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Old Print Article: “Woman of Muscle,” Brooklyn Daily Eagle (1887)

March 30, 2010 in Old Print Articles, Urban Studies | Permalink

Not Barbara Suydam but perhaps a descendant.

The October 22, 1887 issue of the Brooklyn Daily Eagle reported on the dastardly exploits of a muscular woman and her two-fisted henpecking. The story in full:

“Barbara Suydam, of Babylon, being more muscular than her husband, frequently pummeled him and finally turned him out of doors. She removed to Bay Shore and took all of their household goods with her. Mr. Suydam summoned up courage enough to sue out a writ of replevin with his wife five miles away, and is now the possessor of the furniture.”

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    Old Print Article: “A Professional Clown Confronted By His Wife In New York,” Brooklyn Daily Eagle (1887)

    March 28, 2010 in Misc., Old Print Articles | Permalink

    How dare the Hanlon Brothers employ a deadbeat dad as a clown. I'm simply outraged!

    Anytime a clown from the 1880s abandons his wife and children in Paris to move to New York, I’m on the case. That was the transatlantic, clown-centric tale being told on April 10, 1887 in the Brooklyn Daily Eagle.

    The Hanlon Brothers referred to in the piece were a fraternal troupe of acrobats, jugglers and comedians who invented the aerial safety net, which has protected many a high flyer ever since. The story in full:

    “Vassel Pizzarello, a professional clown, was brought to Jefferson Market Court, New York, yesterday afternoon, for abandoning his wife, Marie Pizzarello. The woman says that her husband deserted her and their six children in Paris a year ago. She brought two of the children here some months ago, and since then has been hunting for her husband. She is now staying at 12 Warwick place, New York. The husband had recently became engaged by the Hanlon Brothers to play in “Phantasma” at $4o a week, and was to have left the city last week. William Hanlon came to court with the clown, who was paroled for examination this morning, Mr. Hanlon agreeing to see that he would be present.”

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    Old Print Article: “Women Rioters,” Brooklyn Daily Eagle (1899)

    March 23, 2010 in Misc., Old Print Articles, Politics, Urban Studies | Permalink

    Women are present in this 1863 depiction of a New York City draft riot.

    This old print article from the July 19, 1899 issue of the Brooklyn Daily Eagle is a special kind of chauvinistic crazy. New York in the 19th century was prone to riots of all kind (gang, labor, race, draft, drunken, etc.), and I guess this was some sort of op-ed warning to the fairer sex: Do not get involved or else! I would further have to assume one of the editors had an argument with his wife that morning. The piece in full:

    “No man wishes to hurt a woman. No man will intentionally hurt one. But the kind of women who unsex themselves to mix with rioters and who throw stones and bottles at our motormen and passengers on our street cars incur danger to their lives. People who are assailed by overwhelming numbers do not and can not cooly select the enemies whom they will shoot or club, and if, in striking at random here and there, a policeman hits a woman’s head, the blame attaches to the woman, not the policeman.

    During this strike in Brooklyn several harridans from the tenements have mixed with the loafers and the rowdies who have blocked the cars and attacked the passengers. They believe their skirts defend them. They have yelled profane and obscene epithets at the men who were trying to earn an honest living and have encouraged the disorderly element with voice and example.

    When a woman debases herself to companion with drunkards, ruffians and dynamite sneaks, when she teaches her children to defy our ordinances and sets examples to them of disorder and brutality, the outraged law can hardly regard her as a woman at all. The same law sent one woman to the electric chair awhile ago for murder. Her case created a great deal of maudlinism though it deserved not a jot of it, for her crime was premeditated, cold-blooded and devilish. The same law may require harshness in its dealings with all rioters and would-be slayers of fellow creatures, whether they wear beards or not. The place for women in a time like this is at home.”

    Old Print Article “Melancholy–The Matrimonial Experiences of Colonel Ruth Goshen,” Brooklyn Daily Eagle (1879)

    March 20, 2010 in Misc., Old Print Articles | Permalink

    "The Turkish Giant Robbed of his Wife, his Educated Goat, his Money and his Horse and Carriage."

    Arthur Caley, better known as P.T. Barnum’s “Arabian Giant,” was born in the 1820s or 1830s, though nobody knows for sure just when. His main stage name was “Colonel Ruth Goshen,” and he was billed as being near eight feel tall and weighing 600 pounds, but that was likely an exaggeration of some inches and pounds.

    He traveled the world, adopted a daughter and was married several times (though one of his wives ran off with another man and stole his horse and goat). It was rumored that he was from Jerusalem or the Isle of Wight or several other places.

    The Giant and Barnum had a parting of the ways at some point, and the massive man passed away in 1889 in Middlebush, New Jersey. This piece from the Brooklyn Daily Eagle concerns his ill-fated marriage which fell apart a decade before his death. An excerpt from the article, which is subtitled, “The Turkish Giant Robbed of his Wife, his Educated Goat, his Money and his Horse and Carriage”:

    “That matrimonial misery may afflict the highest as well as the lowest was never better illustrated than in the affliction which has overtaken Colonel Ruth Goshen, the giant whose enormous figure has towered in Brooklyn for the past two weeks.

    The Colonel is one of the most widely known celebrities of his class in the United States. His acquaintances agree that he has agreeable manners and a confiding disposition; and although his stature might easily vie with the inhabitants of Brobdignag, he is but a child in the dark and crooked ways of the wicked world.

    Like the Thane of Fife, the Colonel had a wife, and well may he ask in tremulous tones, as he did this morning, ‘Where is she now?’ In fact, Mrs. Colonel Ruth Goshen has eloped with a showman and the gigantic hero of many gory fields has been compelled by perfidy of his spouse to assume the role of the injured husband and is taking steps toward the procurement of the divorce.”

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    Old Print Article: “Dr. Pope Murdered–Brusseau, His Wife’s Nurse, Charged With The Crime,” Brooklyn Daily Eagle (1895)

    March 16, 2010 in Misc., Old Print Articles, Urban Studies | Permalink

    An illustration from the 1840s that show the effects of chloroform. Kids, don't try this at home.

    Love, lust, adultery, chloroform, gunplay, a hatchet and insurance money were a lethal combination (of course!) for a dentist in Detroit, Michigan, in 1895. An excerpt from a story in that year’s February 3 edition of the Brooklyn Daily Eagle:

    “Dr. Horace E. Pope, a dentist, with an office on Michigan avenue, where he resided, was killed this morning by William Brusseau, Mrs. Pope’s nurse. Brusseau says he found the dentist sitting on the side of his wife’s bed, holding a cloth saturated with chloroform over her mouth. The nurse says that when he entered the room Dr. Pope fired at him. Brusseau says he seized a hatchet and struck the dentist in the head. It is said that the deceased and his wife frequently quarreled over the attention paid the latter by the nurse.

    In unearthing the circumstances surrounding the murder, it is learned that Mrs. Pope had urged her husband to place heavier insurance on his life. He had accordingly been insured for $9,000 and but a few days ago transferred the payment of his policies from his estate to his wife.”

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    Old Print Article: “Her Only Dish–Mrs. Niedhammer Confined Her Husband To Sausage,” Brooklyn Daily Eagle (1890)

    March 13, 2010 in Misc., Old Print Articles | Permalink

    "Phebe's culinary knowledge did not extend beyond the cooking of that particular kind of sausage known as Frankfurter."

    This bizarre article in the March 15, 1890 edition of the Brooklyn Daily Eagle tells the story of newlyweds Henry Niedhammer and Phebe Ruff, who broke up because she only knew how to cook one meal–a particular type of sausage dish known as “Frankfurter.” An excerpt:

    “No sooner, however, had the young couple commenced to live together than Henry was annoyed to find that his wife was oftener in her mother’s home than her own and that Phebe’s culinary knowledge did not extend beyond the cooking of that particular kind of sausage known as Frankfurter. It was Frankfurter for breakfast, Frankfurter for dinner, and Frankfurter for supper, and all his remonstrances he said, were unavailing.

    About a week ago he succeeded in having a change in the daily menu, but when, on Friday last, having had Frankfurter for breakfast, more Frankfurters were produced for dinner, Henry’s patience gave way, and, having hurled the dish of sausages at his wife, he, she alleges, caught up the carving knife and chased her out of the house.

    The furniture was thereupon taken back and Henry having bade his father and the rest of his family farewell, made a beeline for the Navy Yard, and there, having enlisted as a marine, is supposed just now to be frisking in a capful of wind outside of Sandy Hook on his way to the Azores.”

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    Old Print Article: “Pugs At Gothic Hall,” Brooklyn Daily Eagle (1873)

    March 10, 2010 in Misc., Old Print Articles, Sports, Urban Studies | Permalink

    We're sweet-looking young men who enjoy pugilistic displays.

    Why would I even comment on this insane article from the June 4, 1873 issue of the Brooklyn Daily Eagle when I could never, ever do it justice? Unfortunately, it’s not bylined, but here’s an excerpt from “Pugs at Gothic Hall”:

    “The sporting fraternity, at least that portion given to pugilistic displays and wrestling encounters, was out in all its glory at Gothic Hall last night. The entertainment, which called together this distinguished crowd of first citizens, was somewhat facetiously termed by its originators a ‘grand international boxing and wrestling festival.’

    The assemblage was more respectable in its general character than are usually met on such occasions. Among the audience were numerous young men dressed in the height of fashion, and looking quite decent in their new clothes. The Fulton street dry goods clerks were represented by a large delegation of real sweet looking young men, made particularly prominent by their loud red neckties and low necked shirts. It was noticeable that the majority of these promising youths wore their hats on the right sides of their respective heads at an angle of about forty degrees.

    And then they talked in a free and easy sort of way about ‘good’uns’ and  ‘bad’uns,’ of ‘duffers’ and ‘snoozes,’ calculated to convey the impression that they were very reckless and altogether dangerous young men to meddle with.

    Those who chewed tobacco chewed heavy cuds, and when they walked around the room they walked like men determined to push a house over, or bite someone’s ear off, or something equally horrifying and dreadful.”

    Old Print Article: “Bridegroom Was Not 16 When Marriage Occurred,” Brooklyn Daily Eagle (1902)

    March 6, 2010 in Excerpts, Misc., Old Print Articles, Urban Studies | Permalink

    You better keep me away from the time machine. (Image by Brett Weinstein.)

    “Magistrate’s Ire Aroused,” declares the sub-heading of this article from the December 1, 1902 issue of the Brooklyn Daily Eagle. It seems that several days before he turned 16, a boy married a bride several years his senior and then saw fit to abandon her. The judge wasn’t a fan of these May-December relationships, especially when the groom was a minor. There may have been steam shooting out of his ears during the hearing. An excerpt:

    “‘There should be some way of punishing ministers who marry children,’ said Magistrate Furlong, in the Myrtle avenue court yesterday, when Mrs. Tessie Mich Gordon, who says she is 18 years old, caused her 16 year old boy husband, James C. Gordon of 262 Fifteenth street, to be arraigned on a charge of abandonment.

    The Magistarte’s face was flushed, and it was obvious he was not in favor of early marriages–at least, early marriages, of that kind. Young Gordon, the groom, who is a mere stripling, both in years and in size, and who has not even the suspicion of a mustache, stood in front of the judge in a semi-dazed way, as if he were not thoroughly conscious of the important step which he had taken in life. His bride, whom he married less than three months ago, was a Miss Tessie Mich, who gives her age at 18, but is thought to be two years older, is a pretty blond, with bright expressive eyes and a rich head of hair falling in innumerable ringlets. She is petite in figure.

    When Court Officer William J. Wyse arrested young Gordon at his father’s house, 262 Fifteenth street, on Saturday night, the boy was at supper, with other members of his family.

    ‘I have seen a great many strange things over the course of my career on the police force,’ said Oficer Wyse, ‘but I can tell you I was surprised on finding out that the man I was in search of on a charge of abandonment was only a boy.'”

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    Old Print Article: “Witchcraft–High Price Of Old Pants,” Brooklyn Daily Eagle (1853)

    February 28, 2010 in Excerpts, Old Print Articles, Urban Studies | Permalink

    Wanna hang? (image courtesy of Chris 73.)

    I found this old print article in the February 3, 1853 issue of the Brooklyn Daily Eagle. Like all great stories, it contains a hanging, witchcraft and a pair of pants. The two men who were hanged, William Saul and John Howlett, were river pirates convicted of murdering a watchmen on the deck of a vessel. An excerpt from “Witchcraft–High Price of Old Pants”:

    “We had supposed that witches, witchcraft and all things appertaining thereto, except spiritual rappings, were quietly resting in their graves for the last century. But it appears we are mistaken. A curious proof that such superstitions are not altogether exploded, occurred in relation to Saul and Howlett, who were executed a few days back.

    A Dutchman who was to be present at the execution, was applied to by another Dutchman to procure him a small piece from the clothes in which the malefactors were to be hanged, and for which he promised to pay a liberal price. The man to whom the application was made, asked the applicant what inducement he had to procure pieces of the malefactors’ dress. ‘I want it,’ replied he, ‘to witch people.’

    A day or two after the execution, the man who wanted to ‘witch people’ applied to his friend for what he had bespoken from him, but the latter had forgotten to procure it and instead of delivering the real article according to contract, he cut two strips from an old pair of pants and received $10 for them, and no doubt they were just as good as the genuine article.”

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    Old Print Article: “Base Ball.” Brooklyn Daily Eagle (1888)

    February 21, 2010 in Misc., Old Print Articles, Sports, Urban Studies | Permalink

    Not Rosie O'Donnell.

    The Presidential race of 1888 was raging, as Benjamin Harrison and Grover Cleveland battled furiously for the White House amid the uproar over tariffs. (Harrison prevailed.) But in Brooklyn, people were able to chill out thanks to the twin relaxations of base ball (spelled as two words in those days) and horse racing. In the August 16, 1988 issue of the Brooklyn Daily Eagle, an article simply title “Base Ball” addresses a resurgence in the popularity of what was considered even then to be a waning national pastime. An excerpt:

    “Base Ball and horse racing divide with the Presidential campaign a large share of public attention. Indeed, judging from the amount of sporting news printed in the newspapers and the crowds which gather about the bulletin boards awaiting the latest returns from the field and track, it would seem most people are willing to let the tariff take care of itself until, at least, the warm days are over. The season has been generous in amusements of every kind, and among other things it has witnessed a revival of popular interest in the national game which cannot fail to be gratifying to those who had begun to think that its best days had vanished. The ball field may not possess the exciting and exhilarating influence of the track, but it enjoys an equal share of popularity, and in the East, at all events, it does not sufficiently appeal to the gambling instinct to render it vicious or offensive. Brooklyn’s renewed interest in base ball is due to the fact that for the first time in years the city is represented by a club of undoubted merit.”

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    Old Print Article: “Morey Loses Foot In Trolley Mishap,” Brooklyn Daily Eagle (1898)

    February 18, 2010 in Misc., Old Print Articles, Urban Studies | Permalink

    The original "Brooklyn Daily Eagle" published from 1841 to 1955.

    The Brooklyn Public Library has put online the 1841-1902 archives of the Brooklyn Daily Eagle. Amid the earth-shattering stories of wars, treaties and calamities that effected millions are the bizarre stories that simply rocked a trolley-load of people. An excerpt from the December 17, 1899 article “Morey Loses A Foot In Trolley Mishap” which was subtitled “Passengers in a Coney Island Car Startled by an Exceptionally Queer Accident; Shock for the Motorman; Morey, who is a Well Known Gravesend Man, Exhibits Remarkable Nerve”:

    “A ‘horrible accident’ occurred on a Brooklyn trolley car on Coney Island avenue yesterday afternoon. Lewis Morey, who for a long time has kept a bicycle repair shop and storage place on Surf avenue and who holds the championship medal for a twelve hour bicycle race, won at the Sea Beach Palace, was the victim. Morey had been to Manhattan and was returning to his home when the accident befell him.

    While the car was moving at a fast rate of speed down Coney Island avenue toward the West End a woman passenger signaled the conductor to stop. The car was crowded and Morey was standing outside on the rear platform. As the car began to slow up the men on the platform tried to make way for the woman, stepped down on the stirrup of the car and sprang off.

    The ground where Morey jumped off was very rough, and his foot striking a small stone, caused him to fall to the ground almost under the car. As Morey slipped and fell the woman standing ready to get off screamed and the conductor and the other men on the platform had little shrieks of horror torn from their throats at the awful sight.

    As Morey’s right foot struck the stone it was given a twist and the right foot snapped off at the ankle, like a piece of brittle glass. The foot, encased in its shoe and with the upper end of the sock hanging out of the shoe mouth and hiding the snapped off joint, rolled a few feet away from the prostrate man.

    As the car came to a standstill those inside rushed off, and, seeing the foot broken off and Morey lying like a dead man, they, too, began screaming. The conductor went wild with fright. He called to the motorman to come help with Morey, but that was not needed, for there were many willing hands. In an instant a dozen men were trying to get around Morey to carry him someplace where he could be given medical treatment. But nobody had the nerve to pick up the foot. All viewed it with agonized horror.

    ‘Oh, get away from me,’ Morey snapped out as the sympathetic passengers crowded around trying to lend him aid. This was rather startling coming from a man who had just lost his foot but the passengers were more than shocked when they saw the footless man rise up to a standing position and hobble around on his one sound foot and the jagged stump.

    ‘Where’d my foot go?’ Morey asked as he looked around for the missing member. ‘Darn that foot anyway.’

    ‘Oh, there it is,’ he exclaimed in a relieved tone as he caught sight of the foot and the shoe. Pushing several of the half dazed passengers aside, he picked up the foot and began to look at it in a rueful, sorrowful way.”

    The kicker to the story was that Morey had a prosthetic limb, and what had fallen off was his artificial foot.  Clearly sounds like a fictional urban legend, but it was presented as fact.

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