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Story
December 16, 1894
The Cheyenne Daily Leader
Cheyenne, Laramie County, Wyoming
What is this article about?
In New York's immigrant district, Fire Marshal Mitchell tricks a Russian woman claiming ignorance of English into revealing her understanding by shouting about a mouse, aiding his fire investigation amid community suspicion.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
Spoke English When Excited.
The residents of Norfolk and Essex streets and the adjacent thoroughfares are exceedingly suspicious of a stranger. Years of persecution in Poland and Russia have made them so, and it is almost impossible for an unknown person to gain their confidence.
They may have been gayly chatting in English an instant before, but when addressed they say nothing at all or pour out a volley of untranslatable words. This difficulty is encountered by Fire Marshal Mitchell in attempts to get at the facts of a mysterious or supposed incendiary fire.
Not long since one of the men of the district took his wife to fire headquarters in response to a summons. The woman was known to speak English, but when interrogated took refuge under the plea of ignorance of the tongue. With great difficulty it was learned that she spoke Russian. When an interpreter was secured, but little progress was made.
Fire Marshal Mitchell grew weary of the delay. Finally, when the woman was off her guard, he determined to set an old but effective trap for her. Turning suddenly, he cried: "Take care! There's a mouse under your chair!"
The woman jumped from her seat with a cry of alarm and gathered her skirts about her, proving by the action that she understood English.
Fire Marshal Mitchell smiled. "You seem to understand English well enough," he remarked blandly.
"Sometimes vin I am mooch frightened I knows it a veery little," she answered.—New York Herald.
The residents of Norfolk and Essex streets and the adjacent thoroughfares are exceedingly suspicious of a stranger. Years of persecution in Poland and Russia have made them so, and it is almost impossible for an unknown person to gain their confidence.
They may have been gayly chatting in English an instant before, but when addressed they say nothing at all or pour out a volley of untranslatable words. This difficulty is encountered by Fire Marshal Mitchell in attempts to get at the facts of a mysterious or supposed incendiary fire.
Not long since one of the men of the district took his wife to fire headquarters in response to a summons. The woman was known to speak English, but when interrogated took refuge under the plea of ignorance of the tongue. With great difficulty it was learned that she spoke Russian. When an interpreter was secured, but little progress was made.
Fire Marshal Mitchell grew weary of the delay. Finally, when the woman was off her guard, he determined to set an old but effective trap for her. Turning suddenly, he cried: "Take care! There's a mouse under your chair!"
The woman jumped from her seat with a cry of alarm and gathered her skirts about her, proving by the action that she understood English.
Fire Marshal Mitchell smiled. "You seem to understand English well enough," he remarked blandly.
"Sometimes vin I am mooch frightened I knows it a veery little," she answered.—New York Herald.
What sub-type of article is it?
Curiosity
Deception Fraud
What themes does it cover?
Deception
Justice
What keywords are associated?
Immigrant Suspicion
Language Deception
Fire Marshal Trick
Russian Immigrant
English Comprehension
What entities or persons were involved?
Fire Marshal Mitchell
Russian Woman
Where did it happen?
Norfolk And Essex Streets, New York
Story Details
Key Persons
Fire Marshal Mitchell
Russian Woman
Location
Norfolk And Essex Streets, New York
Story Details
Fire Marshal Mitchell interrogates a Russian immigrant woman who pretends not to understand English during a fire investigation. He tricks her by exclaiming about a mouse under her chair, prompting her alarmed reaction that proves her comprehension.