Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1889-04-25

49, g. consisted i'll a col
--=rs-- lection of no less
than seventy crocodiles, which were
fed publicly at stated hours by
the manager, NJ. Pernolet. He
always wore pair of Wellington boots,
and had stick with which to beat of
the reptiles when they became too
ravenous and attempted to snap the food
out of his hands. On this occasion he
was sitting on the back of his largest
crocodile, and kept feeding the rest for
abont ten minutes, when, all at once, as
he turned his head and put out his hand
to the attendant for piece OF meat, one
of the others crawled up to him and bit
him in the stomach. A shout was rails
ed by the spectators, and those around
the tank tried to beat away the croco-
die, who, notwithstanding M. Perno-
let's blows, began whirling around his
prey as if to tear him to pieces. Unfor-
tunately, in struggling, M. Pernolet
slipped and fell in the very midst of the
reptiles, which all rushed ON him with
spectators, who mostly fled. Neverthe-
less NJ. Peinolet was rescued.
JOIN LEWIS, one of the pioneers Of
Calaveras county, California tells of II
remarkable shot that he once made.
It's true story, too. For many months
fox had been playing havoc with Mr..
Lewis hens, and do what he would, he
could not catch or shoot the fellow
There was big tree, about 300 feet
long, that had fallenjust above his cabin,
and when hetried to shoot the fox the
sly beast would dodge around the up
turned roots, sneak along the further
side of the tree until it reached the top
and then make a bolt and escape. One
moonlight night Lewis heard commo-
ton among the hens, and running out
with his gun, saw the fox as usual, slip
around the root end of the tree. He
raised his gun, and with the muzzle
followed along the tree at about the
rate he thought the fox would travel,
and when the muzzle cleared the upper
end Of the tree he fired into the shadow.
Then he went back TO bed. The next
morning he went out to the tree top,
and there lay the fox, dead, riddled
with buckshot.
In BUILDING the branch of the railroad
from Willows to Heppner, Ore, the
Oregon Railway and Navigation Com
pany were unable to agree with settler
named Larsen for right of way and he has
been hostile to the company ever since.
Some time ago he took to greasing the
track, causing great annoyance to the
train hands, who had to shovel sand ON
the rails in order to pass his place. At
last Larsen laid in "a big supply of fat
and CREASED the track for about mile.
When the train hands were trying to get
by, Larsen came out and laughed at
them, and the boys made dire threats of
vengeance, some saying they would hang
Larsen. Next day when the train came
along one of the gang Of Italian laborers
threw giant powder cartridge with a
lighted fuse attached, which exploded
near Larsen, frightening him so that he
ran off and did not show up for two
weeks, when he caused the arrest of the
whole train crew, but failing to fasten
the charge of attempted murder ON any
OF them, they were discharged.
A VERY curious custom Of the Vienna I
Hofburg was brought before the public |
by the death of the Crown Prince /
Rudolph. On the day after his death a 1
large undertaken Mt Vienna received the /
order for an oak coffin, to be delivered |
on the same day. The man asked for a /
little more time, but the order was that \
the colin must be delivered the same I
day, otherwise it would be of no use.
What was the reason for this haste (
The Crown Prince lay already in his .
coffin, and no one else had died ut the I
Hofburg. Presently, however, the
reason was given that il is the custom to
have always a coffin ready ut the inn
periai palace. When the terrible news
from Meyerling came TO Vienna, the
oak collin which had been in readiness
ever since the death of Archduke Franz
Kari, the tather OF the present emperor,
was sent TO Meyerling to receive the
remains Of the dead man; and accord
ing to tradition the imperial house
must not be without its empty coffin for
twenty-four hours.
A CURIOUS case of mental alteration
has come to light at Minneapolis. About
a month ago James Viccars, book
keeper IN local commission house dis
appeared utterly and inexplicably ON the
day when he was to we'd Hattie Ray
There we're no circumstances surround
ing the disappearance to give any clue
to Its motive. He was n steady, indus
trious, temperate young man. A few days
ago, however, the mystery was explained
when his employer received letter from
him written at the home of his parents
IN Grass Lake, Mich. In this he stated
that be had only confused memory of
the past month; that in state Of men
tai alteration, or perhaps in a hypnotic
state, be had wandered he knew not
where When he came to himself, he at
once made his way TO his old home,
weary and worn out. He seems unwill-
ing to return to his old post. for fear Of
ridieule, and it is supposed the wedding
% strangely interrupted viii never come
OF.
THE other afternoon a funny bear
hight occurred in Atlanta. big black
bear was being led 10 an improvised
dime show. A man held the chain that
was attached to the bears collar. and
the man was little man at that. The