STRANGE STORIES FROM AMERICAN PAPERS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 256, 26 October 1907, Page 13

STRANGE STORIES FROM AMERICAN PAPERS.

NAIL IN HIS SKULL. A remarkable discovery (says the "Brooklyn Eagle") was made by the surgeons of Williamsburg Hospital while they were operating on the skull of William V. Albright, who fell from the elevated structure being erected across the Brook'yn plaza of the Williamsburg bridge. The surgeon came across a. hard substance embedded in the skull, aud a closer examination disclosed it to be the head of a nail. It proved to be a nail fully three inches loug, which had pentrated the brain. The associates of Albright say he has had a remarkable career since he became au iron worker. He has had several 30 and 40 feet falls, and one S7-feet fall from a New Liverpool bridge. One time he fell 100 feet from a bridge in Pennsylvania into the water, and was nearly drowned before being hauled ashore. MURDER BY A BURGLAR. The wife of Lieut. Frank Rorschach, of the cruiser Tennessee, was murdered nt her home in Portsmouth, Virginia, on Sept. 10th. Lieut. Rorschach is with Admiral Evans's fleet at target practice off the New England coast. His wife, his son Frank, aged seven, tfnd a younger son, aged five, lived in a cottage near a lumber mill, which negroes frequently pass. Mrs Rorschach, awakened by an unusual sound, went to the kitchen with a revolver in her right hand aud a lamp in her left. She shot twice at a man, who wrenched the revolver from her, placed his own weapon against her breast, and shot her dead. Suspended by a ribbon around her neck was a bag containing a large sum of money and valuable jewellery, but the murderer fled without disturbing it. Bloodhounds took the murderer's scent, but lost it, BRIDAL PARTY IN BATHING DRESS. A submarine wedding is the latest novelty. On Thursday, Mr George Fairman, of Brooklyn, and Miss Alberta Michel, of Scran ton, were married at the bottom of the New York Hippodrome tank, containing 14ft of water. They, their friends, and the minister wore bathing suits, ami the mermaids who regularly appear iv the spectacular production attended, the bride. After the ceremony Father Neptune rjlaced a hundred dollars in the hands of the couple. When it became known that the Hippodrome contemplated a submarine wedding twenty-seven young couples sought the privilege of embarking ou the sea of matrimony under the auspices of King Neptune. £9,000 DAMAGES. Having eloped a year ago with a Pennsylvanian heiress, Mr William Wirsing on September 6th, secured at Union Town a verdict for £0000 damages against the lady"s father, Mr James K. Smith, who shot him and rendered his right arm useless at the end of the honeymoon. Mr Smith is now- serving a sentence of five years' imprisonment for the crime. STRIKE AT A FUNERAL. Two thousand persons attended the funeral service of a wealthy butcher at a Roman Catholic Church in Brooklyn on September G. After the body had been placed in the hearse the mourners Intending to drive to the cemetery l"ft the church, but found that their drivers had deserted their posts. Seeking an explanation, the mourners learned that the trouble was duo lo tl>" drivers belonging to three separate and antagonistic labour unions, the merits of which were angrily dlscussrd while the priest was saying Mass. The undertaker vainly appealed to the men to drop an unseemly quarrel, l.ut every minute the mob increased, and the police reserves were summoned. The captain tried to reason with the men. They continued defiant, until he read the Fcftion of the Penal Codr relating to the blocking of traffic and interference with funerals. Fearful of arrest, the drivers agreed to go to the cemetery. The hoarse went alone, then the carriages followed along three separate routes, as the members of each union refused to drive behind the members of any other. MR. ROOSEVELT'S SON DESERTS. Kermit. the second son of Mr. Roosevelt, tried to march with a troop of cavalrymen from Kansas to Illinois. After eight days he deserted. The reason of Kermlt's desertion was the undue attention paid him by women. They would, it is said, peer Into his tent, smile at him while ho was filling his pipe, and pester him with numberless attentions. The climax was reached at Joi-lyn, Illinois, when an elderly woman Invaded the tent while he was asleep, awaking him by affectionate pats on the cheek. Then he fled. DENTIST BLAMED FOR A DEATH. George Davis, aged 38, diPd on August 20 in the County Hospital of Chicago from what physicians diagnosed as a broken neck. Davis entered the hospital a week before, complaining of pain in the neck and of his right arm being paralysed. The day after he was attacked by severe pains in the spinal column. Davis said that he had been to a dentist lo have a tooth extracted. The tooth was difficult to pull, and th.o dentist jerked him severely. The physicians believed that the dentist had dltlocated a portion ot the spinal column at the neck. The name of the dentist is not known. ROBBERY AT REVOLVER'S MUZZLE. Soon sfter the Rock island express left Murdock, Nebraska, early on the morning of September C, three passengers bent low so that their faces were hid. A moment later the three arose, each having his face masked. Holding a revolver In each hand, they commanded the passengers to keep their seats and place their pocket-books in the hats of two of the robbers, who wcut along th.° aisle to collect them. Meantime the third bandit covered the car with revolvers. While the passengers were handing over their money, the conductor, revolver in hand, ei'lercd th 3 car. Promptly fonr revolvers were levelled at him, aud he obeyed the order to drop his weapon. The bandits attempted to enter the sleeping car, but the door was locked, aud they abandoned the attempt. They jumped from the train when it slowed down because of a heavy gradient. How much booty they got is unknown. FIGHT WITH A SHARK. The arrival at San Francisco of tho big steamer Arizonian brought a harrowing tale of a battle between Frank Fonda, a member of the crew, and a shark In the waters at Saliva Cruz, in which the Fhark with its teeth tore the forearm almost off the unfortunate sailor. Three fingers were ground in the massive jaws of the big fish, while Fonda's right foot was almost severed. The tragedy occurred on a hot day while the Arizonian was lying at Salina [ Cruz. About 40 members of the crew n-ent I in bathing among the breakers. Fonda's companion observed him waving his arms wildly in the air as if to beat off something, and then sink beneath the waves. They thought, however, that he was playing the drowning joke, aud laughed. Soon the water where Fonda had been swimming became dyed a blood red, and the man's companions secured a boat and. put

out to save him. As they approached, the spot where the blood coloured the water there was a swish, and the shark, coming to the surface, rolled over, displaying its glittering belly. In the jaws the men could plainly see a piece of Fonda's foot. Two of the men beat the shark oft with oars, and then diving brought to the surface the mutilated body of the fireman.

He wae taken ashore and found to be still living. A litter was made upon which Fonda was placed and taken to the hospital. He is now (says the San Francisco Chronicle") at the hospital at Salina Cruz flghting between life and death. His hair had turned from a jet black to white, it is expected that he will lose his right foot and several of hie flngers. The shark measured 10ft in length.