Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 216, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 September 1918 — TALES FROM BIG CITIES [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

TALES FROM BIG CITIES

Farmer’s Shot at “Pesky Snake” Proved Costly

VORK, PA.—When Jacob Miller shot at a big blacksnake that invadedhis 1 farm near here the other day, using an old musket (fiat lie carried for three years in the Civil war, he had,not stopped to figure out the possible

consequences. The snake, as before Stated, was a big one, and as Miller had been missing chickens as well as eggs, he at once decided that the sixloot reptile was the guilty culprit and one that ought to be put out of business. It had been many years since he had fired the old war weapon, but as it was still in pretty fair condition he concluded to use it in dispatching the snake. He loaded it with an ample charge of coarse powder, rammed in a

sufficient amount of paper wadding, poured in a small handiut or oucasnou followed by more paper and some burdock leaves, and then .started out in search of the snake. It was not long before the black reptffe was seen emerging from beneath the back of the barn. When the snake saw Miller It started toward the lane leading past the dwelling house. Miller took good alm and pulled the trigger. He missed the intruder, but scored a hit on a basket of clothes that he had left upon the back porch. Anyway, the wadding of the gun struck the basket and set it afire. The blaze soon spread to the sun-beaten porch and presently the entire back part of the house was in flames. The flames spread quickly and by the time Miller had regained his seet—he had been knocked down by the “kick” of the musket—he realized that the structure was doomed. Nothing was left when the fire had burned itself out. but the slight wind that was blowing carried the sparks and flying embers toward the roadway, thus saving his barn and other outbuildings. “Of course, I feel my loss,” said the farmer, after it was all over, “but I can’t jest get over missing that pesky snake. Guess I must hev overloaded the old musket, as she generally hit whatever I shot at back in then ’sixties. Or mebbe I can’t shoot as straight as I useter. But I’ll get that sneakin’ reptile yet, es he stays 'round here long enough.” - ‘ , Youngster Yearned , for the Delights of Big City PITTSBURGH. —Very naive and not the least affrighted by brass buttons and blue coats and all the austere paraphernalia of a police court, Veral Ciughenour, aged fourteen, giving his occupation with evident disdain as

“school kid,” walked into Central police station hand in hand with Patrolman Barney Mangin. “Here comes Mangin with another Of his urchins,” commented Lieut. John Callan, as he caught the approach in Cherry way of & piping voice relating things to Barney that caused that worthy to burst out in stentorian guffaws. Who’d ever thought Barney had arrested the child? But, child or patriarch, there have been many partakers of Central station hospitality

who declared it was a real pleasure to be arrested by Barney. -“Where ya from?" questioned the sergeant. ' “From Berlin!” laconically replied Veral. “Where? I didn’t get that,” and the sergeant leaned over his high desk. “Berlin I” came the confirming reply; “from Berlin, Pa.” It turned out that Veral, with a French cognomen, had departed his home town in the first place because of its name and in the second place because he wanted to see a big league baseball game before the leagues were knocked galley west by Secretary Baker’s order. And Pittsburgh promised him both relief from the one and expectation of the other. “How’d ya expect to eat?” quizzed the persistent sergeant “I should worry!” quoth Veral, as he drew from a trouser pocket a miscellaneous fistful of dollar bills, top strings and white stones. “Whew!” ejaculated Sergeant Baumgratz. “You’n me should both worry, huh?” put in Veral, as Barney took his hand and led him to the matron’s sanctum to await word from his parents in Berlin.

Probably Last Time He Will Pet Grizzly Bear

BOSTON. —Carl Hulner of Billerica and a pet grizzly bear both reached for the same bag of peanuts at Lexington park. In the scramble bruin got the peanuts and such a large portion of Hulner’s right arm that doctors fear

the rest‘"of it will have to be amputated. The man, who is about fifty years old, thinking more of providing a few minutes’ entertainment for the group of persons who had gathered before the park bear cage than of his own personal safety, ventured inside the guard rail that surrounds the cage to assume the temporary role of an animal tamer. Bruin, scenting the odor of the fresh-roasted peanuts, welcomed Hul-

ner with glowing eyes. Before long the animal and man were lunching together as if they had long been old cronies. For the benefit of the onlookers, Hulner would occasionally pat the black head of his new-made friend and give expression to such exclamations as: “This is my bear.” “Ypu’re my pet,'aren’t you?” “Just as tame as a kitten.” Suddenly the bag of peanuts dropped from Hulner’s hand into the cage. Hulner’s arm accidentally struck in the spot which bears make.lt a point’to guard aS tenderly as possible—the tip of the nose. Apparently thinking the blow intentional, the grizzly dug a clawing paw into Hulner’s arm tvhile grabbing the bag with another. The man did not succeed in freeing his arm until much of the muscle and flesh had been torn from it. Then he scrambled out of the Inclosure and staggered 50 yards before collapsing in a flower bed. While the bear busied himself in eating the peanuts the man was removed to the Symmes hospital at Arlington.

Detroit Police Capture Elusive Girl Burglar

DETROIT.— Stella Brentkowskl, “girl burglar,” was on her way to keep a date when Detective Fred W. Behrendt and other officers from the Bethune avenue station accosted her. “All dolled up, she was,” said Behrendt

“Had to look twice before I knew her." The police interrupted the keeping of the date —for a while. They wanted to know where Stella got all those good clothes. And they say they learned the clothes came from the apartments of Ernestine Stumvoll and Miss Julia Latham, which had, been reported robbed. The police were going to prevent Stella from keeping the date, but said Stella: “I gave that fellow e diamond ring and a signet ring tc

make him sure to remember his engagement." So the police kept the engagement along with the girl and they found, Behrendt says, that the young man had the rings, the property of Miss Stumvoll. Afterward, Behrendt says, Stella was also accused of entering the apart ments of Margaret Sullivan and Ada Maltry. And the police are still look Ing for owners of three women’s hats, an umbrella, several skirts, bracelet and a JtPg- They found this property in apartments which had been robbed and it did not belong there, Behrendt says. ( It was in this way they got their clue to Stella when she was arrested for a series of similar escapades a short time ago, It was found she sometimes abandoned property she had taken in one place when she stole from another. She was then convicted only of simple larceny and placed on probation. This time she faces the serious charge oflarcenv from a dwelling.