The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1890-11-22
SOMEWHAT STRANGE.
ACCIDENTS AND INCIDENTS OF
EVERYDAY LIFE,
Queer Episodes and Thrilling Ad-
ventures Which Show that Truth
il Stranger than Fiction.

Queer EpisOueS anu InrlillnS Ad-
ventures Which Show that Trut h
is Stranger than Fiction.
JOE RUSSELL, of Ludlow, Ky, and
lack Tyrrell, of Grcenville, KY, Jumped
from the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad
Bridge over the kanawha at Charleston,
". Va, early the other morning. 1t
was a match between them for a purse,
the winner to make the better jump and
come out in better shape. Shortly after
four o'clock a. m. they walked out on
the path of the bridge until directly
above the middle channel. The water is
1sJ feet below. Russell had weights
attached 10 his shoulders and feet. lie
won the toss, and decided to take second
lump. Tyrrell climbed over the rail and
hung with his hands from the iron bar
till the referee gave the word, and then
dropped. He continued erect until
within a few feet of the water, when he
swerved and struck on his right side.
When he arose to the surface he was I'M
sble to swim, and blood was flowing
from his mouth. A boat picked him up
and he was restored to his senses. Rus
sell dived head first, turning a summer
sault in midair and striking the water
squarely with the soles of his feet. He
went down like flash, but quickly re-
appeared and began to strike out vigor-
ously for the boat. He was taken aboard
apparently none the worse for his leap,
and the referee awarded him the stakes.
Miss ELIZA Prison, forty years of age,
and well known because of her luxuriant
growth of beard, died at her home about
three miles from Atlanta, Ga, the other
day. In makeup she possessed every
feature Of a man. was about five feet nine
inches tall, and weighed 175 pounds.
When girl she was troubled a great
deal with toothache, and as means of
relief used poultices pretty freely. These
were bound around the lower jaw. This
treatment was kept up until it was dis
covered that unless the poultices were
discontinued she would have full beard
The poultices were left off, but this did
not stop the growth of short black
beard that had appeared on her we'll
rounded cheeks. This was notifying to
the family, and shaving only increased
the growth. Finally all hope of stopping
the beard was abandoned, and it was al
lowed to grow. For twenty years she
has worn black beard fifteen inches
long. Naturally such freak was sought
after by the showmen, but she invariably
refused all offers. She was exceedingly
modest, and always wore bonnet to
hide her beard as much as possible. She
was never married.
THE ex-Empress Eugene had quite an
adventure some time ago en- route from
Liege to Cologne, writes Eugene Field
in the Chicago News. She was sitting
in frst-class railway compartment when
a man entered, and, producing a pipe,
began to smoke industriously. The
guard represented to the fellow that the
compartment was reserved for ladies, but
this warning had no effect upon the ruff
fan, who continued to smoke so fast that
the air in the compartment soon became
intolerable, and the ex-Empress tainted
away. At the next stop she was removed
to another compartment. When told
who the lady was the man expressed sat
isfaction that he had smoked her out.
''rve paid my fare and I'm as good as
anybody else." said lie. Strangely
enough, the fellow was not arrested for
violation of the rule prohibiting intrusion
into and smoking in the compartment
reserved for ladies. 1t is said. however,
that railway regulations in Europe are
enforced in the cases of foreign patrons
only. Let an American break the petit
est rule and he is mu!ctcd promptly and
to the very limit.
THERE was Sunday-school excursion
from Wilmington. Del, to the Geological
Gardens in Philadelphia one day recent
ly, and one of the happiest boys in the
party was twelve-year-old John Conway.
1t was his first visit, and he took in the
sights with open-eyed wonder. He fed
the elephants his last cake. spent his
hnal nickel for peanuts to throw TO the
prairie dogs, and he fairly dubbed over
with excitement when he reached the
bear pits and looked down at the funny
antics Of the animals. Seeing the open
spaces on the lower side of the pit,
Johnny stole away from his companions
and took position by which he could
look through the bars. In an evil mo-
ment the lad turned his head to look at
something behind him, when one of the
bears caught glimpse of his finger pro-
truding through the bars, and moment
later the digit was transferred to bruins
stomach. The boys screams attracted
the attention of one of the guards. and
ne was sent to the German Hospital fol
treatment.
EVERY employee of the Chicago, Bur-
ington and Quincy Company whose
duties in any way connect hinrwith the
movement or makeup of trains is re-