A Rat In The Hat...

Rat in Hair Saved Decatur Woman's Life

  Miss Amelia Niblick Painfully Burned About Head and Hands 

 Decatur, Ind - Jan. 1 That Miss Amelia Niblick escaped from serious burns with her life, is probably due to the fact that she wore a "rat" in her hair. At about 12:45 today, Miss Niblic, at the old Niblick Homestead on First Street, was shaking down the coal in the hard coal burner. The lower door was open and the gasses that had accumulated suddenly burst forth in explosion and enveloped her head in flames. Her sister, Miss Mary, happened to be in the room at the time and with great presence of mind, she grabbed a large rug and threw it over her sister, extingguishing the flames. The front part of her hair was completely bured as were her forehead, her cheeks and hands. The "rat" in the hair, is thought to have deadened the effects of the flames at a vital point, thus saving her life. The burns are quite deep and very painful, though she will recover.

 **Fort Wayne(Indiana)Journal-Gazette, 2 JAN 1910

Lost $200,000 Jewels

Socialite Mrs. Edward N. Townsend, Jr., of New York, wife of millionaire stock broker, drove into town with her chauffeur.  She stopped at her mothers, instructing the chauffeur to proceed to the Townsend Townhome, there to deposit two suitcases containing clothing and $200,000 in gems.   The chauffeur disappeared however.  Police later took the man in custody, together with the jewels.  The accused blamed alimony for his trouble.   **Fort Wayne(Indiana)Journal-Gazette, 30 SEP 1939

Stranger Things Have Happened I Guess (1909)

D. K. Shackley, Civil War Veteran, Shows Standard Oil Company Decatur, Ind - June 24 The Standard Oil Company at Preble has secured a six-pound cannon to use among the oil tanks at that place in case of fire. The cannon is of the old type, such as was used in the Civil War, and today D. K. Schackley went to Preble to instruct the employees in the use of the gun. Mr. Shackley served in the Fifth Massachusetts Light Artillery in the Civil War and knows all about the cannon. **Fort Wayne(Indiana) Journal-Gazette, 25 JUN 1909