Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-02-01
CURIOUS CONVERSATIONS.

-Ihe seven hundfedbn Iemale phJSASAoH
in Russia has just passed her examination.
Henry Cunningham, of Clark county,
ILL.,, has just sold a hog that weighs 9S5 pounds
Eight horses and three calves were
killed in one night recently, near Banning, Cal.'
by mountain lions.
"A strong gust of wind blew Connecti-
cut man of a load of hay into the river, and
ne barely escaped being drowned.
"A Butler county man, whose entire
property is assessed at sS5 is the owner Of five
dogs, on which he will have to pay So so tax
His property tax is 81 IS.
"A Kansas City family consists of six
brothers whose names are as follows: Jack
Frost, Winter Frost, White Frost, Cold Frost,
Early Frost and Snow Frost.
Two young ladies have been dismissed
from the State Normal School, at Br1dgewater,
Mass. because they refused to give up tri-
cycle riding at the command of the principal.
There were five Hungarian weddings in
one house, in East Bridgeport, Conn.,, on Sun
day. They were each celebrated in costume
and according to the custom of the Hungari-
ans.
"A man named Brown, who died in the
Salem, Mass, almshouse this week, had been
an inmate Of the institution for over half a
century. He was of weak mind and had been
cripple from birth.
The development of Texas has but Just
begun, yet there are 2,1O6 postofices in the
State. the receipts are more than a million Of
dollars annually, and the length of the mail
routes Is more than p. COO miles.
In 1854 Maine man was charged with
stealing 5000 from an express company. The
company failed to make out its case and had
to pay him 81 600 damages, but only a week ago,
after patiently watching for all these years,
tney got the drop on him and he will now 60 to
prison.
Here Is unique specimen of medical
certificate Of death. 1t was rendered by a na-
tive apothecary at recent inques in India:
! think she died or lost her life for want Of
food or on account of starvation, and perhaps
for other things of her comfortables, and most
probably she died by drowning.
"A man who went hunting near Holland,
Mich, the other day got mad at the stupidity
of his dog that he threw his gun at him. threby
showing that he didn't know alarming sight
more than the dog. The gun struck the ground
with thump was discharged and 30 bird shot
went into the hunters legs.
There was man over in New Jersey
who took out accident insurance policy for
5000. One day while pairing his corn he cut
deeper than he intended to- blood poisoning set
in and he died. Now his widow is suing the
company for the amount of the policy on the
ground that his death resulted from an acci-
dent.
"A Petaluma, CAL, merchant found in
his papers recently note of hand given him in
January, 1850. The face of it called for $500
with per cent month interest compounded
monthly If not paid He got number OF
sharp accountants to figure up the present
value of the note with interest. The result was
startling: s., ,997. .337 90
Alfred Fraser, who left New Albany,
Ind. nearly eight years ago for the West, as
tonished the natives Of mis- old home the other
day by riding through the streets on shaggy
broncho. He was rugged out in the typical
cowboy style, with long hair and the usual pro-
fusion of firearms. He rode from the ranch
in New Mexico, on the border Of old Mexico
and Arizona, a distance of $500 miles, on
horseback, and was five months making the
trip.
AN undertaken in Burlington, VT, has
just completed remarkable contract which
he began about two years ago. A man who
resided near there had large oak tree on his
place cut down and transformed into lumber.
An arrangement was then entered into with
an undertaken to manufacture a casket out Of
the lumber and inclose it in an outer case in
readiness for the dissolution of the owner.
His death did not occur until few days ago.
when the oaken casket was finished and
trimmed and the deceased buried in 1t.
j. N. Winn, of Darien, Gs., has in
vented what he calls railroad indicator. The
method of its working is briefly in this way: In
each coach of passenger train there is seen
within easy sight of every passenger an orna-
mented frame having glass front. As a train
leaves a station, Atlanta, for instance, the
engineer, by a simple and ready motion of his
hand. sends an influence along the whole train.
and gong sounds that arrests the attention of
every passenger, while simultaneously the
name of the next station, say Marietta appears.
"A Franklin township man sent a
Waynesburg editor several live grasshoppers
caught in the open fields in January; Center
township friendsgave him a uwig from peach
tree where red buds had formed and the COL
ored blossoms were just prepared to burst into
bloom, showing up clear and red when cut
open: Morris township farmer handed him
dozen or more fully matured dandelion
blossoms. topped out white and ready to be
carried of by the breeze; and then Wayne
township citizen sent a wee bit of a turtle,
which Justus Phillips discovered. along with
some of its companions. and which had lust
been hatehed by the warm sunshine Of
January
"A cork core floating rope has been in
vented. The inventor claims that his floating
rope Of one-ineh thickness will stand strain
of more than 200 pounds. The rope consists
of core of small round corks, about three
quarters of an inch long, placed end to end,
around which is braided network Of cotton
twine. This is surrounded by another layer of
strong cotton twine, braided in heavy strands,
which is about quarter of an inch thick. The
rope is very soft and pliable, and even after
being tied in a small knot will return to Its
original shape. 1t can be used in life lines, on
life RATS, and as heaving line to tie heavy
hawsers to. At life saving station such a
rope would be very valuable
"A one-armed printer is as much of a
curiosity as the armless man who dexterously
handles knife and fork with his toes. There
came to Cincinnati recently such wonder and
he is now working as sub in the Enquirer
office. His name is Henry Penrod; he is n
years old, and halls from Washington, where
he learned the trade. Six years ago he went
out West and there lost his left arm in rail-
road accident. Only short stump, extending
but few inches from the shoulder, remains
Nothing disheartened by misfortune that
would have rendered most men helpless. Pen
rod set to work to manage the intrieacies Of his
craft with one hand and he succeeded so well
that he now sets as big string as the best
printer, and he justifes his own matter and
does it we'll In setting" type Penrod places
the stick" on the case in front OF him and
then nimbly shoots the type into place, work
ing very rapidly, and apparently with as much
ease as a man with two hands.