Miscellany: Music

“TIME brings all things.”

In Water Valley. Miss., Henry Brassell and his wife had been listening for 20 years to the “music” of Illinois Central trains hurtling past their house. One day they detected a new sound, rushed out to the tracks, found a split rail over which the express had miraculously passed, flagged the next train, were praised for preventing a sure wreck.

Hero

In Kelso. Wash., Albert Seifert. bank robber, was shot in the back and captured by C. A. Button, bank president, while he was escaping with a sack of silver. But C. A. Button was not the hero, said Robber Seifert. It was P. E. Federson. the cashier. “He outsmarted me when he put so much silver into the sack … so heavy I couldn’t run with it.”

Lemons

On State Street in Boston’s financial district, Louis Malcado, 19, sold lemons without a permit, was arrested. Said the judge: “Young man. don’t you know that State Street is reserved to bankers for selling lemons?”

Endurance

In Glens Falls, N. Y., Harry Caswell,handcuffed to the wheel of an automobile in a 100-hour driving endurance test, drove into a barn to avoid a rainstorm. The backfire of his motor set ten tons of hay ablaze. As the flames licked at his clothes, he picked the lock of his manacles with a hairpin, escaped.

Deadhead

In Manhattan, a Mrs. Novick. 250 lb.,bought a railroad ticket for nearby Beacon, refused to get off when the train reached Beacon, rode free to Albany. At Albany Detective Harold Collar found her still obstinate, called a physician. The railroad car was hauled to a siding, the physician gave her a hypodermic injection, took her away in an ambulance.

Signal

In Cincinnati. Mrs. Margaret L. Pogue,motorist, extended her arm to give a traffic signal. A bale of straw fell from a passing truck, struck her arm, broke it below the elbow.

Squatter

In Denver, Colo., Mrs. Mary Benson, middle-aged and stout, squatted in the tub for her bath, got wedged under the faucets, grew weak, could not pull herself out. Four days later Mrs. F. A. Jones, a neighbor, discovered her plight and called the police, but in her excitement gave the wrong address. When she telephoned again the operator said it was a funny story but not to bother her any more. After still a third call, police came to fetch Neighbor Jones for questioning as a suspicious character, but she induced them to visit the entubbed Mrs. Benson. There they met a squad of firemen. They covered Mrs. Benson, fed her, pried her loose.