. 4.

Salmon and Ice Cream Cause Death

1920

BELLEFONTE, Pa. — Canned salmon and ice cream caused the death of Clarence Musser of Spring Mills. Musser and Eugene Slegel purchased some canned salmon; later they followed up the eating of the fish with some of the frozen cream. Both became very ill. Slegel recovered, but Musser died from the poisoning.

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

Goat Starts Farmer In Fight With Pigs

1920

Butts Man Into Pen and Porkers Resent His Intrusion.

MONTGOMERYVILLE, Pa. — While gazing with pride at his pen of fast fattening hogs and dreaming fond dreams of juicy hams during the coming winter season, Gustav Stoney, who lives near here, was awakened from his reverie when a goat butted him over the rail of the pigpen among the pigs.

The porkers crawled all over him, and Stoney and the pigs gave vent to a medley of grunts, squeals and yells.

Finally, when the pigpen calisthenics were at their height, Stoney's son came to his father's rescue. He chased away the pigs, and Stoney, the elder, emerged. His clothing was torn and he was cut and bruised.

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

Leech Plans Second Plunge Over Niagara

1920

BUFFALO, N. Y. — Bobby Leech, the barrel wizard of Niagara Falls, is to risk again the plunge of death over the great Canadian cataracts. He announced that on Aug. 25 he will attempt to successfully duplicate his barrel trip of 1911.

Leech is one of the few who have ridden the falls and the rapids and lived to tell the story. Only a few weeks ago Charles G. Stephen lost his life in an attempt to match Leech's feat. Stephen's barrel was shattered at the base of the great falls, and splintered sections of it, gathered from the stream far below, constituted the first silent testimony of his fate.

In his second gamble with death Leech is playing for a stake of $2,500 and shares of stock in a Canadian steel company. He wins both if he lives. Both are offered by the steel company, which is to make Leech's barrel, because it wishes its product to be submitted to a supreme test of endurance.

Leech will superintend the construction of the barrel. It will be made of aluminum and steel and of an egg-shaped design which Leech has drawn. He also will attend to every detail of the preparation of the steel-treated leather housing in which he will be held within the barrel. He has no doubt that the trip will succeed and declines to be moved by the tragic end suffered by those who have dared and failed before and since his successful trip over the falls nine years ago.

And, apparently, Leech is not the only one who is willing to take the trip, altho he happens to be the only one actually preparing to do so. The mayor has received scores of letters since Stephen's death, expressing a willingness on the part of individuals to risk the fall of death.

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

Let Girls Drive, Says Judge

1920

DUBUQUE, Iowa. — Popular advice at popular prices — that is Justice of the Peace Buckley's slogan. "Teach the girls to drive and you can put both arms around them," he told two youthful speeders who said it happened because they had their arms around the girls. Then he charged $1 — and.

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

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.

Dog, Chasing Cat, Is Stranded In Tree

1920

MIDDLEBORO, Mass. — Alphonse Provost had missed his dog Fido for three days when Chester Amsden stopped to inform him his pet was stuck in a hollow tree near the John B. Savage farm.

Fido had presumably chased a cat not wisely but too utterly regardless of consequences, and got wedged in, with a knot hole sufficiently large to admit of sticking his head out and barking for aid.

An ax enlarged the knothole and Fido was liberated, little the worse for his experience except being a bit hungry.

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

New Gun to Shoot Eighty Miles.

1920

LONDON, England. — A gun is being built at the Vickers Works at Sheffield 80 feet long that will hurl an 8-inch shell between seventy and eighty miles. Announcement to this effect has been made by the Lord Mayor of Sheffield.

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

Wed 42 Years; Quits Mate

1920

Wife Bases Her Suit on Man's Love Affair of 1898.

MANCHESTER, N. H. — Mrs. Ida Pingree has brought suit for divorce against her husband, John D. Pingree, after nearly forty-two years of married life. She bases her claim for a separation on an alleged love affair of her husband twenty-two years ago. Mrs. Pingree has attached her husband's property here and in the neighboring town of Derry, where he is a prosperous farmer. The wife is living with a married daughter.

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

Baby Offered For Sale Given Away

1920

Declares She Needed Money to Restore Her Health, Is Excuse of Mother.

NEW YORK, N. Y. — Baby Margaret McNulty, who was offered at public sale recently for $250, has been withdrawn from the market and went to James F. Sweetman as a gift.

The mother, Mrs. Catherine McNulty, retains an undivided interest in the child's affection and will have permission to see her whenever she wishes.

Mrs. McNulty, whose husband died recently, offered her baby for sale when she found herself unable to earn an adequate living. She hoped the money she asked for the baby would give her an opportunity to regain her health, and at the same time she would know that Margaret was receiving proper care.

She changed her mind about the sale before the first of the scores of would-be purchasers arrived at her home and gave the child to Mr. Sweetman.

Worried for Weeks.

Margaret was in the Sweetman family once before. She came back to her mother when Mrs. Sweetman died. At that time Mrs. McNulty feared that Mr. Sweetman would be so occupied with the care of his own motherless child that he could not give Margaret adequate care.

It was only after the worry of weeks became desperation that Mrs. McNulty finally felt that circumstances had driven her to part with her baby.

She worked beyond her strength to care for the little daughter and her brother two years older. A year ago she was stricken with influenza. It was afterward the doctor first mentioned a fighting chance, which would cost money for transportation to the country, milk, eggs and rest.

Baby's Price List.

Her mind always brought up against the balance between this and the price list following:

Feel of one pair of little, clinging hands, $50; Weight of a tiny body, drowsy in the twilight, $50; 2,555 "good night" kisses, distributed over next seven years, $50; Sound of a baby voice prattling "I love you," $50; Thrill of the word "mother," $50. Total $250.

Her story went on:

"There wasn't any balance. But as I felt less able to be about I came to see that it wasn't what I wanted, but what is best for her.

"Some day she will be old enough to understand what I am doing and why. I shall not be with her then.

"Either way, whether I let her go voluntarily now or not, I should not be with her. But looking backward thru the understanding years she will know that I tried in the only way open to me to raise money to save her mother's life. She will feel that it was for her that I tried.

Has Right to Mother.

"Every baby has a right to a mother.

"And if taking money in exchange for my baby is the only way I can save her mother for her, am I not doing what is right?

"Some day, if I live thru the next few months, I may meet her again as my daughter, if the plan works out. Otherwise the doctor says I shall be here only a little while. This way I can find the right ones to take her; the other way she would be put in an institution."

Altho she made public her offer two days ago, Mrs. McNulty has hidden herself away with her two children, refusing to see any of the dozens who have called for inspection. After having brought herself to agree to the sale, she said she was not yet strong enough to take the next step.

Her only relatives, also in poor circumstances, live in Belfast, Ireland.

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

139 Ask To "Shoot" Niagara In A Boat

1920

MANY ANSWER MOVIE COMPANY ADVERTISEMENT.

Most of Applicants Seek $1,000 Offered — Others Want Thrill or Experience.

NEW YORK, N. Y. — Think of going over Niagara Falls in a houseboat!

Death came to Charles George Stevens when he tried to ride the 153-foot cataract In a barrel.

Yet 139 husky, red-blooded American young men have gone on record as being ready to try the stunt in a houseboat.

An advertisement appeared recently in one of the New York daily newspapers calling for a man to go over Niagara Falls in a houseboat for a motion picture film. The reward offered was $1,000. The producer expected that possibly five men might apply.

Imagine his astonishment when 139 applicants put in an appearance. Among them was Allan Law, brother of Ruth and Rodman Law.

Majority ex-Army Men.

The majority of those who applied were ex-service men who were overseas. Having faced German bullets in France, they said they were more than willing to attempt Niagara for a thousand dollars. Another interesting fact was that the average age of the applicants was 23 years. Only a few were over 25. The oldest applicant was 48 years of age.

Practically every nationality was represented, and among them were two men who did not know what Niagara Falls is. Upon being informed and being shown pictures of the falls, one of them backed out. Of all who applied, this man and one other were the only ones who resigned.

Another interesting applicant was Frank Dupree, newspaper correspondent, who made the first long-distance aeroplane flight in 1913 from Dover, England, to Cologne, Germany.

Most of 'Em After the Money.

When asked the reasons for seeking so hazardous a job, the majority said "money." Others were lured by the chance for adventure. Practically all were fatalists, who did not for a moment consider the risk. Another interesting feature was the fact that among them were four bank clerks, three security salesmen and one life insurance salesman.

A specially constructed houseboat was made to be used. It includes the compartment and bulkhead construction principle used in lifeboats and the hulls of ocean liners. Tests of the craft show that its scientific construction has reduced to a minimum the risk incurred by the daredevil who rides over the falls.

Stevens, who lost his life in a barrel try at the stunt. was a barber in England, where his wife and eleven children live. He had made parachute drops, high dives and similar feats many times. He used to put his head in a lion's mouth in a circus.

But the question now is — will the motion picture stunt be called off?

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

Which One Is The American?

1920 (Click the picture for larger version)

In the above picture is shown a mother and two sons. The mother and one of her sons have just come over from the old country and have been in this country but a few days. The other son has lived here for five years. Can you tell which one of the sons is an American and which is not? It ought not to require more than one guess!

—The Saturday Blade, Chicago, Aug. 7, 1920, p. 2.

Comment: This is an odd item. I think the point of this item is American pride. With immigration being such a big thing in our history, the fact that we "clean up" well would be something to be proud of.