IRISH TIMES ODDITIESMore light-hearted exerpts from the archives of The Irish Timesby ALLEN FOSTER
KILLED BY SHOT FIRED AT PIG
A peasant farmer at Hostel in the Rhineland has just been accidentally killed in extraordinary circumstances. Wishing to kill one of his pigs, he decided to shoot at it with a sporting rifle, instead of cutting its throat.
Just as he fired the pig moved and the bullet ricocheted and struck him in the head. He died almost immediately.
January 20th, 1930
BEGGAR AUCTIONS HIMSELF
A cripple of Columbo has "sold" himself for 4s 6d. He announced that he would auction himself and his "begging right" to the highest bidder, the purchaser to have the right to receive all the money he collected in return for his board. A large crowd attended the auction, at which the bidding was brisk.
Eventually 4s 6d was offered, at which price the cripple "knocked himself down". He was carted off promptly by his successful bidder to start earning "dividends".
January 4th, 1934
TOWN WITHOUT CATS
There has been an epidemic of disease among cats in Strabane, and nearly all the cats of the town have been wiped out of existence. The town, as a consequence, is infested with rats, which are to be seen in broad daylight walking over the roofs of the houses and along the streets. A number of country cats have now been brought into the town to replace the others.
June 18th, 1982
SWORDS IN JAPANESE ARMY
Japanese officers may soon be armed with the traditional sword of their ancestors instead of the present European pattern. The military authorities are reported to be considering replacing the present sabres by long-hilted swords made of old-type Japanese steel, which takes an edge like a razor. In support of this return to tradition it is related, states Reuter from Tokyo, that in the fighting last year at Shanghai a Japanese lieutenant, wielding a sword made by one of the famous Japanese swordsmiths, cut completely through the water-jacket and barrel of a Chinese machine gun with a single blow.
January 4th, 1934
BOMB FOR A LOVER
The Vienna correspondent of the Daily Mail, telegraphing on Thursday, says - Three women at Myslovice, discovering that they had all been deceived by the same man, combined to invite him to a rendezvous, where they blew him to pieces with a dynamite bomb.
January 13th, 1911
RUNAWAY AEROPLANE
A Caproni aeroplane was standing empty in the ranks at Ciampino Aerodrome, near Rome, yesterday, ready for the usual trial flight when the mechanic, who had just set the engine running slowly, was surprised to see the propeller revolving rapidly and the machine beginning to run along the ground.
After covering about one hundred yards the aeroplane rose from the ground and made straight for the barracks. It threatened to collide with them, but rose and began a series of acrobatics, which, it is said, the most daring "stunt" aviators might have envied.
It was then caught by the wind, was seen to turn on one side, and after a few moments crashed on the ground in flames. It was feared at first that there might have been someone on board, but the only person missing was the mechanic, who had been getting the machine ready. He was discovered soon afterwards in the middle of the field, where he had been chasing the runaway aeroplane.
It is conjectured that as he was getting out of the cockpit he accidentally opened the throttle fully.
April 2nd, 1930
Culled from the archives of The Irish Times, available online at www.ireland.com/archive