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Orange County |
Miscellaneous News Stories
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Orange County |
A Canandagna, N. York paper, contains the following:
Singular combat -- As captain Metcalf, his son and one or two others from Middletown were on their way to this place, the fore part of last week, they discovered, a few rods from them, a huge Wolf. He had a small trap hanging to one of his legs, which he had been caught in about a week before. Perceiving him fatigued, these men, without dog or gun pursued him, followed him nearly a mile, and completely surrounded him. The wolf finding no means of escaping, turned upon his foe - with his jaws spread, and with the fierceness of a lion he sprung at the son of Mr. Metcalf, who immediately clinched his antagonist by the jaws, while suspended, one in each hand, and held him in that situation until his father came up and cut his throat. This information we received from captain Metcalf and we believe it correct. [The Centinel, Gettysburg, PA, April 4, 1810. Submitted by Nancy P.]
Gentlemen,
The following is an extract of a letter received this day, dated Fincastle, the 14th August, 1810. The circumstances mentioned are so extraordinary, that I conceive it material to publish the information. Should you be of the same opinion, you will be willing to give it a place in your Mercantile Advertiser.
A Subscriber.
Aug. 23. -- “The town of Fincastle has been in a great uproar in consequence of a suicide committed on Friday last at the jail. You may remember an advertisement inserted some time ago in the N. York papers, relative to the elopement of a Mr. Walfingham with the wife and child of a postmaster in Orange County. It appears that Walfingham was an assumed name; and that during his progress to this place he at various items went by several different ones; when he was taken here he called himself Smith. A civil action being commenced against him, and he being unable to find bail to the amount ordered by the magistrates, he was committed to prison; and after a few days confinement, executed that justice upon himself which the laws could not have inflicted. But the only thing which induced me to mention his fate was the mystery which it involves. Before the magistrates, and after committal, he steadily persisted in refusing to reveal his name and after his death, it was found he had not only burnt every article of his clothing that could lead to a discovery of his family, but had also burnt a large sum in bank notes, from an apprehension that they might afford some clue to that object. He has left a paper on the subject of his conduct, which is not written in his common hand, but in round letters. His very boots were cut in small pieces, lest they should betray him and his face and body so mangled as to bear no resemblance to their original appearance. This circumstance has given rise to a variety of conjectures, and will probably afford an exclusive topic of conversation here for a month at least.
[The Centinel, Gettysburg, PA, September 5 1810. Submitted by Nancy P.]
From the Goshen, New York Patriot, January 9
Narrow Escape – On Tuesday morning, 23d December, Mr. Christopher Adams, of the town of Warwick, in the neighborhood of what is called the Long Pond, having an errand to the east side of the Pond, went in a canoe, and Mr. Wayant’s two dogs went round the head of the Pond by land and started, as Mr. Adams thought, a Rackoon, by its plunging in the Pond not far from him and making its course across the Pond. Upon this he pursued it with his canoe, and commenced an attack upon it with his paddle, until he broke it in pieces. But he might as well have struck upon a sea monster, for to his astonishment, it was discovered to be a Wild Cat, of uncommon size, measuring something near four feet in length and about a foot across the breast. He soon got possession of the canoe, when he commenced springing perpendicularly several feet, with his eyes darting fury, snapping and grinning in a most terrific manner. In this dilemma, Mr. A. resigned his commission to his more powerful competitor, by leaping into the water, with powerful effort, causing the boat to recede some feet, by which means the cat fell short of his intended grasp in attempting to seize upon his supposed victim. Mr. A., finding himself pursued, redoubled his exertions for shore, the infuriated animal in close pursuit; at this awful crisis, he called out in a stentorian voice for the dogs, which although on a back track of the animal, were fortunately in hearing in time to rescue him from his impending fate; one seizing him (the cat) by the ear, the other by the hinder leg, in this manner towing him some rods until they arrived at shore. After which, a furious battle ensued, in which the cat would have sustained the mastery, but for the assistance of Mr. A., who had by this time succeeded in gaining the shore, although in a situation truly piteous, being benumbed with cold, which rendered his assistance more feeble, but by their united efforts at length dispatched him. By this time, Mr. A’s clothes were congealed upon him, in which situation he had to remain a considerable length of time, before the inhabitants came to his assistance with another boat. Mr. A. took a violent cold, the dogs were slightly wounded – but all in a fair way of recovery.
["Republican Compiler", Gettysburg, PA, January 21, 1829]
Skeleton of a Giant Found in a Cave With Specimens of Rude Art
Middletown, N. Y., Nov. 16.—Hunters from Susquehanna, Pa., while excavating for a hunt near Shohola Glen discovered a cave in which they found the skeleton of a man of gigantic size. It was swathed in rawhide trappings that kept it in a sitting posture, the knees drawn up to the hand and clasped in a bony embrace with fleshless arms. Near the skeleton were several bowls of reddish clay, almost as hard as flint. A stone tablet was found near the skeleton's side covered with rude pictures of birds and beasts, among them one of a monster half beast, half reptile. A number of implements were also found in the cave, among them a huge ax made of stone and stone spear heads of unusual size.
[The Minneapolis Journal November 16 1901 ]
Prompt Payment of C.B.L. Benefit
Mary Dowd, widow of James Dowd, who died last week received a check from the Catholic Benevolent Legion for $2,000, the amount her husband was insured for in the order. Mr. Dowd died on Thursday and on Monday the papers were forwarded to the Supreme Council. Mr. Dowd was a member of Newburgh Council No ?27. three members of the local council have died with a month and $6,000 has been paid in Newburgh. Each was insured for $2,000 and each one's beneficiary has received the funds. In addition to Mr. Dowd the other members were William Delaney and Patrick Foley. According to the statement of the benefit fund for January, the Supreme Council has available to pay claims $424,484.20.
[Newburgh Journal, Feb 1, 1911 - Submitted by K.T.]
Middle Hope, Jan 31 - The name of Miss Iva Crawford, who recited so nicely at the entertainment last Monday night, was omitted from the program which was published in last Thursday's Journal. Her recitation was Nail the Colors to the Mast, and the encore Courtship on the "l" which were given in her usual accomplished manner. [Newburgh Journal, Feb 1, 1911 - Submitted by K.T.]
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