IRISH TIMES ODDITIES:A steeplejack engaged at the chimney, which is 260 feet high, of Messrs Wm Barbour and Sons' thread works will remember the close of the year 1910, writes Allen Foster
When within ten feet of the top of the chimney he lost his hold of the hand-rope by which he raises and lowers himself, with the result that he began to fall at a fearful rate. However, when about 14 feet from the ground, he struck a steam pipe which pitched him off his seat into an adjoining tree, and, falling on the grass beneath, he escaped without the slightest injury.
He resumed his work at the meal hour, and appeared to have been unconcerned at his narrow escape from a terrible death. January 2nd, 1911
COURT ORDERS HAIR CUT!
A 14-year-old boy, with auburn curls hanging down to his shoulders, had his hair cut for the first time yesterday in Johannesburg on a magistrate's orders.
The boy's parents were charged with "mentally ill-treating" him by not letting him have a haircut.
The mother told the magistrate: "When he was 20 days old I received a Divine message that scissors or razor must never be put to his hair."
The father did not interfere to avoid hurting his wife's feelings.
The parents returned to court later with their son, who was beaming happy and minus his curls, to show that the order had been carried out. August 4th, 1954
SNAKE CHARMER CHARGED
Because he ordered a snake to bite one of his audience, as the result of which the man died, a snake charmer at Twante, in Burma, has been committed for trial on a charge of manslaughter.
It was stated that he invited the man on to the stage to help him with a trick.
He then picked up the snake, put it round the man's neck, and said: "Bite, bite." The man was bitten on the arm and died in a few hours. February 14th, 1934
MASQUERADING AS A PIG
At the station of Heinsburg, a small Rhineland village, three young men handed in a large and heavy hamper to be transported to a village some miles away. They declared to the railway officials that it contained a "fat pig". Grunts emanating from the hamper supported their statement. By the time the hamper had reached the station of destination the "fat pig" had become extraordinary restless. Concerned for its welfare, the officials forced open the lid. Out jumped a very fat young man, who ran for his life from the station premises. He had engaged in the escapade as the result of a wager. February 24th, 1930
ARMOUR-PIERCING HAIL
Just how hard it has been hailing in the Orange Free State can be judged from the fate of a large mountain tortoise.
The tortoise could carry a man on its back with ease, but has been killed by hailstones which penetrated the hard shell and went half way through the tortoise's body. January 29th, 1934
MICE RAID RAILWAY STATION
Coming apparently "out of the sky" a plague of mice, numbering millions, has invaded the Nullabor plains, along the trans-Australian Railway.
The stationmaster of Loongana says that miles of the country are infested with this latest pest. While he was attending to the passengers of a train thousands of mice entered his office, and began to devour a roll of one hundred £1 notes.
Every house in the district has been invaded, the unwelcome visitors attacking everything, even furniture and bedding. March 4th, 1931