Watercooler Stories

Evidence shows young Abe Lincoln no slouch

SPRINGFIELD, Ill., June 7 (UPI) -- U.S. historians' claims that a young Abraham Lincoln lived on hand-outs in and around New Salem, Ill., have been dispelled by new artifacts and documents.

Tom Schwartz, Illinois' state historian and interim director of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that evidence now refutes claims Lincoln relied on townsfolk for a place to sleep, as it appears he had his own property.

He said accounts the country's eventual 16th U.S. president routinely took meals with townsfolk are also wrong, as the newest material found indicates he was a terrible cook, the Post-Dispatch reported.

"It immediately roots him, makes him a gentleman of property," Schwartz told the newspaper.

"He's not this living this Bohemian life where it's kind of carefree, no property, no worries, where he can sit under the trees and read."

'Half-baked' lobster caught in Canada

ASPEN COVE, Newfoundland, June 7 (UPI) -- A Canadian fisherman is donating the "half-cooked" lobster -- sporting orange-colored sections -- found in Newfoundland's Hamilton Sound for public viewing.

Kirk Tulk caught the "curious" looking lobster near his home in Aspen Cove, the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. reported Tuesday.

"It was almost just the same as (being) boiled on one side," Tulk told the CBC.

The bright orange sections of the lobster may have been caused by a protein deficiency, he said. Lobsters are usually dark colored but turn bright orange when cooked.

The lobster will be studied at the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans, then be put on display at marine interpretation center in Newfoundland's Terra Nova National Park.

Missing Texas tortoise found a week later

AUSTIN, Texas, June 7 (UPI) -- A frantic university student in Texas has been reunited with his 40-pound African Spurred tortoise named Spot that went missing from his yard a week ago.

Austin Sherrill, 21, said he first noted 7-year-old Spot missing from the back yard on Memorial Day, and the gate to the yard swinging open.

One of his first fears was that someone had planned to dump Spot into Town Lake in Austin, Texas.

As Spot is a desert dweller, he can't swim, the Austin American-Statesman said.

Sherrill posted 100 fliers around the neighborhood and notified neighbors to be on the lookout for the tortoise.

He called wildlife rescue groups, veterinary clinics, the animal shelter and the Austin Zoo with no success.

Sunday, Sherrill got a call from a man who said he had found a tortoise munching on grass along the hike and bike trail in a park, about 4.5 miles from Sherrill's home.

An elated Sherrill drove Spot home, and told the newspaper he doesn't believe Spot made the journey on foot, but rather was picked up by someone who drove him to the park.

Lost coat turns up on eBay 65 years later

SAN JOSE, Calif., June 7 (UPI) -- A U.S. Navy sailor who got drunk in San Francisco and lost his peacoat in March 1941 has located it in Belgium through the Internet.

Tony Gellepis, 85, recalls the night he was on liberty, and even the bar he was in when he took off the double-breasted dark blue coat with two rows of big black buttons.

He was astounded earlier this year when his son, Jim, wrote from his home in Tallahassee, Fla., saying he had done a Google search on the family name, and found the coat for sale on the eBay auction site, the San Jose (Calif.) Mercury News reported.

The eBay listing said the coat was Size 38, "Marked on the inside with T.J. Gellepis."

The coat had been sold by the time the elder Gellepis learned of it, but his son tracked down the purchaser in Belgium.

The buyer was Danny De Block, who is expanding a World War II museum in Lokeren and plans to display the coat as part of a full Navy uniform. He has asked Gellepis to send his war story and a photo to include in the exhibit, the newspaper said.