Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-04-28
CURIOUS CONVERSATIONS.


fitted out at Victoria, B. C., up to April is re-
ported at 1900.
In Victoria, B. c., no mason or stone
cutter will work on building where Chinese
nelp ls employed.
Cedar Rapids, Ia, has elected an al
GERMAN whose name Is Pantz. IL Is hoped That
he Will not resign his seat,
"A Houlton, Me-, merchant planted
what he supposed was a pansy seed, and now
has crop of turnips in his garden ten inches
| high.
Mr. Lewis B. Hamlin, of Kennebec,
Me, has copy of a book, "Travels Of
Philosopher" dated in 1897 which he claims is
the nrst book printed in Augusta
"A year ago two Dawson, Mich, men
went to court over an SIS item. The case has
finally been decided by the Supreme Court,
and the costs have been an even $500.
The Swedish Oyster-culture Society is
trying to acclimatize American oysters from
Connecticut on the coast of the Province Of
Bahus The young oysters seem to thrive we'll
Frank Jackson, of Sampsonyille, Erie
county, can place his arms against a wall and
reach feet IL inches. He has remarkably long
arms jackson is six feet high. The best reach
on record is seven feet.
Samuel Lands, of Byron, Kent county,
Mich, is so years old. and his wife q. The
octogenarian's children have been making it
warm for the young wife. one son-in-law going
SO lar as to thrash her with rope.
John B. Parshall, a compositor in the
Delhi, N. Y, Gazette Office, recently set up the
notice of three golden weddings. He set up
the marriage notices of the same couples 50
years ago-a remarkable csincidence.
The Congress of Americanists will be
held in Paris on the 14th of October. 1t will
last four days and discuss numerous subjects
relating to America in pre-Columbian times,
its history, archaeology, languages, etc.
"A few days ago in Wilkes county, Ca,
a negro woman was sitting near the fire with a
child in her lap, when she fell in fit. Falling
into the fire her clothes caught, and in a few
minutes she and the child were burned to
death.
1t is said that some genius has invented
an electric recorder which may be attached TO
a gas meter and which will infallibly and cor
rectly record the exact amount Of gas con-
sumed no matter what may be the Vagaries Of
the meter itself.
There was child born in Cowlitz coun-
ty, Wash, the other day which, though other
wise strong and physically perfect, had no
openings at the eyes, the skin completely COW
ering those members. A surgical operation
was performed to supply the deficiency.
"A pair of curled poplar logs were
shipped TO Germany from Swain county, ". c.,
each Il feet long and feet in diameter at the
smaller end. These logs will be hewed and
polished for exhibition at Berlin this year.
The farmer who sold the logs was paid $50 for
each.
While driving prisoner to the jail at
Washington, N. c., the constable's hat blew of
and he got out to get it. The prisoner took ad-
vantage of the act, whipped up tbs horse and
escaped. Two miles from the city he left the
buggy and took to the woods. He has not been
recaptured.
Mrs. Anna O'Brien, known as the Ger
man Giantess," and Fred A. Shields. who
belongs to family of giants. were married in
Cincinnati day or two ago. They are about
the same height-between seven and eight feet.
The bride was the widow of Patrick O'Brien,
who too was giant.
MIR. John Burt, of Warren county, N.
c.. was shot in the wrist at Spottsylvania May
Il. 1854. The ball broke the bone and for 20
years he suffered no pain from the wound. A
few days ago piece of zinc worked out of his
arm near his elbow. where his arm has been
troubling him for several years.
English men-of-war must be not only
wonderfully but fearfully made. The opinion
Is published that no ironelad has been built
during the last ten years which did not draw at
least a foot more water than the Government
provided for. The bow of one of the latest
great ships the Trafalgar, sinks 16 inches below
its intended line.
Mr. j. Bryan Grimes, of Pitt county,
N. c., had planted 35 acres in Irish potatoes,
and one night last week when he thought there
was going to be frost to kill his potatoes. which
were II inches high, he built log heaps about
his field and kept them burning during the
night and next morning his potatoes were un-
touched by the frost
"A merchant at Randolph, Ala, de-
cared Sunday night that be would die sud-
denly at o'clock on Monday afternoon. On
Monday morning he selected coffin made his
will and spent the day in prayer. At A o'clock
he seated himself in rocking chair and in
three minutes was dead. The doctors say death
was caused by heart disease.
"A Webster, Me-, man was plowing, last
fall, when he lost his pocketbook. A long
hunt did not restore it. Winter passed and
snow piled deep upon the plowed land. The
other day he traVersed the same field and in
the furrow where the water ran IN rivulets was
found the pocketDook in good condition,
money all safe and papers restorable.
In 1875 Edward Petit. of Port Huron,
Mich, died, and in his will left 81, 900 for any
benevolent institation or orphans home that
might be incorporated after his death. One
would naturally suppose that this money would
have been gathered IN long ago, but it's a fact
that although there are several institutions
that might take it. there has never been a claim
put in, and the money remains intact
John W. Smith, prominent citizen Of
Battle Creek, Mich. retired in his usual health
Wednesday night but Thursday morning it
was found that his mind had become a blank
He appears to be in prime health, physically,
but he is unable to make answers to questions
or use his mind in any way. The doctors are
puzzled, but believe the alteration is only
temporary.
A curious accident was witnessed by
two Alton. Ia, citizens the other day. They
were going from that place to Sioux Center
when thunder storm came up. They had
noticed an eagle flying quite high in the air.
and while watching it bolt of lightning struck
the bird and it fell to the ground With the
exception of broken wing it was not seriously
injured. 1t was captured by the men.
There are only $1,000 greenback bills
now outstanding although the Treasury De-
partment has endeavored to call In all bills Of
large denominations. There is but one $4,000
greenback bill in existence, which is still IN
Cancelled 1t is now in the Treasury vaults.
The $40 900 bills of to-day are gold certificates.
Ex-County Treasurer Frank Rotterman, of
Cincinnati, says that for years his Office has
carried S. 600 greenback as a relic, and that
every treasurer has kept the bill and will not
send it back to the Treasury for redemption.
AMnNG THE ETNNY ONES