IRISH TIMES ODDITIES: Allen Fosterreveals some of the stranger stories from The Irish Timesarchive
CROCODILE IN LAKE
A crocodile, 4½ feet long and with not a tooth missing, is loose in the Lake of Geneva, where thousands of visitors bathe.
The crocodile had been kept in an artificial pond near the lake until its owner released it the other day to see it in its natural surroundings for a short time. The crocodile scared by bathers, swam into deeper waters, and has not been seen since.
August 11th, 1950
WANTED - FROGS - FOURPENCE EACH
There is a shortage of frogs for dissection purposes in the physiological departments of universities and hospitals. If you have ambitions or proved ability as a frog-catcher, then choose your swamp and go ahead. The price quoted is 4 shillings a dozen. The frog shortage has always existed. A steady demand, amounting to several thousands in the year, used to be supplied from London and Germany. Now that foreign frogs are barred, students and research workers are finding it difficult to keep going. "No one seems interested in collecting them," said Prof J Bayley Butler. "Of course, we need only large specimens, and in quantities of dozens at a time. There is no good in offering frogs unless you are prepared to guarantee delivery." Loose in moss-lined boxes in the usual manner of packing. The best time of the year is just about now, when the frogs, well fed and contented, are looking for their hibernating quarters. There is no data available as to the best method of frog-hunting, but a pair of gum-boots, rolled-up sleeves, and a quick eye would seem to be all that could be required.
October 4th, 1941
FISH SHOOTS FISHERMAN
A large pike hooked by Joe Benoit, a French-Canadian trapper from Manitoba, revenged itself by killing its captor. Benoit landed the fish, and placed it, apparently dead, beside his rifle in his canoe while he went on fishing. The pike came to life, threshed about, and touched off the trigger of the loaded gun, the bullet killing Benoit.
December 21st, 1933
PIG CARRIED INTO COURT
At Bridlington Police Court on Saturday John Birkinshaw, labourer, was charged with stealing a pig from his employer, George Thomas Foley, a restaurant-keeper. He said that Foley gave him the pig as part wages. Great amusement was caused by the introduction of the pig itself to the Bench. Two stalwart constables carried in the grunting pig in a crate and placed it beside the dock. The accused was discharged. The question then arose as to the ownership of the pig. Birkinshaw had sold it to a dealer named Tom Barrow for £1 17shillings, and immediately the case was decided, Barrow rushed out of court and took possession of the pig.
Foley, too, had gone out for the same purpose, but returned and reported that Barrow had seized his pig. Within a remarkably short time Barrow had the crate smashed up, and the pig was on its way to a local sausage factory.
September 4th, 1909
BIG MISTAKE
A young man named Michael Burke was using a lighted candle near an acetylene tank in the premises of Michael O'Connell, vintner, Kocklong, when an explosion occurred. He was afterwards found bleeding profusely from the ears and nose.
October 14th, 1911