IRISH TIMES ODDITIES/HARE JUMPS INTO RESCUER'S ARMS:TWO WELL-KNOWN Castlebar sportsmen – TP Flanagan, county surveyor, and JP McCormack, contractor – had an unusual experience while fishing on Lough Mask. During a very heavy shower of rain both anglers took shelter on the larger of two islands near the Cushlough side of the lake. About 20 yards or more separated the two islands, writes ALLEN FOSTER.
When the shower ceased the men were pushing off from the island in their boat, when they heard the shrieks of an animal of some kind coming from the direction of the other island. They ceased rowing the vessel, and turning round they observed a fully-grown hare being chased by a weasel on the smaller island.
In a flash the hare jumped into the water and swam towards the other island, closely pursued by the weasel. Mr Flanagan and Mr McCormack decided to row back to the large island on which they had taken shelter, and on which the hare and weasel had both now landed. The exhausted hare heard the noise of the men coming ashore, and it rushed forward and jumped right into Mr McCormack’s arms, with the weasel in pursuit. As the weasel was rushing towards him, Mr McCormack, though holding the hare carefully, managed to fire a shot at the hare’s pursuer, but owing to the length of the grass the weasel escaped. Notwithstanding the fact that a shot had been fired at it, the weasel insisted on following the two men with the hare. Mr McCormack again raised his gun, which he usually carries with him, and this time succeeded in killing the weasel. The men afterwards released the hare.
October 3rd, 1935
HONEYMOON IN A CAVE
THE NEW York correspondent of the Daily Mail, says John Otto, a hermit, who dwells in a cave in a canyon (a deep valley with steep slopes) in Colorado, has obtained a divorce from his wife, who was brought up in a palatial home in Boston. An artist and sculptor, Mrs Otto rode into the mountains of the west four years ago in search of adventure. She found a husband in Mr Otto, who was intended for the ministry, but preferred to live in close touch with nature. The couple were married before the altar hewn out of the rock by the bride, a woman of splendid physique, six feet in height.
The couple set up housekeeping in a cave 10,000 feet above sea level. But the city-bred bride soon grew weary of her life as a caveman’s wife.
In a few months she returned to her parents’ comfortable home. Mr Otto charged her with deserting him.
February 4th, 1914
PINT-DRINKER STANDS ON HIS HEAD
DES BLUETT, a 19-year-old student at University College, Galway, made his contribution to a £1,000 collection for charity yesterday by drinking two pints of stout standing on his head. Des, who finished the pints in four minutes 50 seconds flat, claims to have set a new record for upside-down drinking with his feat, which was accomplished in a crowded bar in Eyre Square.
The stunt was part of UCG’s College Week festivities to collect money for local charities. Graham Greenwood (18), of Yarmouth, according to the Guinness Book of Records, drank 1 ½ pints upside down last June.
February 21st, 1970