The Olneyville tribune. (Providence, R.I.) 1893-189?, 1894-05-05
SOMEWHAT STRANGE.
ACCIDENTS AND INCIDENTS or
EVERYDAY LIFE.
Queer Facts and Thrilling Adventures
Which Show that Truth is Stranger
Than Fiction.

'OSE OF the best pieces OF detect
i've work | ever saw, said James G.
Sutter, OF San Francisco, was don,
by private detective Of little or NJ
reputation at the time in our city
A swell restaurant was completely
demoralized by a series OF petty
thefts. It's plated ware, which had
to be OF a high quality, was stoler
freely, and it frequently happened
that the pockets Of overcoats on the
racks were pilfered. The proprietor
recognizing that his living was al
stake, offered an excessively large re.
! ward for the detection OF the thief,
/ and the detective / refer to under.
/ took the job. He planned out series
! Of mirrors, reversing the dodge OF
portion OF u figure invisible, and so
! planning the glasses that he could
overlook the entire room while seated
at little table in the far corner.
His planning involved some little ex-
pense and seemed so far-fetched that
he had some difficulty in persuading
the proprietor to adopt the idea. He
had his own way at last, and then,
when everything was ready, he ar
ranged TO have little more silver
ware than usual scattered around and
made his observations. He caught
three men on the first day, but right
ly supposing the work was being
done by gang, who were doubtless
operating other houses, he had the
three shadowed and continued his
observations the following day. He
finally captured seven, and traced
their operations to nearly every hotel
and restaurant in the city. He has
never made public the exact secret
OF his angles in the looking-glasses
but has popularized himself so much
among the hotel fraternity that he
has never lacked for work, and has
got in the way OF refusing Jobs in
other lines.
A LETTER from Marseilles, France,
relates the dramatic suicide Of NJ.
Semama, II rich foreigner who settled
in that town many years ago. He
was an extremely eccentric gentle
man, who had converted the villa he
owned in the Prado into IA paradise,
where, in immense conservatories,
he cultivated fruits and flowers in all
seasons Of the year. He would have
all the fruits on the trees within
reach Of his hand, and every branch
which grew too high was cut off.
About two years ago he decided upon
the manner Of his death, and by his
orders an under his superintendent
a lofty and spacious vault was con-
structed i'm the corner Of his garden
This vault, which could be hermeti-
cally sealed, was furnished with a
reclining chair, two large caudelabra
and two immense pans, which were
kept constantly filled with charcoal
ready for lighting. On several occa-
sions NJ. Semama entered the vault
after having had the candelabra
lighted by his servants; but until
yesterday he had done nothing but
mediate there. Yesterday, how
ever, he waited until his servant had
withdrawn and then set fire to the
charcoal. He stretched himself on
the reclining chair, in which position
he was found dead soon afterward.
Is France there exists an order
OF merit founded by the Society for
the Prevention Of Cruelty to Animals
of which the members are dogs who
have distinguished themselves by
deeds Of bravery. A tastefully de-
signed "collar Of honor" is awarded
to the nominees of the order. Among
the animals already decorated in this
way one of the most decorated is
Bacchus, large bulldog, whose
speciality it is to stop runaway horses
by jumping up and seizing them by
the bride. Bacchus's master resides
in the Rue Biscornet. 1t is cnlcu-
lated that the intelligent beast has
already saved the lives of eight per-
sons, If not more, in this way. Pa
taud, another bulldog, received n coll
lar in 1887 for saving his mistress
from the attack Of footpad; and !
Turk, n splendid Newfoundland, has
had similar honor for saving three
young children from drowning on
different occasions.
ONE of the Princes Of Baden had
curious experience in Rome few
weeks ago. He was invited to a gar
den party by King Humbert, and,
thinking to get to the palace sooner,
dismissed his carriage and walked to
the palace door. The concierge of
the palace did not know him, how
ever, and declined to admit him when
he insisted upon the right to pass by
her. To make matters worse, he did
not speak Italian, and the concierge
tinallycalled two guards to arrest him.
As they were in the act of conducting
the Prince to the guardhouse, King
Humbert happened to see the trio
from the window and hastily sent
one of his adjutants to free the Prince.
OF course abject apologies were made;
but the Prince enjoyed the adventure
and laughed heartily in recounting |
il to his friends that afternoon. The |