Entries Tagged 'Weird Stuff' ↓

It goes till it is stopped. There is in the window of a store on Post Street, between Montgomery and Kearney, a small apparatus constructed almost entirely of glass that is attracting a great deal of attention, and there is not one who looks at it but exclaims: “Perpetual motion!” The inventor of the apparatus is C. F. A. Sturts, who is a practical watchmaker. “I do not call it perpetual motion,” he said yesterday; “it is only an illustration of a scientific problem, but it is as near as perpetual motion will ever be reached. As you can see, the apparatus rests on glass uprights. It is in the shape of a hub with eight arms or spokes, as you might term them. The whole is one piece of glass; the arms, which are hollow cylinders, are part of the hub. The outer ends of the cylinders are solid, but at the inner end there is a small opening. In each cylinder there are two highly polished steel balls a quarter of an inch in diameter, as round as human ingenuity can make them, and each of the same exact weight. The shaft which rests up on the upright is also part of the wheel. When the wheel had been constructed and the balls put in place the air was extracted, just as the air is extracted from an electric light bulb. The reason of this was to allow the little balls to roll in the cylinders without resistance. The little machine was set perfectly level and allowed to turn. The principle is gravity, and the wheel will keep on running until I stop it,” said Mr. Sturts to the San Francisco Call representative. “I will add that it has no power, but just enough to move itself, and that it is not moved by electricity, magnetism or any other outside force.”

It has been the pleasure of The Democrat, as the champion of the under dog in the fight, to say a good word now and then for the homeopathists, the weaker school, every man’s hand, from the supreme bench down to the resident physician, having, at times, been against them. It is now our duty to open the eyes of the citizens of this state to the loss they, and the homeopathic college, sustained when Dr. Morgan was allowed to return to the straight streets and white stoops of Philadelphia. It is of a miracle we would sing, a miracle never dreamed of by Hahne–or any other–man. The heroine’s name is Smith–Jennie Smith. She had been afflicted with chronic spinal disease for sixteen years, during which time she had been confined to her bed, and upon which she would have remained but for a kind Fate which sent her to the homeopathic hospital at Philadelphia and to Dr. John C. Morgan. Did Dr. Morgan vainly and highly attenuate his medicines? Did he dilute to an inordinate degree? No. But he knelt with his patient and poured forth his soul in prayer for her recovery. Far above the noise and bustle of the street cars was heard his invocation. Men came and men went, still he prayed on. Aghast the Philadelphians gazed; even the fire engines were ordered out; but above the shriek of the steam whistle were heard his supplicating tones; and when his voice was so hoarse that he could hardly whisper, and the skin was abraded from his knees, he arose and the maiden’s verbetrae [sic] were as stiff as those of the lonesome democrat who refuses to coalesce. We joyfully regard the possible result of this new system of practice. Where will it end? we ask triumphantly. To think of the gentle Palmer, the militant Franklin, the dignified Dunster, the saintly Donald, the eloquent Frothingham and the keen Jones throwing their saws and their pills, great and small, to the winds. No more the knife; the “new process for spinal curvatures” will be abandoned, for the newer, the supplicatory process, will supersede all. Even the excellent president of the university will petition The Infinite for the saving of the otherwise wholly lost soul of the gentle zephyr who directs the destinies of the Courier and Dr. Chase’s receipt book. So let us rejoice for the glad promise of a better day.

A post-mortem examination on the body of James Ellis, aged 65, who died in Leavenworth, Kan., showed death to have been caused by a pin, swallowed perhaps in childhood.

Some time ago it was announced that bee farming had been taken up at Gennevillers, one of the most loathesome industrial suburbs of Paris. This was treated as a joke, but the news is, our correspondent says, nevertheless true, and the Prefect of the Seine has just received a petition from the inhabitants to abate the nuisance. The bees live upon the sugar refineries of the neighborhood, clearing away all the dust of the roofs, and even landing on the bare backs of the workmen. It has been stated by a sugar refiner that every hive in the neighborhood carries away twenty shillings’ worth of sugar in a year from the factories. He does not, however, complain of this loss, but of the irritation the perpetual buzz inflicts on the workmen.

A curious incident occurred at Ascot. While a large number of pleasant luncheon parties were enjoying the delights of an open-air repast in the gardens behind the grand stand a great swam of bees settled down on the guests around a table in a corner, says London Telegraph. They buzzed and buzzed everywhere. Ladies had bees in their bonnets and gentlemen found their hats turned into striking likenesses of “Catch-’em-alive-oh’s.” Some of the swarm settled on the cold salmon, and other members of it tumbled into the champagne cup. In fact, the bees created the greatest consternation among the ladies and gentlemen in that portion of the grounds. They were gradually drawn off the luncheon party by a gentlemen, to whom occurred the happy idea of treating them to a little music on a metal tray under a tree. After the tapping or tinkling on the article had continued for two or three moments the queen bee settled on the branches above to listen to it, and was at once followed by all the swarm. It was an extraordinary sight to see hundreds of the insects hanging like great black and gold clusters on the tree while the tinklink continued. It ceased with the luncheon, and the bees did no more harm. In the earlier part of the performance a lady was pretty severely stung.

A singular phenomenon was observed in the sixth ward, of this city, on the evening of the 7th inst. the day of the election. About half past seven o’clock in the evening, as the inspectors of the election were sealing up the ballots at Mr. McDonald’s store, a peculiar light was seen near the horizon in the south. For some minutes it was stationary and seemed to expand to the size of a large ham, and then contract almost to a point; then suddenly it shot like a rocket into the heavens at an angle of about 37-½ degrees. As it approached the sixth ward it passed directly over the street east of McDonald’s store, lighting up the entire neighborhood so brilliantly that a newspaper could have been read any where within three and a half blocks. As it passed by with a strange, whirling, buzzing sound, the inspectors of the election, Harry Hill at thei[r] head, rushed ed [sic] to the door and ex-alderman Woodruff says that he clearly detected a sharp sulphurous stench, reminding him of that cheerful theology in which he takes so much spiritual delight. The speed of this rollicking meteor appeared to slacken as it passed by McDonald’s store. Its form seemed to be angular, jagged and grotesque–a witty, laughing rhonibus [sic]. Suddenly the light expanded and in a moment after the aerolite struck the earth with a hiss and a thud. The next morning, as some medical students were going down town, they discovered the exact spot where it struck the ground near the south east corner of Alderman Peebles’ house in the middle of the the street crossing. News of the discovery soon spread in the neighborhood and by 8 a. m. several of the leading men of the ward gathered to “view the remains.” Mr. J. A. Scott, A. Wood, Charles Mc’Omber, Brother Woodruff, Prof. D’Ooge, Prof. Adams, Israel Hall and others were present and were much interested in examining the fragments of this strange visitor from another world, as they lay scattered upon the crossing. Alderman Martin seemed to be much affected, and as he reflected upon the crooked course of the strange fragment and the narrow escape of his friend Peebles from its fall, various and conflicting emotions struggled in his manly breast, and he “grinned a ghastly smile.” Supervisor Brown was there, and as he heard his distinguished constituents discussing the question whence came this remarkable projectile, a charming blush, like unto a maiden’s flush, spread over his benign face and crept beneath the auburn locks of his hair, while those who watched him closely could see a curious twinkle of the eye as he stirred the fragments of this busted aerolite with his cane. As the crowd was about to disperse, Mayor Smith drove furiously to the spot, and mounting the seat of his carriage, cried out, “Were did the lightning strike?” Upon hearing the impertinent inquiry Alderman Peebles, who had been a silent spectator of the gathering, suddenly returned to his virtuous cottage and closed its door upon the scene.

Anna Rossman, a beautiful woman about 22 years old, was found walking the streets of Denver in a somnambulistic condition on a recent afternoon, says the Rocky Mountain News. An Italian fruit vender noticed the strange condut of the young lady near the corner of 15th and Arapahoe streets. She walked into the drug store at the mining exchange, the police were notified and the patient was taken to her home. The case is a very peculiar one, and has before been brought to the attention of the police department during the past two months. On account of the family, all mention of the matter has, until this time, been suppressed. It is evident, however, that the somnambulistic tendencies of the unfortunate woman have become chronic and the peculiar features of the attach are attracting the attention of physicians. Miss Rossman formerly lived in Pueblo. There she attracted attention by her strange performances, walking about the streets apparently awake, but really asleep and totally unconscious of where she was going. Removing to Denver, the same conduct was continued, and the family then went to Cheyenne. They again came to this city and settled at the place they now reside. It is claimed by the friends of the afflicted woman that she is possessed of supernatural powers, is gifted with second sight, and that other strange phenomena are within her control. In these spells she would attract but little attention were it not for the fact that she is utterly oblivious of passing objects and walks before carriages, street cars and other vehicles with recklessness. Otherwise her appearance is that of a person in possession of her normal senses. A little over a month ago she was found at the union depot, and Yardmaster Pierce discovered that she was not aware of where she was. A carriage was called, she was taken to the police station, and afterward to her home. Again on the 7th of March she was found in a similar condition at the Glenarm hotel. One day when Dr. Johnson, the police surgeon, was in a restaurant, Miss Rossman walked in and the waiter thought that she was intoxicated. Grasping the situation, Dr. Johnson left his meal, took the patient’s arm, and quietly walked with her to her home, Miss Rossman being all the while utterly oblivious of the notice she was occasioning from bystanders. The young lady had come from Cheyenne just before her latest sleep-walking experience, and walked from the depot to the place where it was found that she was still asleep. No information could be gained as to what she had been doing at Cheyenne or whether she had made that trip in a somnambulistic state. When the ambulance came to the mining exchange Miss Rossman was taken quietly to the conveyance and realized nothing of the situation until her home was reached. She then awakened out of the deep sleep, but gave no particulars as to her sudden visit north. She is a beautiful blond, has the sympathy of all who know her in the unusual affliction which has befallen a woman who is said to be possessed of a bright mind. When these fits have passed away she knows nothing of what has transpired.

A remarkable story comes from the upper Yakima country, Washington. Two years ago Peter Stromshadt located on a piece of land near what is now known as Borax Springs, his family consisting of his wife and two children. A few days after his settlement Stromshadt discovered a spring close to the shack he had built, the water of which was strongly impregnated with iron, but not unpalatable. Stromshadt dug and deepened the spring, and since July 1893, the family has used the water for all domestic purposes. One night recently a heavy electric storm passed over the cascades, accompanied by vivid displays of lighting. The following day Mrs. Stromshadt, while kindling a fire in the stove, found it almost impossible to separate the stove lifter from her hand. Her husband, hearing her scream, ran to her assistance, when, to his surprise, he found that he, too, experienced great difficulty in detaching any article of iron with which his hands came in contact. Breakfast was finally prepared and the family sat down to the meal. The children, girls of 5 and 7 years respectively, drank their milk from tin cups, and upon raising their cups to their mouths found themselves unable to detach the cups from their lips. Stromshadt, who is an intelligent from Sweden, was nonplused, and while unable to account for the wonderful occurrence, nevertheless laughed at his wife’s exclamations that the family was bewitched. In a letter to a friend he says that the small bed in which the children sleep is upon roller casters. At night when the children are put the sleep the head of the bed is a little to the east. Invariably in the morning the bed is pointing north and south. A member of the Portland, Ore., Academy of Science, to whom the circumstances were related, says that the Stromshadt family has become saturated with iron, which was rendered magnetic by the passage of electricity from the clouds to the earth during the recent electric storm. Stromshadt himself takes the mater philosophically, and aside from the inconvenience of having his head decorated with a fringe of knives, forks and teaspoons, which are attached to him, is inclined to regard the occurrence lightly.