The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1833-04-04

dissolved by the action Of the gastric
juice, for he never experienced the
slightest Inconvenience from il.
Our knife swallowcr. though highly
favored by his good fortune, as well as
by the extraordnary'powers of his inner
man, abandoned the practice of his art
for the space of six years but, on the
18th March, 1905. his vanity again
tempted him to repeat the hazardous ex-
pertinent. While drinking with par
Gel of sailors at Boston, in America, he
began 10 boast of his former exploit |;
and. in consequence Of the discredit
which was cast upon his story, he was
highly affronted, aud declared, that he
was the same man still, and was ready
to prove to them the truth of his asser-
tions. A small knife having been in
stantly produced, he swallowed il in a
moment. Five other knives followed
it in the same evening, and, the fame of
his doings having rapidly spread through
Boston, he was beset, next morning, by
crowds of visiters, and was induced, in
the course of that day, to swallow eight
more, making fourteen 10 all.
On this occasion he did not escape SO
easily as he did before from the conse-
quences of his folly. He was attacked
next day with such constant vomiting,
and pain in his stomach, that it be-
camo necessary to carry him TO Charles
town Hospital where, as he expresses
It, between that period and the 2Sth of
April, she was safely delivered of bis
cargo" and all the knives which were
thus unshipped are preserved in the In
Urinary Of that city.
On the 29th of April, Cummings
sailed from France in brig and, hav-
ing parted from it, he went on board of
another vessel, the Betty, Of Philadel-
phIa, to return to America. This vessel
however, which was probably, engaged
in some contraband trade, was captured
by his mJesty's ship the Isis, of fifty
guns, and carried into St. Johns, New
foundland, where she was condemned,
and Cummings pressed and sent to En-.
gland on board the Isis. At Spithead,
where the ship touched and where, as
Cummings observes, ''It took in Elenty
ofspiritous liquors" he was again induc-
ed, under the influence of drink, 10 re-
late to his new comrades the marvels of
his digestive powers None Of his ship
mates would believe his statement, and
the argument which ensued was cut
short ny one of them offering him a
knife fol. trial. "Disdaining" as he says
ITO DC worse than his word, he .procee-
ded immediately to perform his part of
Inc business" and, on the same evening
that of the 4th of December,) he swal-
lowed five knives. On the following
morning, the ships company having ex.
pressed a great anxiety to witness re-
petI,Iou ofIhe performance, he readily
yielded to their request, and "by the
encouragement of the people and the
assistance of good grog,' he swallowed
that day nine clasp knives, some of
which were very large. He was after
wards informed by the spectators that
he swallowed four more but he declares
that he knew nothing about his addit-
ionai shipment, as he was, probably too
much intoxicated to have any recollec-
ton of what then passed.
This was the last feat which Cum
mings performed. lie. had now swal.
lowed, in all, 35 knives, at different
times, and it was this last effort that nut
an end to his life, in March, 1909, near
Iy years afterwards.
DR.. Lara, the surgeon of the Isis, to
whom he was obliged to apply for medi-
cal aid, would not at first, believe that
Cummings illness was owing to his hav-
ing swallowed knives, but, having salts
ned himself Of lis truth by stric: exam
mutton ofthe principal eye-wi,nesses he
paid great attention to the case, without
however, having obtained much relief
for his patient. But, in about three
months, having taken quantity of oil,
Cummings "felt 10 knives dronpine
down the channel" and though none Of
them ever got to sea. yet he enjoyed the
benefit Ofa perfect calm till the 9TH of
June 1906 when he vomited one side of
the handle of a knife which had william
Cumnings' cut in the horn, and which
WAS recognized by its owner, who had
given It to be swallowed. In the course
OF the next six months blades and handles
and other fragments Of knives, were dis.
charged in different directions and. in
consequence Of his having quilted his ship
as incursble, he became a patient of DR..
Babington's in Guys Hospital. His s.o-
ry, however. seemed SO Incredible, that
he was discharged in few days; but
was roadmitted IN the month of August.
lSO7, owing to his health having become
much worse. On the 2Sthof October h o
left the hosptalin an improved state and
he did not again make his appearance Till