Progress

In Cebu, P. I., readers of Cebu's leading journal, Progress ("a daily of information") read a screaming headline: IGOT, MALE, IS PREGNANT. There followed an account:

"Residents arriving here from Santa Rosa, Opon, to attend the coming celebration of Santo Nino, report that one Balbino Igot, sexton of the church of Santa Rosa, is pregnant. Balbino, an hermaphrodite . . . is barely 16 years old.

"Balbino came to Cebu the other day to ask medical advice as to his sensational pregnancy. The physician confirmed Balbino's pregnancy and told the hermaphrodite that nothing could be done to remedy the situation.

"Balbino was suffering stomachache some months ago. He vomited often times, especially after eating. He noticed that his abdomen has been gradually growing, and finally decided to consult a physician who positively declared that Balbino is really pregnant.

"According to Santa Rosa folks, the whole community is all agog over Balbinb's pregnancy. They are at loss to comprehend the pregnancy of the man. The news about Balbino traveled fast and wide in Opon. and Balbino is the talk of all.

"The priest of Santa Rosa advised Balbino to undergo operation. His case is the first of its kind in the world, according to local physicians who were asked to say about the matter.

"There are, however, those who entertain belief that Balbino is not pregnant. They contend that the alleged pregnancy may only be an overgrowth of the flesh.

"But whatever the scientists would say regarding the case, the people of Santa Rosa and the outlying districts of the barrio are positive that Balbino is pregnant six months."

Record

In Los Angeles, Floyd Waite spent 391 hours buried six feet underground in a box connected with the surface by air pipes, a telephone. Said Floyd Waite on being disinterred: "I got the record."

Surprises

In Chicopee, Mass.. H. William Lord, 56, suddenly awakened from an amnesia which had made him for four years unable to tell what was going on, found he had grown a long beard. When told about Hoover, Lindbergh, the Philadelphia "Athletics," and new size paper currency, H. William Lord expressed surprise.

Snow

In Bekes-Csaba, Hungary, one-half inch of black snow fell, was found to contain masses of small insects.

Bridal

In Evansville, Ind., Sebastian H. Willem. escaped lunatic, and Gertrude Shrewsbury, dishwasher in the Southeastern Hospital for the Insane, invited 300 loafers to a "bridal" party for which they paid cash.

When informed that her husband had been recaptured under these circumstances, Mrs. Willem professed devotion, said she would try to get him released.

Ratter

In Baltimore, Md., George Hammonds chased a rat down a hole, poked at the rat. found $100 in gold pieces under its nest.

Naked

In Salem, Mass., Kenneth Moffett, church organist, stepped among fallen trolley wires which burned off all his clothes without hurting him.

Rabbit

In Bradford on Avon, England, V. M. Fielding, judge in a rabbit show, was taken to the hospital after being severely bitten by a Dutch rabbit.

Murderer

In Manhattan, James Baker confessed he had committed frequent murders in order to see his victims "wriggle." About to be tried for the murder of Henry Gaw, James Baker was dismayed to read a letter from L. J. South, father of a chauffeur whom he had previously killed, to District Attorney Thomas C. T. Grain, offering testimony, and asking for "the privilege of seeing him executed."

Holiday

In Toulouse, France, Jean Vives, postman, went mad when he could find no mail to deliver. He perched on the roof of a house, tore off tiles which he hurled at passersby, was finally removed by the fire department.

Menace

In Philadelphia, Mrs. Elizabeth Beswick, mother of 18 children, thief, was described as "a lurking menace to society," sentenced to five years in jail for fraud.

Locusts

At Tizza, Morocco, a train was delayed for two hours by a flock of locusts crossing the track.

Landlord

In Waukesha, Wis., Phillip Voss burned down his house in order to evict eleven tenants who refused to pay rent.

Ride

In Pittsburgh, police found Henry Mulholland drunk and singing in the cab of a derailed trolley car which he had stolen, in which he had been driving himself about the city.

Tea

In Scarborough, England, Mrs. Martha Seaton-Smith asked Mrs. George Reed whether she would like some tea.

"Certainly I'd like tea!" cried Mrs. George Reed, and amid general laughter she slapped her hostess on the back, slapped with such gusto that Mrs. Seaton-Smith suffered shock, indignity, sued.

"The blow, while not malicious, was quite outside the common use of social intercourse," ruled the Hull County Court last week, awarded damages of $335.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.