Young Man In Boat on Crystal Lake Struck By Stray Rifle Bullet

Urbana Courier-Herald April 30, 1907

While riding in a boat on Crystal Lake Sunday afternoon a young man named Ray was struck on the head by a rifle bullet and rendered unconscious for some time.

The shot was fired by some one in the timber from a target rifle and must have come quite a distance as it had so lost its speed that the young man's skull was not penetrated, otherwise he might have been killed.

Rifle shooting in such close proximity to town and especially at such close range to a pleasure resort, such as Crystal Lake park is dangerous and those desiring to shoot target rifles should go further away from the city or take better care in regard to the direction in which they are shooting. The state of Michigan has a law holding that it is just as much a crime to shoot a man in this manner as in any other and for that reason few hunters in Michigan are ever hit by stray bullets. This law was made as several hunters had avenged themselves upon others in this manner and made It appear that the shooting was accidental. Of course, this Urbana affair was purely an accident, but it should serve as warning to act with more care in the future.

DRESSED IN MALE ATTIRE

October 15, 1896

Accomplished Young Lady Starts on a Lone Tramp

Cairo, Ill., Oct. 14.—Policemen Tuesday arrested two boys who were acting in a suspicious manner and questioned them very closely and were surprised to see one burst into tears. An officer said: "You must be a woman to cry like that," and a woman she proved to be, or, rather, a 19-year-old girl. She was taken to a charitable Institution, where she told her story. She said her name was Jennie Parks and her home in Madison, Ind., where she was a saleswoman and bookkeeper in a dry goods store, but desiring to go to her father in the state of Washington, and having no money, cut off her hair, donned men's clothes, and started on the tramp ten days ago. Her companion had been with her for a few days only, and was much surprised to learn that his partner was a girl. The latter writes a beautiful hand, appears refined, and the authorities believe her story. She is being well cared for.

Mad Gasser of Mattoon

The story of the Mad Gasser of Mattoon is likely one of the most famous odd stories to come out of Central Illinois.  If you haven’t heard of it here are a couple of sources to read more.

The Mad Gasser of Mattoon

Mad Gassers

The following story and the one after are two items mentioning the gasser that I was able to find in the digital papers.

Daily Illini March 3, 1945

Mattoon Mystery is Mental Case

University Psychologist Makes Study of Case

The miasmic madman of Mattoon who had that quiet central Illinois city of 15,800 in a turmoil which was recorded in front-page newspaper headlines from coast to coast last September, has been put under scientific inspection.

Donald M. Johnson, University psychologist, has found the unidentified midnight marauder who terrorized the town with mysterious gas attacks a fascinating subject for inquiry. Recording his finding for the Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, he declares the affair a rare psychological event.

Without challenging the veracity or motives of any of the victims or others concerned, or denying the possibility that a marauder was connected with at least some of the cases, he finds the whole Mattoon mystery involving the rare phenomenon of a "mental epidemic," of which only one similar occurrence is recorded in the United States in the last 40 years.

Phantom Anesthetist
The phantom anesthetist of Mattoon was first reported Sept. 1 when a woman told the police that she and her daughter had been gassed. In all, 26 cases were reported, the last Sept. 12, Victims told of nausea and vomiting, palpitations, and in one case at least, burns about the mouth. All recovered rapidly. Four cases seen by physicians all were diagnosed as hysteria.

Some victims did not report smelling gas, others did. Though prowlers were reported, none was apprehended by the police. As the number of calls increased, state police with radio equipment were called in. Chemical analyses of cloths found at scenes of reported attacks gave no clues. For some nights citizens took up arms to protect their homes.

"Obviously something extraordinary took place in Mattoon. For its explanation two hypotheses have been advanced. The 'gasser' hypothesis asserts that the symptoms were produced by a gas which was sprayed on the victims by some ingenious fiend who has been able to elude the police. The alternative hypothesis is that the symptoms were due to hysteria ," writes Mr. Johnson.

Mental Suggestions
He uses the term "hysteria " in the medical sense, meaning emotional excitability, sensory disturbances, choking sensations, etc., due to mental suggestions.

The "gasser" hypothesis is based on the evidence of the victims and their authenticated illness. A difficulty is the contradictory demands on the gas, including the fact that it did not affect all in the same room, yet was strong enough to affect victims, but at the same time left no observable after-effects.

Symptoms of the victims also support the hysteria hypothesis, as does the fact that the only four cases seen by physicians were given this diagnosis.

Police Records
Turning to police records for a chronology, he finds an unusual number of reports of prowlers coinciding with the reports of gassing, both reaching a peak at the same time, and then rapidly. As the excitement subsided, the number of prowler calls fell even below normal with none at all reported by the Mattoon police in the first part of October

This reveals a wave of excitement or a "mental epidemic" sweeping through the community, the psychologist explains. In this the local newspaper played an important part. Ninety-seven percent of Mattoon families read the Daily Journal-Gazette. It has the confidence of its readers.

Mattoon Prowler Claimed Fake

Daily Illini September 13, 1944

Plant Fumes Cause Rumors , Says Chief

MATTOON, Sept. 12 — (JP)— Police Chief C. E. Cole stated today the furor caused by repeated reports that a nocturnal prowler was spraying sickening gas thru bedroom windows was "a mistake from beginning to end."

The whole thing, he said, could be traced to fumes from a war plant and hysteria.

Apparently seeking to reassure a populace aroused by complaints that a phantom marauder had gassed 14 homes this month, the chief issued this statement:

Just a Big Mistake
"The case was a mistake from beginning to end. Local police in cooperation with state officers have checked and rechecked all reported cases and we find absolutely no evidence to support the stories that have been told. Hysteria must be blamed for such seemingly accurate statements of supposed victims.

"However, we have found that large quantities of carbon tetrachloride are used in war work at the Atlas Imperial Diesel Engine company, and that it has an odor that can be carried to all parts of the city as the wind shifts."

Commenting specifically on the case of Mrs. Carl Cordes, who became ill after sniffing a chemically treated cloth she found on her porch, Chief Cole said:

Carbon Tetrachloride Villain
"Carbon tetrachloride will leave stains on a cloth such as that found at the Cordes home. Many workers use carbon tetrachloride in cleaning shell casings, and it might be possible that one of them tossed this cloth away."

Cole's opinions were supported by Capt. Harry Curtis of the state police. Investigators said such a chemical would cause symptoms remarked by the reported victims— dry lips and parched throat. Some also said they were nauseated and affected by partial paralysis for a brief spell.

A few of the complainants reported they saw a tall, thin man flee from their yards. On a theory that someone may have been peeping in windows during the uproar over the reported gas attacks, state police squads decided to continue to hunt for a prowler tonight at least

It is a Popularity Contest

A contest held by the Urbana Courier Herald in April 1910.

Neighborhood Row over Calf in Court

Urbana Courier-Herald January 23, 1905

MCGARIGLE VS. KAISER

Calf Wandered and Then Ensued Pitched Battle

Last week it was a wash bill, this week a neighborhood row over a calf occupies the time of the circuit court. Today the troubles of Mrs. Anna Belle McGarigle and Mrs. Una Kaiser, both of North Oak street Champaign, were related to a Jury.

Mrs. McGarigle, it seems, had a calf which wandered over to Mrs. Kaiser's, two doors north, and there the animal's owner sought it. Here there is a wide divergence of testimony. Mrs. McGarigle declares she was attacked by her neighbor; Mrs Kaiser says that that Mrs McGarigle came down on her like the Assyrians came down on the fold. At any rate the Champaign police when called found the two women engaged in a hand to hand combat.

Mrs McGarigle wants $1,000 damages, the action she brings being for trespass.

Jack Goes on a Spree

Urbana Courier-Herald August 1, 1906

Golden Baboon Then Engages in a Fight

Since "Jack," the golden baboon belonging to Col. Shewalter, was taken from the window at the bowling alley in Urbana and removed to the shooting gallery and penny arcade now conducted by Ool. Shewalter in Champaign, Urbana has not heard much ot the famous monk or his pranks and capers. It may be said, however, for the benefit of Jack's friends, that he is having an excellent time in the tent at Champaign, but sends a greeting to all his old chums over here and says he's coming back some day. Tuesday night some one gave the monk a bottle of beer. Now. If there's anything Jack likes better than beer, it's more beer. He is seldom permitted, however, to drink a whole bottle and when he had disposed of such an unusual quantity Tuesday night, he was as tight as the proverbial tick. The baboon went through a series of acrobatic stunts, which attracted an enormous crowd around the cage and finally succeeded in getting in a scrap with the pet fox. Jack grabbed ihe fox, by the leg, but the fox retaliated by snapping a piece out of the monk's arm. This ended the battle and Jack retired to a corner where he slept off his jag. This morning he had a headache and has signified his intention of signing the pledge

One Leg; Blind in Both Eyes

June 25, 1904

But He Knew How to Get Some Drink Shortly After Arrival In Peoria

Peoria Journal: Fred Sherman has returned to Peoria, and he celebrated the event by getting so drunk the police were compelled to send him to the station for safe keeping. There is nothing particularly interesting in the fact that a man should get drunk in Peoria, but there are peculiar circumstances in this case. Sherman is blind as a bat, and has but one leg. He had two until about a year ago, when he got drunk and trying to find his way home one night, came in contact, with a Monroe street car. His leg was cut off, and, after it had healed he went to Chicago, where he remained until a few days ago.

When the chief released him this morning he said he could find his way to his sister's home in East Peoria without assistance, and declared that he could go all about Chicago without help of any kind.

When the chief asked him if Uo was not ashamed to get drunk in his condition, he replied that none except those who were blind knew how he suffered. His affliction he said, was enough to drive any man to drink, and wishing the chief 'good day' he headed down Fulton street on his way to East Peoria.

Was Run Down By Speeding Auto

Maybe an early version of Superman was seen in Urbana? From the August 9, 1909 Courier-Herald.

Machine Backs Off Unknown's Body and Victim Runs to Catch a Street Car — Miraculous Escape.

A large Overland touring car, speeding around the corner of Main and Race streets at 7:30 o'clock Saturday night, struck a man, knocked him down and rolled upon his body. While a large crowd stood horrified, the machine backed off its victim and sped on its way before anyone could take its number, and the man scampered for an outgoing street car as fast as his legs could carry him. Apparently he was uninjured. Neither the name of the man who had the narrow escape, nor the names of the parties in the auto could be learned. Among those who witnessed the accident were Edwin Phillips, Clyde Thomas, Edward Snyder, Officer Jeffers and many others.

Attempt to Chlorform Champaign Family

A very strange story from the April 10, 1904 issue of the Urbana Courier-Herald. I am much reminded of the story of the Mad Gasser of Mattoon . I do not know if this incident caused as much panic, however I hope to follow up with more information in future posts.

Picknell Home Filled With
Deadly Fumes.

PLOT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL

Quantities of Drug Thrown in Cold Air Shaft With Expectation that Fumes Would Penetrate Register.

What is believed to have been an attempt to chloroform an entire family and rob the home at their ease, was discovered yesterday morning, when Harry Picknell, 308 South Neil street, awoke from his nights' rest drowsy and unrefreshed. He lifted his head from bis pillow and almost immediately sunk back into a semi-stupor. A few minutes of this, however, convinced him that something was wrong and in spite of his inclination to sleep longer He arose and opened the door leading from his sleeping room to the hall. As he did so a strong smell of chloroform greeted his nostrils and he became thoroughly alarmed. He descended the stairs and with every step the odor became stronger until he reached his basement, where he was almost overpowered by the fumes of the deadly drug.

Keeping himself from its influence as best he could, Mr. Picknell opened all the doors and windows of the house and then proceeded to investigate the solution of the problem. A cold alr shaft connected with the furnace has opening on the outside of the house and it was quickly evident that evil-minded persons had thrown large quantities of the drugs into this shaft with the idea that the fumes would penetrate to the sleeping apartments of the occupants through the registers. This would have been the case and might possibly have resulted In the death of members of the family, had it not been for the fact that all the registers leading into the sleeping rooms were tightly closed. In spite of this fact the fumes faintly penetrated into the rooms through the closed doors and caused each member of the family to sink into a light stupor.

When Mr. Pieknell had discovered the source of the chloroform and arrived at the conclusion that the deed was the work of burglars, he made a thorough search of the house to see if the marauders had succeeded in their purpose. Nothing of value is missing and it is probable that the light fingered gentry were frightened away before they succeeded in breaking into the house by fence in the neighborhood of the Picknell house had caught fire during the night and although the flames were quickly extinguished, the police made frequent trips to the place to see that the hot embers showed no further indications of bursting into flame. It is believed that this frequent presence of Champaign guardians of the law kept the Picknell home from being burglarized.