IRISH TIMES ODDITIES: AN ELEPHANT WAR HERO
Jenny, one of Germany's war heroes, has died at Oberhausen. She was an Indian elephant, who "did her bit" in the German army and was wounded, states Reuter's Cologne correspondent. Until 1900 Jenny was in the service of an Indian prince, but was then sold and brought to Europe to perform tricks in a circus. Later the war came, and Jenny pushed and pulled guns, wagons and other heavy material, her weight of nearly four and a half tons proving very useful. Since the war she had resumed her circus career. December 13th, 1933
ANT SWARMS DELAY BUS
Big swarms of flying ants invaded homes and gardens in Bristol yesterday.
The insects were reported all over the city, and men and women walking along the streets were beating them from their hair and clothing.
The warm weather also brought them out in northwest Kent. A bus was delayed at Bexley while the passengers got out and used rolled up newspapers to beat ants off their clothing. August 4th, 1954
GIRL SLAYS TIGER
Ma Sein, a 20-year-old Shan girl of the Momeik district, was cutting vegetables near her house when suddenly she heard a snarl behind her, writes Reuter's Rangoon correspondent. As she turned, a tiger sprang at her. In a flash, the girl plunged her knife into the animal's side. It fell dead. The only injury the girl sustained was a small wound on the head. January 11th, 1935
BLACK RAIN
Sir, Yesterday (March 26th) there was a heavy storm of rain and hail here, accompanied by lightning and thunder. About three-tenths of an inch of rain fell in 15 minutes. Before the storm the sky was intensely black and threatening for some time, and the light had a sort of copper colour where the clouds were not thick. After the storm I found that the water caught in the rain gauge was quite black, as if diluted with ink. Today the water still retains the black colour, though a good deal of sediment has settled to the bottom. Under the microscope the water is seen to contain quantities of minute black particles, each of which seems to consist of an agglomeration of still smaller specks. I have once or twice heard of black rain falling in the north of Ireland, but never before in the south. Yours, etc,
WFA Ellison,
Fethard-on-Sea, Co. Wexford
March 30th, 1914
THE UGLIEST MAN IN AUSTRALIA
A novel competition, held in Sydney, organised to raise funds for the Limbless Soldier’s Association, has brought fame to Mr Doyle, a cinema actor, who has been elected Australia’s ugliest man by a ballot of four million voters.
Among the well-known Australians who have gained a high place in this “beauties competition” are William Hughes, the famous war Premier of the Commonwealth; JM Gregory, the Australian cricketer; Sir Samuel Horden, and Sir Arthur Rickard.
The competition has produced £18,000 for the Limbless Soldiers' Association. December 19th, 1927
WRONG KNOT TIED
A Venetian, infuriated at the persistence with which a middle-aged widower was paying court to his 14-year-old daughter, tied him to the gate of his house on Sunday night and called the police.
The police cut him loose and reported the incident to the magistrates. January 7th, 1969