Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1890-10-16
SOMEWHAT STRANGE.
ACCIDENTS AND INCIDENTS OF
EVERYDAY LIFE
Queer Episodes and Thrilling Adven-
lures Which Show that Truth is
Stranger than Fiction.

LI1dh = iSSiohs
KING JONATHAN CHARLES FREDERICK,
who reigns over the Mosquito reservation,
in the Nicaraguan territory, is one OF the
most remarkable "monarchs" outside of
Central Africa. King Frederick has
only been short time in power, and is
man about twenty-eight years of age, of
small stature, and thickly built. He
dresses in navy blue uniform, somewhat
like that of a New York policeman,
trimmed with gold lace and ornamented
with brass buttons, and wears epaulets of
black velvet, marked with the letter" M"
and the same letter graces the front of
the small cap which covers his head. The
kings enemies say that he is man of
weak character and heavy drinker. In
fact, they go SO far as to assert that
whiskey of the strongest character is too
weak to suit his majesty's taste; so he
dilutes his whiskey with Worcestershire
sauce and Chill vinegar. King Frederick
has always lived at Bluefields or at Corn
Island, where, in his earlier days, he
''worked cargo' for the different steam
ship lines, shelled cocoanuts, or turned
his hand to anything that would produce
his meal. The predecessor of his maj
esty had no family, and after his death
(due to poison administered by men,
Der of the Council, according to popular
rumor) King Frederick, who is distant
relative of the late ruler of the reservation,
assembled the throne. The kings salary
is 200 soles month, "without expenses"
One has heard of good many extraor-
dinary suicides, and of good many
people who, dcspising such common helps
out of life as the rope, the river or the
pistol, have taken pains to shuttle off
this mortal coil by means not generally
used. Rarely, however, we think, has
anyone adopted the plan of running up
and down stairs as fast as possible in the
hope of terminating his or her existence.
Such course was resorted to lately in
Berlin by young lady. She was suffer-
ing, it appears, from heart disease, and
possibly this may have been the origin of
her suicidal ideas. In any case, having
been warned by her medical attendant
that any great emotion or exertion might
prove fatal, and having also been spec
tally forbidden to go up or down stairs,
she profted by the instructions to do
precisely what she was told not to do, in
order to kill herself. Being left alone
one day at home, she began running up
and down three flights of stairs, contin-
uing the exercise for an hour, when she
sank down on the floor quite exhausted.
She did not, however, die, as, according
to the doctors, she ought to have done
and after restoratives had been admins
tered she was as we'll as ever, much to hei
distress, as she really believed she would
have accomplished her purpose.
AN interesting romance comes from
the Grow Creek Reservation. b. f
Balch, a badly crippled veteran of th'
civil war, now settler on these lands
has just received intelligence which
makes his heart glad Some fourteen
years ago, while living in Missouri, Mr.
Balch's little girl, then years old, wa
stolen from her home by some unknown
persons and for many years although
much money and time were spent in tn
search, no trace of the lost one could b
found. A communication of his to tn
authorities at Washington recently il
regard to his pension was published il
the newspapers and caught his daughter
eye, who had been residing in Texas
She at once opened up communicate
with Mr.. Balch, and with the aid of
pair of earrings on her at the time @
her capture and in other ways convinced
him that she was beyond all doubt hi
long-lost daughter, and whom he hat
long since given up all hope of eve
seeing again. The unbounded deligh
of the father can better be imaginet
than described, and he can hardly con
tain himself until her arrival, she havin!
left her home in Texas to join her fathe
in his reservation home.
A MARVELLOUS recovery from paralysi
is reported from Eureka, Tex. The pa
tient, Joel Norton, had been unable t.
move either of his lower limbs and on,
of his arms for three years. and wa
bound to an invalid's chair, hopelessly
it was supposed, by the grim hand o
muscular paralysis, but the sight of hi:
little daughter Lillian in flames broke
the bones of his living death. The child
ran into the room where her father lay
with her dress on fire, screaming and fly
ing about, when, without thought of hi.
condition, her parent sprang to his fee
and catching up a rug wrapped he
tightly in it and succeeded in extinguish
ing the flames. His excitement dying
out, he realized that he was once agar
capable of motion, and actually tainted
from joy and the nervous reaction
Physicians declare it miraculous restor
alton of vital force, and have visited hin
from all parts of the country. Mr.. Nor
ton has walked two miles daily since his
recovery, and can scarcely be induced tc
go to bed at night for fear lest hi:
malady attack him while he is asleep
He has also resumed his occupation
which is that of machinist.
A MONTHS Imprisonment for occasion
ing the death of woman by cutting
open one of the veins in her arm appear
a light sentence, but probably, although
no statement to that effect is made, tn
German tribunal, before which a MAJ
named Michael Stankewitz appeared
charged with the crime, took into con
sideration that he acted under influenc
of a superstitious belief in sorcery an
witches. The accused, mason by trade
employed at Dantzic, came to the cor
clusion short time ago tina
his wife was bewitched, o
what ground does not appear. H
also came to the conclusion that the pei
son who had cast spell on her was
poor old creature named Nixdorf, and t
break the spell he determined to blcc
,, the alleged sorceress in the arms, hi
wife drinking her blood. Unfortunatcl
the operation was attended with fata
consequences. The old woman, who's
constitution was already weakened b
age and privation, succumbed to loss o
blood, and the authorities hearing of tn
affair, arrested the mason.