Iowa news. [volume] (Dubuque, Upper Mississippi Lead Mines, Wisconsin Territory) 1837-1841, 1837-07-22
sERPEST-ToNGUED INFANT
Tryzcros, fR. /. Mag %, 1887.

kIh J. a i
Trvrrros. lR. L. May %, 1887.
embrace the earliest opportunity TO make
ron acquainted with such OF the facts as have ,
.ome 70 nv knowledge relative 70 the ''serpraf-
,oapued in}anf," OF which We had casually j
heard, Just previous to my departure iof BLOCK
Lsiaad. Quite unexpectedly. day before yes
terday, l fond mi self IN the very neigaoo'-
hocd Of tais strange and TayWafd production
of nature. sly curiosity asyou may Wei sap
pose, was greatly e1cI'eG, ana confess ! fei'
an intense anxiety toexamine Tor myself an oo-
iecs which began 70 excite 30 much interest IL |
me neighborilood Of its occurrence. Mr.. r.
: ro,,Ss old gentleman in the vicinity, for
MAJ acquaintance with whom accidentally
met. kindiy offered 70 accompany me TO Mr..
WIS. the father Of the unfortunate child. We
reached shese about nine o'clock this morning,
and rere received very couneously BY Mr.. w.
ana mis- Interesting young wife. iftsI IA q
gyeeable Introduction. my aged friend stated
de OBJECT Of our visit, and the desire had
manifested TO zee their unfortunate litile child,
Of whom had Just heard. Mr. W. infor-
med rs iha. for sereszI weeks he had. IN ai-
most eye.y instance, dec:;sed admitting stran-
gers, - he thought their presence had an un-
favorable effect upon the child; b.. IS had
como considerable distance out Of my way.
he was disposed TO crafty my wish, the more
especially AZ he thought might give hin some
advice in relation 10 The course he ought In ft-
tuse 70 pursue I'VE were then invited into an
sdioininQ room. ;s one corner Of which We be-
held tied in small low chair, most horn
bly, emseisted little child, apparently abort
two years old. am aware itsas Shall total
~ fali in giving you any ihipglik an adequate
idea Of the miserable object before US. Ina
irEz chi rfs
about the age above supposed. reduced TO a
very sk<lefon, hairless and covered with psreh-
ed and shriveiled skin, dark and unelastic as
The corresponding structure IN the withered oc-
togensrian. Its little red fiery eyes rolling |
rest!essiy, in the deep recesses OF is feshiess
sockets. sent forth the horrid flashes Of iadig- |
nation, w;sen he dscs 10 lis aPassi;sess. vas /
thrown open.
The little sufferer opened his mouth, and in |
the place Of It's tongue, and feo tongue, a GER /
penis head and neck were thrust out, vibra- |
ting and hissing with an intensity Pecuiia, 10 |
the more venomogs varieties 81 that repuisiye /
species Of animated nature. / could not for /
several minutes, muster suficien, courage to |
approach the object Of curiosity. / was fixed |
TO the spot which atf first occupied, while the |
sesPent-headed tongue continued to dart forth |
and Tecede with the guickness Of thought; its |
iitale forked and fiery tongue at the same time |
playing about the lips and nos,riis of the child,
equalling in velocity the !ightning's fash. SIR.
W., the father, gradually approached the |
child, all the tire speaking very soothingiy
to it, and in few minutes succeeded in pro-
ducing quiet-,he head receded, the lips clos. ]
ed over il, and the infant exhibited the aspect
only Of extreme emaciaiion. But the moment
] moved towards the child, even but a sing,eli
step, the mouth would open, the head sudden-i
y dan forth; and the same dreaded spectaclei
have already impenectly described, would
BE- again presented. The father, however.
beckoned NE to approach. which did; butne-
yer shall forget the Tremendous hissing which !
came from the serpentheaded tongue Of the
little sufferer. Ii was several minutes before |
quietude could be produced, and even then The |
a3ighiesi motion Gu my part would cause an |
instantaneous proirusion Of the unsieh,ly or. |
gao, accompanied by kissing sound more or |
less intense according to the fears Of the child.
had several fair opportunities Of seeing the |
strange member; and will endeayor 10 give
you description Of IL LIS colo, is dark cop- |
pr, shining. and in places iaciinipg 10 streak |
" green. Its eyes arc 2 Jet black, and when /
the light strikes them fayorably, no diamonds |
ever sent forth more brilliant scin,illa,ions Of
Light 4 bright yellow ring cncircies the neck, |
and really has much the appearance Of gold. |
The mouth Of this serpept-headed tongue is |
quite large. and was slightly open when the
head was proiruded beyond the lips. It's lit |
tie fosked tongue, as have already said. was
necessarily in motion. We stayed in the room
just 20 minutes, during the latter part Of which
tine the child became very quiet, and took
freely Of milk, its usual food The father told |
me ne had known the tongue to bite several
times, and once when it fastened upon one oil
his fingers, much swelling and soreness fol- |
lowed, indeed he was only relieved by a CO. |
plous bleeding. He informed me also, that
tho child cat vofsciously Of milk, and some.
times other kinds Of food, but that il preferred
the former. The child is Of the female sex.
lie sisted further that several eminent physi.
cians and surgeons had been to see the child.
ana That u had been recommended by one, the
eminent Dr.. w. that the tongue be extirpa-
led. conceded in this opinion, and advised
hat the Doctor be called on TO perform the op-
fation.--The father. Mr.. w., is about
iSyears old. and the mother, l should Judge.
~ .at twenty-five. She il very beautiful, has
- married about Eve years, and this Is their
JeLsnd only child. have omitted names in
ryhssty sketch q the request of tho parties
SfsFnsd ~ Phil. Sal. Courier.
~. Aassf
~ " ssTlsH Misssrer,---It is supposed
the ele'aiSnn Of S,r Francis Eurdets, as the
sSPfesentatave N Parliament from Westmin.
Dter. and from other deveIopenants in pop,,!ar
sentiment, that the wing ministry Of Great (;
Britain has, ere this, been forced to resign. and
10 place filled by one Of Tory character.
Tho English correspondent ofthe N. y Er,,,.
NJ Star supposes that the following persons
viii compose the new administration: