Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1893-01-07
SOMEWHAT STRANGE.
ACCIDENTS AND INCIDENTS OF
EVERY DAY LIFE.
Queer Facts and Thrilling Adven-
lures Which Show That Truth Is
Stranger Than Fiction.

1.-THE one that takes the ribbon over any
have ever seen mentioned was bet. lost,
and paid by an enthusiastic Greenbacker
many years ago One of these enthu-
slasts at that time. whose view of the
political situation was seen through the
keate-hued spectacles of a reform
In, was certain that man bv the
he of Brown would be elected Gov
Or of Missouri, and bet everything he
u0H except the clothing on his back and
young wife. Either his affection for
his wife or his knowledge of law pre-
vented his making a wager of her, so as
a last bet he wagered his services for a
year against $500 "Of course he lost,
and, borrowing few dollars from a
friend, he sent his wife back 'to her
folks in Missouri, while he presented
himself to the saloon keeper in Denver
with whom he had made the bet The
latter, more as a joke than anything else,
grubstaked him and sent him out to
prospect. The first month a small find
rewarded his labors and cupidity then
caused the saloon keeper to insist on the
payment of the wager in full. TO cur
tail the narrative, he carried out his
wager of a years service scrupulously.
and located two more mines, from which
the winner, though now wealthy, is still
drawing dividends. Upon the fulfil
ment of his obligation he sent for his
wife, and is now employed by one of
the street car companies of Denver at
about $50 month, and will probably
never get a'ove that figure.
AT the head of the extensive widening
of the st. Johns River, in Volusia town
ship, Florida, that is known as Lake
George, lie two or three swampy islands.
One of these has few acres of ground
that stand high enough out of the water
TO encourage orange trees and other
remuuerative growths, and also to afford
room for cabin. The cabin is occupied
and the trees are cultivated by queer
old fellow who has built a long ram
shackle bridge from dry land to little
dock that stands in the sedge close to
the main channel Here the steamer
stops on his signal to take oranges and
letters, or to deliver flour and other
groceries. He is a hermit who seldom
ventures to the mainland. Passengers on
the river steamers occasionally see him
busted about the little shed on his wharf.
an extraordinary figure in homespun
suit of brown, with patch of startling
white on the seat of his trousers and an
Undesirable hat that may once have
been plug but that has been
chopped and banged and battered and
unroofed until it resembles the wreck of
Napoleonic chapeau more than any
thing else lie is indifferent to criticism.
however, for he lives apart from men.
His nearest neighbor is a lighthouse
keeper, who would have to hunt for him
with telescope. Some affect to believe
that in his younger days he was pirate.
A VERY strange freak of nature is re-
ported from Roseburg, S. c. 1t is a
baby, whose right hand bears the imprint
of a human face. The face occupies the
entire palm, and is as clearly outlined as
though painted on porcelain. 1t is the
countenance of little child about three
years old lying asleep, with the eyelashes
drawn in fine dark lines on the full
checks. The mouth seems to be slightly
parted, and the lips are dcicately tinted
The baby whose hand contains this
singular portraiture is the clid of Clarke
Osborne, a merchant of Roscburg. and
Mrs. Osborne declares that the face in
the infants palm is that Of little girl
she lost about three months ago. Rcla-
tives and intimate friends profess to be
able to see Il strong resemblance to the
dead child. When the baby was first
4, L.
the hands, and with a loud cry tainted
away, but on coming to herself exhibited
the little creatures hands to the
attendants, who saw at once the strange
likeness to the dead and gone sister,
. Mrs. Osborne was at first much frightened
's2yer the singular circumstance, but at
last became convinced that the strange
portrait was sent to comfort her The
image on the palm was clearer the first
few days of the baby's life than now, and
It's thought to be gradually fading away
A LITTLE post office near Winners.
on the main line of the PENNSYLVANIA
Railroad, enjoys the unique distinction
of being the only Office in the country
wherein dog oiliciates as assistant post
master Postmaster Mussclman's canine
assistant is little st. Charles spaniel
called Beauty upon whom has dcvolved
for five years the task OF bringing from
Winners Station, half mile distant.
the bundle of morning papers from Phil
adelphia. Two bundles, large and
small one are thrown of at the station.
says the Philadelphia Record. Regularly
every morning Beauty trots over the
fields to the station and patiently awaits
the arrival of the train. When the two
bundle, are thrown oil Beauty sezcs the
smaller one in her mouth and trots di
fectly home. She never makes mis-,
take, always taking the small bundle
neither does She loiter along BIS the road
eide, but covers the distance between
Witmer's and the cross -rouds post office
at a speed that would almost do credit
60 Nancy Hanks herself. Beauty has
been assistant postmaster almost since
her birth, and could hardly be replaced.
A MOST peculiar custom which has
been preserved since the Middle Age. no
Friburgcn Bdsgau is that Of climbing
the cathedral tower upon The anniversary
Of the birth Of the reigulng Duke oi
Baden. This tower il 400 feet high. aud
10 scale ID from the ground ID ItH auex l.