Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-01-27
CURIOUS CONVERSATIONS.

Mrs. Mary Ruane died at Jessup, Pa,
on Thursday, at the respectable age OF 100
years.
"A man who can eat six qusrtbovls of
oyster stew at sitting, is one of the heroes OF
Canaan. Me.
Nancy Churchwell, colored, who died
in Norfolk. Va, a few days ago, was reputed
to be l03 years OLD.
The authorities of Cologne have resolved
to furnish employment to 13, 900 idle men in thss
city at Is pence per day.
Mrs. L. D. Byers, of Banta, Ind, has a
clock made entirely of wood" which has been
keeping excellent time for 60 years.
The new Servian loan of 10000, ,O00f.,
which is about to be raised, is wanted for arma-
ments and the purchase Of repeating rifles.
Berlin usually spends about s25, 900 in
celebrating the Emperor's birthday. Emperor
William has forbidden the expenditure this
year.
Mrs. Mary Darden, of Hampton, Va,
claims to be los years old. and her word is be-
lieved. Her mother died in 1861 at the reputed
age of l06 years
According to an official return which
has Just been issued, there are 400, 900 milch
cows in the colony of Victoria. and the annual
value Of their milk, butter and cheese is about
f3O00.OOO
Jasper Morley claimed $4,000 dam
ages for being put of West Michigan train,
near Newaygo, and a Grand Rapids jury gives
HIM s., 600 for the loss of time and his incon-
venience.
The San Diego, Cal, Sun tells of
monster black bass. taken with hook and line,
recently. at Cedros Island. 1t weighed 3l8
pounds, and the catcher was AZ minutes IN get
ting the fish alongside the steamer Kaluk.
90 ,oI
published the number of students at the 20
universities of Germany amounts to 2s.71l: Ber-
lin comes first. with 5,5H; Rostock last. with
81; LeipsIc, with BASS and Munich, with 1882;
each maintains good position.
"A monstrosity in the shape OF child
resembling grounding was on exhibition at
Dalton, Ga. Monday 1t has double joints and
bones, a double row of teeth and other pecu-
liarities of the grounding. It was born on
sand Mountain and is l6 years Of age.
The preachers in Manistique, Mich,
announce that dogs will no longer be allowed
in church. as in days gone by. The dogs
brought this ukase upon themselves, because
the other Sunday two deacons' dogs fought
right in meeting and delayed the sermon.
1t is said to be whole days task for
two men 20 fell a mahogany tree. On account
of the spurs which project from the base of the
trunk scaffold has to be erected and the tree
.
OF the very best wood 10 to 10 feet high.
George Carson, OF Pennington, Oconee
county, Ga. in his attempt to lift five silver
dollars with his tongue recently was so un-
fortunate as to have the top dollar slip down
his throat. Failing to extract it. at supper,
after few mouthfuls, down went the dollar.
While grading on a road near Lodi,
Cal. workman unearthed the skeleton of six
human beings. AS they were found on the
line OF the old emigrant road between stock
ton and Sacramento it has been suggested that
they are the bones of some of the early emf
grants.
Mrs. Ruth Phelps, of Venice, Mich,
tried ''every rheumatism cure known to the
world" and still her arm refused to be COM
Portable. The other day doctor cut out big
darning needle and now the arm is all right.
She does not remember how The needle became
imbedde6.
-Euchretown, Ind, is exercised over the
striking of a large gong. which can be heard
every morning at l O'Clock, and the supersti-
tious people are greatly alarmed. The sounds
issue from the basement of an old and aban-
doned distillery, and every effort to fathom
the cause has proved unsuccessful"
There is an enormous tree in the
Ocmulgee river swamp, near Abbeville. Ga,
that rivals the famous giants of the California
forests. The tree is of the tupelo gum variety,
immense oaks. 1t is evidently of great age, and
doubtless was inhabited by the Indians in the
prehistoric age of this country. The tree is
hollow at the base with an aperture large
enough to admit tall man. The hollow ex-
tends upward for distance Of Is feet. affording
space enough for two stories. The hollow at
the base is II feet in diameter.
France has in her territorial army a
unique body of troops for the protection of her
railways in war. Most of them are men living
near the eastern boundary-among them 1000
forests and customs officials-ahle to get in the
field at few hours notice. Two weeks ago
this railway contingent was mobilized so that
its efficiency might be tested. The mobiliza-
tion was not very successful. Half of the men
could get no overcoats, because there were
none for them. The Ministry of War is now
Flaming thorough overhauling of this
service.
Il have" says Maine pension agent,
what 1 consider funny pension case on hand.
Several years ago 1 secured pension for a
soldier of a certain regiment and company and
then, after his death, 1 secured . pension for
his widow. Now she comes to me TO help her
secure another pension as the widow of another
member of the same regiment. You see that
since secured her first widows persion she had
married comrade-in-arms of her first husband
and now that he, too, IS dead with frugality
and economy that is commendable and accord
ing tn Scripture, she is applying for the second
pension. have never known exactly a similar
case"
Near Ayersville, Ga, Wednesday night
James Hamilton, an old and MANNED ex-Con-
federate soldier. was knocked IN the head and
then thrown in the fire by a negro. Hamilton
is a tinker, and had small leather sachel and
box with him. One and a half miles from Ayers
vile he built a fire and camped for the night
About O'Clock negro man. who said his
name was johnson, came to his camp, and,
after telling Hamilton he lived close by. Ham
ilton turned over to go asleep. When asleep,
the negro struck him on the head. cutting
his chsek open, also striking him on The back
of the head with a scantline, knocking him In
the fire. The negro took the sachel and went
away, leaving Hamilton IN the fire.
"A bale of Baker county, Ga, cotton has
been traced to Moscow, Russsa. 1t was made
by T. H. Pullen, of Milford, and in the bale he
placed a note, addressed TO the party who
might use it, giving name and postoffice, and
requesting that he be informed of the manu.
facturer and place manufactured and the price
paid for the cotton. He recently received
letter from Moscow, from which it appears
that the cotton was SOLD to a manufacturer at
that place on December 2S and he wrote Mr.
Pullen on December 90 The letter was re-
ceiyed in New York on january, and reached
Mr. Pullen on January9. Mr.. Pullen regrets
very much that the party failed to give the
price he paid for the cotton ana will write him
again for that information.