IRISH TIMES ODDITIES
TWELVE YEARS DELAY
A postcard posted “somewhere in France” on July 12th, 1915, by driver Robert Cooper, of the Armoured Car Section of the British Expeditionary Force, has been delivered after 12 years to his mother in Dunmurray, Belfast. Fortunately, Driver Cooper was one of those who returned.
December 6th, 1927
STRANGE COINCIDENCES
In the small town of Zeitz, in Prussian Saxony, lived two women; Frau Schmidt and Frau Feustel, occupying adjoining rooms in the same house. In February, 1881, each was made on the same day the mother of triplets, all boys. This was a decidedly curious coincidence in births.
The Rev Busch, of Winona, Minnesota, whose five children were all born on Sunday, has been the subject of some newspaper paragraphs, but his case is less noteworthy than that of a resident of Middletown, Connecticut, three of whose four children have the same birthday – November 16th.
A less remarkable coincidence is noted in the case of Mrs William Minning, of Mount Auburn, Ohio, who celebrated on one day the anniversary of her birth, of her wedding, and of the birth of a grandchild. Why should accident have ordained that the SAE company of minstrels should have visited Washington on the day that President Garfield was inaugurated, on the day that his remains were borne in state to the capitol, and on the day that the oration was pronounced upon him by Mr Blaine?
An odd coincidence was reported not long ago. In 1862 a fire destroyed the city of Kingston, Jamaica. On the day of the fire Aaron de Cordova was born. Aaron de Cordova’s grandfather was the first man on the island who erected a building. After the fire three months ago in the same place the present Aaron de Cordova was the first man who erected a building.
It was a curious fate which ordained that the son of the Austrian Baron Carl von Hofer, and Andrea Hofer’s great grandson, should perish by a bullet discharged during a rifle match, being the fifth member of this distinguished family slain by such a wound.
Three years ago one Lewis Hiltz, of Independence, Missouri, killed Josep Melody, but was acquitted on the ground of insanity. Two years later, on the same day and at the same hour he received a fatal sunstroke on the same spot where he committed the crime.
Coincidences relative to deaths are numerous if not always noteworthy. On April 19th, 1882, Edward Goss was buried at Troy, in this state, from the same house at which, in 1870, the same clergyman had buried his brother James. Both brothers died on the same day of the month at the same hour.
May 26th, 1883
49 YEARS IN BED
There was buried on Friday last a man named James Lavelle, of Drumsloe, near Clones, who spent an unbroken period of 49 years in bed.
At the age of 11 he met with an accident that caused spine trouble, from which he never recovered. In order to contribute to his support he learned to do crotchet work, at which he became proficient. He lived with a sister, who cared for him and managed a small holding near the Northern Border.
September 28th, 1927