Thread by @DigiVictorian, I've stumbled upon a lot of bizarre things when researching nineteenth-century newspapers, [...]

I've stumbled upon a lot of bizarre things when researching nineteenth-century newspapers, but few stories that are wilder than this:

A girl who KICKS THE EAR OFF a man during a ballroom brawl!

— Illustrated Police News (US. ed 1884)

To be honest, the accompanying article raises more questions than it answers. Katrina Von S was a lethal weapon!

I can’t stop thinking about this story. The whole thing is so gloriously overwritten, except for the crucial bit where THE EAR ACTUALLY GETS KICKED OFF.

Also: hoop-te-dooden-do!

The Illustrated Police News was notorious for embellishing stories with implausibly sensationalist images, BUT I still can’t help wondering: *is* it possible to kick an ear clean-off someone’s head!?

You maniacs

I’ve posted a few stories about lethal, high-kicking Victorian ladies before. Here’s another girl who could ‘swing a vigorous limb’! https://twitter.com/digivictorian/status/879352078816223232?s=21 https://twitter.com/digivictorian/status/879352078816223232

https://twitter.com/digivictorian/status/879352078816223232?s=21

These high-kicks were only lethal to the mens’ wallets, but what a story nevertheless! https://twitter.com/digivictorian/status/846425067651317760?s=21 https://twitter.com/digivictorian/status/846425067651317760

https://twitter.com/digivictorian/status/846425067651317760?s=21

The old dude’s dicer never stood a chance https://twitter.com/digivictorian/status/770277572231987200?s=21 https://twitter.com/digivictorian/status/770277572231987200

https://twitter.com/digivictorian/status/770277572231987200?s=21

Well, do you?
https://twitter.com/digivictorian/status/768492683199340544?s=21 https://twitter.com/digivictorian/status/768492683199340544

https://twitter.com/digivictorian/status/768492683199340544?s=21

While kicking a man’s ear off might not *seem* very erotic (unless you’re into that), these stories are part of the wider ‘leg mania’ craze/fetish of the nineteenth-century. Here’s a long thread about it! https://twitter.com/digivictorian/status/1023875688577880065?s=21 https://twitter.com/digivictorian/status/1023875688577880065

https://twitter.com/digivictorian/status/1023875688577880065?s=21

See also: the craze for ‘Trilby’ feet! https://twitter.com/digivictorian/status/838023490087370753?s=21 https://twitter.com/digivictorian/status/838023490087370753

https://twitter.com/digivictorian/status/838023490087370753?s=21

If you’re mainly here to see badass Victorian women dealing with harassment from letcherous men, here are some ‘pugilistic belles’ who were more lethal with their fists than feet!
https://twitter.com/digivictorian/status/487543691352219648?s=21 https://twitter.com/digivictorian/status/487543691352219648