News of the Week July 31, 1915 -- July 31, 2015

The 31-July-1915 Motography featured "News of the Week as Shown in Films," with items from current newsreels.

"Scenes of devastation caused by cyclone at Cincinnati, Ohio.  Copyright 1915 by Universal Animated Weekly."  A big storm on June 24 caused damage throughout the Midwest. 

"Harry K. Thaw after jury has declared him sane.  Copyright 1915 by Pathe News."  Harry Kendall Thaw was the son of a rich industrialist.  Harry had mental problems.  On 25-June-1906 he murdered architect Stanford White, who had been involved with Evelyn Nesbit, Thaw's wife, who had been a chorus girl and a model.  Thaw's attorney had him declared legally insane, which was not a stretch.  The caption may contain a typo, or this was after Thaw's mother wanted to go with temporary insanity so the family would not be stigmatized. 

"'Little' Billy McCarthy, one year old and weighing 85 pounds.  Copyright 1915 by Pathe News."  I couldn't find anything about the poor kid. 

"Lindy Lee, said to be a perfect specimen of Chimpanzee, stars as a motion picture actor.  Copyright 1915 Hearst-Selig News Pictorial."   I couldn't find anything about the poor chimp, either. 

"Locomotives wrecked to amuse crowd at Emeryville, Calif.  Copyright 1915 Hearst-Selig News Pictorial."   In 1896, William George Crush came up with the idea of staging a head-on collision of two locomotives to create a spectacle.  Scott Joplin composed "Great Crush Collision March" in honor of the first attempt, in Texas.  I think this collision took place as part of a Fourth of July celebration. 

"The railroad starts a campaign for protecting the public at Long Island City, N. Y.  Copyright 1915 by Universal Animated Weekly."  The Long Island Railroad posted signs warning people to stop, look and listen at railroad crossings.  Operation Lifesaver carries on the work today. 

This is the first week that has not included any stories about World War One.