Rescue Team Disappears in the North

MURGAM ASYLUM CONNECTED TO RESCUE EFFORT?

CPT. HINREEKS RUMORED TO BE INVOLVED

TEAM ABANDONED BY CITY HALL

WULDRAM SHORES — Who rescues a rescue mission?  Mr Pendle, of the Clockhaven Wireless Telegraph Service, has confirmed that the CWTS has lost all contact with the rescue expedition which was launched to attempt to aid Dr A Falkone of the Clockhaven Power Station.

Dr Falkone journeyed north alone some weeks ago, via the airship Carpetia, attempting to ascertain why contact was lost with the northern Aquila IX Station in Wuldram Shores.  Shortly thereafter, New Babbage also lost contact with Dr Falkone.

In response, a rescue mission was formed, though an certain air of mystery surrounded the effort. Attempts by the Free Press to discover precisely who were members of the rescue team were firmly rebuffed by members of City Hall.  Eye-witness reports, however, have suggested Mr J Rite, head of security at the Murgam Asylum, and Miss B Strifkly, an orderly at the Murgam Asylum, were very strong candidates.  Mr Carnagak, owner of the Murgam Asylum, could not be reached for comment as to how the asylum was involved in the rescue effort, at the time of publishing.

Whether or not Captain B Hinreeks, of the New Babbage Militia, was a member of the now missing rescue party could not be confirmed.  Mr R Bolono of Wheatstone, volunteer member of the New Babbage Militia, was quoted as saying "I will not say for certain that [Cpt. Hinreeks] is not here, and I will not say for certain that she is here, but I really will not say she is not here."

Mr Pendle of the CWTS said he lost contact with the rescue team when they encountered another airship in an ice storm in the Hildskal Mountains, but would not confirm pirates were involved.

A representative of City Hall told the New Babbage Free Press that there are currently no plans to form another rescue team.

Photograph Taken of Clockhaven Harbor Horse

PHOTO DEPICTS CREATURE SWIMMING

SIGHTINGS DATE BACK DECADES

MONSTER REPORTED TO FEAST ON HUMAN FLESH

CLOCKHAVEN, NB — A photograph was recently taken by an anonymous source which allegedly depicts what has been dubbed the Clockhaven 'Harbor Horse' by eye witnesses.

The photograph, which is now known as 'the Doctor's photograph', is rather grainy and blurry, yet distinctly shews a dark object seemingly moving through the frigid murky waters of Clockhaven Harbor in broad daylight.  Two appendages can be made out on top of what is purported to be the creature's head—the 'ears' or 'horns', those who have spotted the mysterious creature have marveled at how the beast resembles a land horse, resulting in its moniker of the 'Harbor Horse'.

Sightings of the creature have reportedly gone back decades.  The earliest recorded sighting being in 1792, when the creature was alleged to have leapt from the brine of the harbor and lumbered up Doagrun Road on paddled legs, where it reportedly battled a clockwork bear in Market Square.  The end results of that battle are hotly disputed by historians.

Dr T Frang, New Babbage zoologist, denies the existence of the Harbor Horse.  "If such a creature existed, I would know about it.  Believe me, I would love for it to exist.  My granny used to keep me awake at night with stories of the Harbor Horse, but it's sadly a myth." he stated to the Free Press earlier today.  When asked for an opinion on the photograph, he responded: "It's a submersible of some sort.  They are all the rage these days."

Citizens have been besieging the harbor with harpoons since news of the photograph broke on the streets days ago.  None agree on exactly what the creature may be, but all seem to agree it will probably be delicious.  "Anything's an improvement on wiggyfish." said Horace Franklin, of Coronet Gardens, to the Free Press.

Reports that the alleged creature feasts solely on human flesh have remained unconfirmed at the time of printing.

 

Killed By Spiders!

MAD MAN PROVED RIGHT

MAN EATING SPIDERS STALK THE EAST END

CITY HALL FALSE FLAG OPERATION?

New Babbage, NB — Some heed is now being paid toward Mad-Tongued Moe, who regularly accosts sightseers along the Port area with his often bizarre predictions of doom and plague.  For, recently, with yet another wave of vermin infestation ravaging the city, his rantings are seeming to take on a decidedly more realistic tone.

Readers, this reporter is certain, do not need to be informed that the new threat is of an arachnid nature; the city is fairly abuzz with rampant rumor concerning recent events.  The New Babbage Free Press has struggled valiantly to separate fact from fancy, amongst all the hyperbole.

Dr M Muggins, New Babbage City Coroner, has confirmed that the recent deaths were due to a combination of arachnid venom poisoning, and acute blood loss.  'I will agree that these deaths were due to what appear to be spider bites, but I refuse to speculate on the alleged size of these [redacted] spiders.' Dr Muggins was quoted as saying, earlier today.

The size of the arachnids in question is the heart of much of the speculation running rampant in the saloons and public houses of the city.  

One alleged eye witness to the size of the arachnid described a bizarre encounter to the Free Press: 'Yes, I met the spider ... she was very very nice. She spoke to me, I was so honored to meet her.  She was big.  Real big.  Like big big.' said a young unfortunate named Petunia, to a reporter from the Free Press at an earlier date.  She recounted that another unfortunate, known only by his street name of Low Key, who dwelled in an ersatz dwelling in the sewers beneath Clockhaven, was driven from his home by the vermin.

Mrs U Flaxenbrass, of Prince Dakkar Blvd in Clockhaven was more appalled to discover young children were camping out beneath the streets, than she was to hear about the vermin. 'Think about it, eating down there, playing down there... good lord, have you seen how they play? That's city water down there, the very thought revolts and repulses me ... those spiders? No, I don't believe they exist at all.  It's all a false flag operation for the Unterby office at City Hall, that's how it works around here.'

Mr O Unterby of City Hall was not available for comment at the time of publishing.  There has been no indication as to when the arachnid infestation might be brought under control.  The Free Press will stay on top of this story as it continues.

Feral Dogs Run Amok

SEWERS TEEMING WITH ROGUE PESTS

CITY OVERRUN WITH LOST PETS

CLOCKHAVEN, NB. The placid passing of evening was shattered last night by the baying of a lost and lonely dog apparently trapped in the sewer system. The lonely and verbal hound was heard from every drain and gutter within Clockhaven during the twilight hours yesterday.

A source close to City Hall stated that feral animals running at large have been allowed to populate the city’s sewer system unchecked for many years, and no effort has been made to stem the tide of all those unwelcome vermin living beneath the streets.

Several citizens patronizing a local drinking establishment told the Free Press that the dog continued to bark late into the evening, despite efforts by concerned people to locate and quiet the sounding hound.

Building Collapses In Clockhaven

BUILDING CRUMBLES INEXPLICABLY

WORK OF RUMORED MORLOCKS?

PROPRIETOR CURRENTLY MISSING

NEW BABBAGE, NB — The soft winter silence of the borough of Clockhaven was disturbed late yesterday afternoon by the complete and utter collapse of Wexholm's Emporium on Prince Dakkar Blvd, which fell in on itself, taking a large portion of the sewer system with it.

Low ominous rumbling sounds and minor quakes have been plaguing the east end of New Babbage for close to a month.  Those who had hoped the sounds and tremors were merely remnants of the January Marsh Gas were dismayed to discover otherwise yesterday, as the ground suddenly yawned open, taking the entire structure down with it.

Despite the collapse transpiring in mid-afternoon, it seems fortunate that no customers have been reported as injured or missing, though Emporium proprietor Mr B Wexholm is currently reported as missing.

City officials would give no official comment on the disaster, apart from the investigation being ongoing, though many have stated to the Free Press that the land beneath Clockhaven is honeycombed with passages and tunnels.  "It's a wonder the whole neighborhood didn't go down," stated one citizen, who wished to remain nameless.

City Children Hunt Black Birds

HUNT SEEMS ORGANIZED

MAYOR'S DISAPPEARANCE MAY BE RELATED

POSSIBLE REWARD

NEW BABBAGE, NB — Tiny legs on tiny feet scamper to and fro across the cobbles of the city today, all sharing a single purpose: the systematic hunt of black birds.

Children in every district have been witnessed tossing stones at corvids awing, greasing ledges, constructing wooden cages, marking maps, and strategically ambushing — all in the hopes of catching birds.  The ire of the street urchins seems to be chiefly aimed at ravens, crows, magpies, and starlings.

The reason for this pursuance is still largely nebulous at the time of printing, though suggestions have run the gamut from some sort of gambling sport to the belief that the birds are stealing souls.

'It could be related to the bounty Mayor Tenk placed on ravens a few years ago.' suggested prominent citizen Mr G Baroche of Clockhaven.

Young Master C Raynah, of the Academy district, stated to a member of the Free Press just before printing, 'We have a plan, but that is all I can say.'

It is currently unknown if a reward is being offered.

Art Museum Opens In Clockhaven

HOTELIER OPENS GALLERY

SAYS ARTISTS ARE DESTITUTE

PHILISTINE BUTCHER DISAPPROVES

NEW BABBAGE, NB — If a city's worth is measured by its devotion to the arts, let it be known that New Babbage is this day rather corpulent indeed, as hotelier Mr V Morningtea of Brunel Hall inaugurates the New Babbage Gallery of Art in the Clockhaven district.

The opening of the museum — which is situated on the waterfront of Clockhaven Port, on Harrison Street at Temple Lane — will give aspiring and established artists a chance to display their works to the public.

Mr Morningtea believes this to be an important aspect of the museum, stating, 'As we all know, artists are scraping by day to day, which is why citizens who are invited to show their work in the museum will be able to sell them... so everyone can enjoy their fine work.'

Not all citizens, however, share the wealthy hotelier's excitement over the opening.  Mr R Bohns, owner and proprietor of RB Meats Butcher Shop in Coronet Gardens, was quoted as stating, 'Only art [which] gets my hackles up is wanted posters. So long as I'm not on them, I don't have to worry none.'

Mr Morningtea is confident Babbagers will respond enthusiastically to the gallery, and vehemently denies the gallery is any way a tax dodge.

Insignificant Explosion Detonates Within Train Station

SMALL EXPLOSION DETONATED IN STATION

UNIFORMED SUSPECT FLEES SCENE

INSIDE JOB SUSPECTED

NEW BABBAGE, NB — A small ineffective incendiary device was detonated this evening inside the New Babbage Train Station whilst a group of citizens awaited the imminent return of mayor Clockwinder Tenk.  Though three people were propelled by the blast, including prominent citizen Miss G Slattery, no citizens were unduly injured by the fulmination, and no damage of property was reported to be observed.

Immediately following the paroxysmal percussion some on-site witnesses claim to have observed an individual in Hussar uniform flee the scene, heading south-west.

A Miss D Wess, of Clockhaven, performed an impromptu investigation afterward, though official investigations are expected to commence overnight; no determinations were immediately forthcoming.

Though no suspects have been officially named, some concerned citizens -who preferred to remain anonymous- were solicitous that the incident was perpetrated by person or persons exalted within New Babbage government.  Mr Underbean, the current regent mayor whilst Mr Tenk is out of town, was unavailable for comment.