The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1918-11-08
Long, Boney Stranger Prowl
Around North Mankato
SPREADS QUEER POWDEI
Some People Thought That OLD
Man influenza Was Doing
His Worst |

North Mankato had another sensaI
for the village across the river, things
would get dull in this section. When
everything quiets down, then the vii
lage jumps into the lime light with
something new and interesting, and
no reflection is meant to be cast cd
that pretty and enterprising ocmmuni
ity. This time it is a stranger Wild
opens back doors and throws into the
houses some substance that causes the
residents to have spells of sneez-
ing and coughing. People might think
that it was Old Man Influenza, only
some of the residents have seen and
talked with the party.
Yesterday afternoon the eccentric
stranger made the rounds of the por-
ton of the village on Wheeler and
Range streets and vicinity and went
to the back doors and appeared to
throw in something, Us an agent for a
breakfast food or yeast cake might
toss in a sample. He went on rapid
ly, and nobody might have thought
strange of the matter if people who
went into the Kitchens, to see what
had caused the door to open and shut
had not been taken with symptoms of
influenza. Almost everybody got to
coughing and sneeZing and some could
hardly stop.
Found Powder On Floor.
Investigation showed that a very
little powder was on the floor or win
dowsills. Only a pinch of it, not
enough to gather up to be submitted
Ito analysis. Whoever tried to gather
up any found themselves too busy with
the commissions of their respiratory
organs to proceed with the Hawkshaw
business.
1t would appear tnat the man open
ed the door, threw in pinch of powd-
er and went on. Why he did this no
one has vet been able to figure out.
Was he Hun spy, trying to spread
tbs germs of influenza among the
American people? That was a ques-
ton that caused many resident tC
grit his teeth and clench his ilanGs.
Mrs. Buck, whose husband assist
DR.. Henry Vogelpohl to scrape the stu.
BILE from the countenances of the pub
lie at the Saulpaugh barber shop. step
ped out into her back yard before tn.
visitor had time to make his exit an,
hailed him and asked what he ws
doing. The nan said he was inspect
ing back yards with view to hayin;
Them cleaned up before winter should
set in: She was not very well salts
lied with his replies to her questions
and he took the first opportunity t.,
slip away and then strobe around the
house in as speedy manner as though
he was wearing the proverbial seven
league boots.
Others Saw the Man.
Mrs. Buck describes the man as
tall, slim, with bony face, and long
nose, thirty five to forty years old.
and wearing a brown rain coat and
brown hat. One or two other people
also saw him, but got to sneezing be-
fore they got very far in converse
ton and he slipped away.
Just how the powder was scattered
is not known, but sometimes powder
Is put up in small collapsible rubber
bladders that will burst on striking
the floor. There is no evidence thus
far that any of these have been found,
Some of the residents effect to believe
mat the stranger is an escaped inmate
OF the asylum at st. Peter Whatever
he is, his stunt has set the tongues
to wagging.