Ashman

"TIME brings all things."

In Portland, Me., Herbert L. Pye, 61, ashman, fell heir last week to $1,500,000. Said he:

"Shucks!"

In 1884 Herbert L. Pye, 16, saw a boat capsize in Casco Bay, a man floundering in the water, he dived in, rescued one George E. Rice of Manhattan. Thereafter, Rice and Pye were fast friends, correspondents. Forty-five years passed. Rice became a wealthy soap manufacturer. Several months ago he died. As proof of his repeated statement that he "never would forget the act" of Pye, he willed him his entire estate.

Newsgatherers searched for Ashman Pye, found him toting barrels of cinders from a cellar to his one-horse wagon. Said he to them:

"If that story spreads, boys, I'm ruined. There are a lot of other ashmen in Portland, don't forget. Competition in this business is terrible. Once my customers get the notion I'm rich they'll give all their trade to my rivals. . . . Who knows what kind of a millionaire I'll make? I don't even know if I'll like it. I've never had any experience being rich. . . . Yep, it's all true enough, but I haven't got any fingers on the cash yet. I don't see any reason to be hurrying about it anyhow. It ain't going to help me in my work."

Strike

In Brooklyn, Herman Hintz, 63, school janitor, struck a match to light a cigar, ignited his celluloid collar, burned to death.

Sleepwalker

In Douglas, Isle of Man, Isaac Hyman, 34, tailor, sleepwalked into his dining room, cut his throat with a saw-edged bread knife, died before waking.

Shot

In Lynn, Mass., Joseph Murphy, 7, pretended to be the son of William Tell, placed-an apple on his head. His friend Alfred Howard, 8, William Tell with an air rifle, shot Joseph in the chin.

Kittens

In Manhattan, two kittens gambolled around a gas jet, turned it on. Mrs. Mary Kane, 67, waitress, asleep in the next room, was asphyxiated. So were the kittens. Emergency pulmotormen revived the kittens, could not revive Mrs. Kane.

Feast

In the Grijalva River, Mexico, a motor launch sank, seven passengers went to the bottom. Searchers found no trace of the bodies but saw several fat alligators.

Find

Near Darien, Conn., three alligators were found on Collender's Point after a heavy storm, were taken to the local jail, detained.

Spy

In Manhattan, one Adolph Banzer went swimming in Central Park Lake in the nude. A policeman spied him from the bank, put out in a small boat, lassoed him, towed him ashore.

Shifts

In Breitung, Mich., one Albert Cunningham lives in a seven-dollars-per-month house with Mrs. Cunningham and 16 children. The house has three rooms. The Cunninghams sleep in groups and shifts, thus keeping all beds always occupied.

Reach

In Kansas City, Mo., Mrs. Sophia Kamius, 26, reached for a cookie on top of a cupboard. The cupboard fell on her. Neighbors arrived, thought she had been robbed, called the police. A police car speeding to the scene careened into an-other car, threw three officers into the street.

Catapult

In Middletown, N. Y., one Fred Segda drove his car head on into another car driven by one Charles Weis. Mr. Segda was catapulted through his own windshield, over the hoods, through Weis's windshield, into Mr. Weis's lap.

Swallow

In Nutley, N. J., John Harris, 25, Negro care taker, took a joy ride in his employer's limousine, was spotted and chased by traffic cops. For five minutes he sped, the police shooting at him. Then he bumped a light in front of a gas station, caromed into an alley, demolished a tree. In the darkness he slunk home, where police found him huddled in a clothes closet, popeyed, a rabbit's foot in each hand. He had also swallowed his tongue.

Wake

In St. Louis, the widow and friends of the late Charles Kuhn, 73, were holding a wake when Widow Kuhn discovered the corpse was not that of her husband. The wake was indefinitely postponed.

Break

In Wilmington, Del., one Thomas Gerstenberg, club footballer, was hurt in a game, took time out. resumed playing. Three days later he discovered he had broken his neck.

Spades

In Kansas City, Mo.. Charles M. Hofman and his wife called upon Mr. and Mrs. John G. Bennett, played argumentative bridge. Toward the end of the game Mr. Bennett bid a spade, Mrs. Bennett raised him to four spades, showed a "rather good hand." When he failed to make the bid. Mrs. Bennett called her husband a "bum bridge player," whereupon he leaned across the table, slapped her face. She excused herself from the room, rummaged in a trunk for a revolver, returned and shot him dead.