Shot doing his job

Right royal mistake – Derby Mercury, 26 October 1786: ANECDOTE of the late KING of PRUSSIA. It is well known, that amongst the numerous Body of Prussian Troops, the King formed one Regiment which he call the “Immortal Corps of tall Grenadiers;” so named,...

Fists fly in Elder abuse

Mutiny of Mormon converts – The Shields Daily Gazette and Shipping Telegraph, 18 February 1898: Terrible fight in a train. A special telegram from New York to the Newcastle Journal states that at Cheyenne a carload of 60 Scandinavian converts to...

Baby faced jockey

Tiny hoop wows women – Aberdeen Journal, 24 September 1902: The Sheepshead Bay Racecourse, New York, was the other day the scene of an extraordinary demonstration. A jockey named Washington Breassal, who is only nine years old, rode Ipse Dixit,...

It’s tough at the top

‘Distress’ in London – Bell’s Weekly Messenger, 27 May 1865: (From the Owl.) For the last fortnight accounts have reached us from all sides showing the existence at the present time of a widespread distress throughout the...

Oswego lake monster

Another ‘sea serpent’ sensation – Sheffield Independent 2 July 1867: We know that it has been customary for the manufacturers of the marvellous to revive at intervals the story of the “sea serpent,” which has gone the rounds of...

Hound begs for money

A sagacious dog – Aberdeen Herald and General Advertiser 2 November 1844: A dog, of a mongrel breed, who is well known about Castle Street by the name of “the Doctor,” has been, for some time past, in the habit of begging halfpennies from all and...