News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1886-07-01
TIE MYSTERIES OF A DAY.
STRANGE, CURIOUS AND STARTLING
THINGS OCCURRING ABOUT US.
Why he was Absent-A Cunning Robbery
Frightened by a Ii ll-Savuge Rats-A
Remarkable Fatc-The Lost Ring.

Remarkable Fate-The Lost Ring.
W. A. CARTER writes to Nature: "a
have found by practical experience that
the ferocity and voracity of rats is very
great. They devour one another at all
times and under all circumstances,
whether living in wild state or under
the influence of domestication. 1 kept
six rats at one time in confinement, and
although well fed, the largest specimen
consumed all the rest. Again, shortly
after the late Inventions Exhibition
closed last year, the following incident
came under my notice, which fully con-
firms me in the belief have expressed.
AS was passing through the building
heard wild and piteouS cries issuing from
spot close to where | stood. | I'M
mediately proceeded thence, and be-
held six large rats feasting upon three
of their congeners not much smaller
than themselves, who were endeavorlng
to free themselves from the sharp teeth
of their assailants. All of these rodents
appeared thin and wild, and were no
doubt rendered bold and desperate by
privation, for my presence had no eff
feet upon their carniyorous attacks.
frequently hear rats scampering beneath
the floor of my office, accompanied by
loud and protracted squeals; and, after
what | saw, am induced to believe that
a deadly raid is on such occasions beir g
made upon one or more of them"
AT Aspen, Colorado, party of young
ladies climbed to the top of the fire bell
tower, thirty-six feet high, to obtain a
good view of the city. Eppa Stewart
stepped to the edge of the tower and
was leaning against corner post, look
ing over the country, when a janitor,
not knowing of the presence of the
young ladies, seized the bell rope to call
a meeting of the fire company. The
sudden clang of the great bell startled
Miss Stewart, and she plunged from the
dizzy height to the pavement. She was
carried into a neighboring house, when
it was discovered that both legs were so
badly crushed that the feet had been
driven to within few inches of the
knees, that the bones of her left arm
were broken into splinters, and that five
ribs on the right ride were broken and
torn loose from the spine. She was
alive when picked up, but there is no
hope of her recovery.
The citizens of Greenville, Mich, are
talking about the remarkable fate of
Mrs. Lyons. Eight years ago Abraham
Van Horn bought a farm of her. He
doubted the clearness of the title, and
she was indignant and said eff am
trying to cheat you l hope God will
strike me dead" The trade was made,
and Van Horn remained on the farm
until recently, when another man laid
claim to it, saying that he had clear
title. Van Horn at once went to Mrs.
Lyons and demanded that she secure
him from loss. She heard him make
his request, attempted to speak, and
fell dead. The neighbors say that her
prayer has been answered.
A MAN who is attempting to start a
retail lumber yard down in a small town
in Ohio gave a jobber the name of his
former employer for reference and left
his order. The report received by the
jobber, although slightly ambiguous,
was not of nature to induce him to
hustle very much in the execution of the
shipment. 1t is so subtle, and withal
so honest, that am tempted to subjoin
it: "Mr. - has worked for me II or
13 years, and has always been faithful
man, and | respect him as a true friend;
but if was a stranger to him and knew
his fallings l would not want to trust
him."
FOURTEEN years ago German officer
who had deserted and come to this coun-
try under an assumed name married
young woman of Toledo. Four years
ago they moved to Terre Haute, and
now there are six children. The wife
never knew that her husband was living
under an assumed name until quite re-
Gently, when she learned it by accident,
She questioned him, and he acfF5Nl-
edged it. Then she insisted on a second
marriage, and at late hour one Sunday
night, in the seclusion of a Justices
office, the two, after fourteen years of
happy welded life, were again married.
THE following is said to be the "offi-
ciar' explanation of the reason why
Attorney General Garland did not at
tend the Presidents wedding: At the
delth of his wife some years ago he
made a VOW never to enter into social
festivities again. He has kept his vow.
devotlng- the most of his time after office
hours to the care and attention of his
aged mother. He did not even attend
the wedding of his son a year aga, al
though his son married with his full
The story of his dislike
to dress suit has no foundation.
AT meeting in Chicago the other day
Rev. G. M. Wilcox. missionary to China
said that since 1860 Christianity has
made great progre in China. At that
time there were in the Protestant mis-
SONS but four hundred stations, four
hundred and eighty native preachers
and ten thousand converts. Now there
were twenty-five thousand converts and
a corresponding increase in stations and
preachers. 1t has been estimated that
by 1900 there will be two million Protes-
tant converts in China.
THE lost ring story comes to hand as
usual This time the scene is laid in
where five years ago William
Howe of Moorfeld lost his sisters ring
while fishing in pond. Not long ago
he went shooting bull frogs in the same
pond, and while cutting off the hind
legs of big one that he had shot. what
should he see protruding from the bull
let wound in the side of the victim but
his sisters long lost ring, with the
identifying inscription still quite legi-
BILE.
A RATHER curious specimen of high
way robbery is reported from Idaho. A
man ascertained that the express COM
pany was liable for loss of money from
robbery, whereupon he sent package
to contain $12, 900 and at
spot attacked the coach
with confederate, and made off with
the box. He then came to town to en-
ter suit against the express company,
only to find his trick had been found
put, and that he had stepped into
trap.
For sixteen years Margaret Jacobson
known as "Crazy Maggie - has lived in
a shanty in Chicago. Her only com
panions were dogs, and she subsisted
by begging. One day last week sho
was arrested as insane. She resisted
-he policeman, and when overcome in
sisted that there was money in her
shanty. There was. In satchel was
1861 in silver change; in stockings wero
gold and greenbacks. Over 81 900 was
found and they are looking for more.
Mrs. GoHEMAME. with her three chill
1ren, has just made the journey from
to San Jose, Cal. While they
we're journeying through Nebraska one
Of the little ones fell from the car win
low when the train was at full speed.
The train was stopped after some DELAY.