Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1893-02-18
SOMEWHAT STRANGE.
ACCIDENTS AND INCIDENTS OF
EVERY DAY I.tFE.
Queer Facts and Thrilling Adven-
lures Which Show That Truth Is
Stranger Than Fiction.

OuCcF EdCbS anu AUXen
lures Which Show That Truth /.
Stranger Than Fiction.
"SoME of the most surprising thing
happen down on the Florida coast.
said man who recently lived there. 81
was at breakfast one morning in my
house, about quarter of mile back
from the beach, when noticed a vessel
standing close in to shore. She seemed
to be going wild, as if nobody was steer.
ing, and was behaving in an extraor-
binary way. 1 ran out and shouted and
waved nay hat, but nobody aboard seemed
to see me, or if any one did it made nc
difference, for she came on and r&mmed
into the sand, and stuck there with top
sails shaking. They got out the boats
then and came ashore. Although there
was only the usual surf the Captain and
mate had taken off their clothes and the
men were completely demoralized. 1t
was bright, pleasant day, with only a
fresh breeze, and u boy could have gone
out in small boat. took the crowd
to nay house and gave them some hot
coffee. Their they started north and
were never seen again. They were Ger
mans, and their bark was in good con-
ultfon-a strong vessel of teak, with a
good cargo on board. The cargo was
saved, but no attempt was made to save
the vessel, though | guess the Crackers
of the neighborhood got about every
thing that was worth taking from her.
Afterward | learned something that gave
clue to the performance. She was in
sured for fifteen sixteenths OF her full
value.n
w. III. BELLER recently turned up at
hrs home in Mercer county, w. Va,
after having been lost for nineteen DAYS
In the New Pine Mountains. For the
hrst four days he travelled constantly in
the endeayor to find his way out of the
wilderness in which he was lost. When
he found that he had hut two matches
aeft and fearing that he might use them
up and be unable to kindle fire, he
picked out permanent camping place,
started fire against a pine tree, and
made ready to live as best he could until
AID came. His tree burned until it fell,
and then he piled brush against the fallen
trunk in order to keep the fire going
He remained at that place fifteen days,
moving few feet each day as the fire
travelled along the PROSTATE tree. He
slept as best he could by night, and bv
day never lost sight of his fire. Once an
antlered buck came within rifle shot but
Beller had the chagrin to see his rifle
leaning against a tree, with the buck be-
tween him and the weapon. He hallooed
at intervals each day and the noise at last
brought hunter to his aid. Beller was
then haggard wretch, his clothing
burned in many places, and his fingers
both burned and frozen. He believes
that he could not have held out two days
longer
A STORY telling about the establish
ing of ranch on an island in Puget
Sound, by James Wardner. a wealthy
citizen OF Fairhaven, Washington, for
the propagation of black cats for their
alleged valuable fur, was printed, with
considerable interesting detail, in
Washington State paper about year
ago. The story copied all over the
country, turned out to be fake aud
alleged ''joke." But for months after
ward Mr. Wardner was annoyed by letters
from all over the country making inquiry
about the ranch, offering cats for sale.
and making all manner of propositions
touching the novel industry. His de-
mails of the whole thing were printed.
but they never completely caught up
with the story. Now an Iowa paper
gives the picturesque fiction all over
again, and adds that the writer has been
TO the ranch and seen the cat colony.
and that black catskin is worth So.
SOME years ago the French Govern
ment fitted out a scientific expedition
for the purpose of making explorations
on the site of an ancient palace in Persia,
bullt by mighty warrior, five centuries
before Christ. The ''savant" to whom
was intrusted this expedition, NJ. Dieu-
lafey, was accompanied by his wife. her
self very learned, and well-known
contributor to archaeological science.
To facilitate her work the lady assumed
male attire, and spent several years of
hardship, almost without communication
with the civilized world, exposed to all
kinds of privation, for the intellectual
enjoyment of exploring this famous
palace Since her return to Paris the |
lady has refused to resume the incon-
garb of feminine conventionalitv |
and with the full consent of her husband |
and under special permit from the police
she wears the regular masculine dress in
Paris on all occasions.
HARDLY any hotel clerks regard with
Iavor man who signs his name with n
flourish. Not one, of a number who
we're asked the question, would admit
hat he had any superstition about il.
lut he simply didn't like such men. I'm
he big New York hotels there is little
'lay for superstitious people Rooms
With unlucky numbers are usually given
ome other number; clerks are not asked
o sleep in rooms In which there have
leen dead folks. and there is a general
disposition evident on the part OF hotel
,roprietors TO avoid running against su.
lerstitious snags. They figure that there
viii be less travel on Friday than on any
'ther day, and the steward makes pro.
'ision accordingly Some clerks. II WINS
aid by one Of them, are apt 10 look upon
Friday travellers as unmckv. but so nm
Il