May 2, 1907 (Thursday)

PROBLEMS SURFACE DURING SUBMARINE TRIALS: A big test between two submarines got off to a slow start yesterday at Newport, R.I. One contender, the Octopus, built by Electric Boat (shown above), made a fine impression when it made its test run, covering a mile, before it reached the mark signalling the beginning of the real test. However, at that point, the sub had to turn back and limp home because of a "broken cam" in its port engine. The other submarine that the Navy is testing is called Lake, built by Simon Lake. It will go through its paces today, while the Octopus is being fixed.

GOVERNOR OF VIRGINIA HAS TO RIDE A DIRT CART: Virginia Gov. Claude A. Swanson (left) and his wife had to leave the Jamestown Exposition quickly yesterday -- so they could catch a boat and train to get back to Richmond. However, they could not find a carriage to whisk them from the exhibition grounds. So, the governor hailed a dirt cart. The luggage went in the back. The First Couple sat in the front with a driver. According to today's New York Times, this horrified one of the exposition officials. But Swanson reportedly said:
Oh. that's nothing. If I were an officer of the exposition, I would be riding in a carriage as all of you do, but being only the Governor of Virginia, and not an influential official, I must accept with thanks even the dirt wagon which you are kind enough to furnish me. I am thankful yo do not require Mrs. Swanson and myself to walk and carry our trunks.

BUSINESSMAN PUTS A NEW TWIST ON AN INSANITY PLEA: A plea of "FINANCIAL INSANITY" helped set a Boston-area businessman free yesterday. Harry E. Lane, formerly of Wakefield, Mass., was in U.S. Circuit Court yesterday to face charges of hiding his assets from a bankruptcy trustee. He lined up a group of insanity experts, and they convinced the jury that Lane suffered from "FINANCIAL INSANITY," which meant that he "was afflicted with a mania for spending money, and that he had no idea where it went."
Hmmmm... Sounds like the U.S. Congress.

COULD THIS BE TRUE? LIGHTNING BOLT CAUSES GUN TO FIRE, KILLING A CHILD: Recently, a bolt of lightning struck a wall of the house of Tom Phurrough, who lives near Anniston, Ala. It's the same wall on which Phurrough hung a LOADED SHOTGUN. The bolt jolted the gun off its rack. As it tumbled to the ground, the gun fired. According to today's Washington Post, "The entire contents of the gun lodged in the body of an infant child of Phurrough which was playing around the room." The child died.

PAINTINGS COLLIDE IN PITTSBURG: Some people at the Carnegie Art Gallery are in a tizzy about the way two paintings are hung. One by Gaston La Touche depicts a woman "in the act of donning her garments by a pool." (Today's Washington Post calls it "The Bath." Unfortunately, I can't find a rendering.) Earlier in April, the painting won the $1,500 first prize in the international competition honoring the expansion of the Carnegie Institute. (A painting by Thomas Eakins took second place.)
"The Bath" is hung opposite a rendering of "The Last Supper." According to the Post, "One critic wants it taken out of sight of the picture of 'The Last Supper'."
If it's the traditional view of "The Last Supper," this kind of placement might provide a reasonable explanation why all the diners are sitting on the same side of the table -- to get a better view of "The Bath."