Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1850-10-24
THE sIAMESE TWINS AT HOME.


count Of visit, paid them some two years
since, by gentleman who made notes Of
what he saw and heard at the time the
substance Of which we proceed to give to
our readers. Il North Pennsylvania.
After being exhibited in England and
this country for some years, and becoming
tired of migratory life, they settled
down strangely enoug gh, in the mountain
Gus regions of North Carolina, where they
were both married /; tha, is to say-each
took wife. There were two sisters.
Adelaide and Sarah Lates: who were
both quite youthful (under twenty years
of sge,) when they entered into this
strange union. They were married at
the same time. So far as the young wo-
men were concerned, it seems that all
went smoothly enough during the court
ship; but the two brothers differed as to
which should have Sarah, the largest of
the girls, and who is now bouncing wo-
man Of some two hundred pounds, aver
dupcis. Both preferred the same indi-
vidual, in the true spirit of their peculiar
twinship. Eng, however, prevailed
,, and the more portly fair one became his !;
while Chang had to content himself with
Adelaide-who, by the way, to any but
an oriental taste, was much the prettiest !;
being, in fact, handsome and snowy bru-
nette.
Chang and Eng first established them
selves, built house, and opened a small
country shop, or store, on Trap Hill, in
Wilkes county North Carolina. A Mr.
Harris, who had travelled with them while
they were exhibited in the United States,
at first assisted them in their new busi-
ness but in consequence of his not mar
rying to the taste of Mrs Chang and Mrs
Eng-the twins dismissed him, and since
that time have managed for themselves
The opinion of Eng is always the law,
and Chang cheerfully submits, as in the
case of selecting their wives. Eng signs
all the writings required in the course of
their business; makes all the bargains,
and throughout all their affairs, appears to
be the controlling spirit. 1t is said how
ever-(at least Mrs Eng say,) that her
husband has much the best disposition of
the two; is much kinder to their slaves
| (of which they have number)-than
Chang. They can handle an axe with
much force and dexterity-placing their
four hands and exerting their united
strength upon the implement at the same
time. They shoot their game, (being
fond Of hunting) with all the hands Of
both resting upon the gun; sometimes one
arm oi each usually reaches around the
waist, or lies across the others shoulder
About the time they settled themselve.
in North Carolina, they applied under &
law of the State, and had the name o.
Bunker added to their Christian, or, Gas
should have said) Siamese aprellatives.-
This was deemed necessary to more le
cal. or formal transaction of their business
in regard to real estate. Mr. Bunker i
their agent in New York, and is under
stood to have some $4,000 invested fo
the twins the annual interest of which
is employed by them in their North Car
olina perations.-Tbey scrupulcusly for
bear to touch the principal sum in Nj
Bunker's hands. Since their location OF
Trap Hill they have purchased another
plantation in Surry-some forty miles dis
tant, and at the time our informant visites
them Chang and Eng were residing there
while Sarah (Eng's wife) and her chill
dren were at the Trap Hill establishment
As in point of time the first call was upo1
hcr-she, a. first, is here entitled to no
tice.
He found her with three children-tw
girls and boy; the latter of whom i
called Decatur. Their fat, swarthy fea
lures, black coarse hair, and low retreat
ing forehesds, indicated clearly the'
Siamese. patrenity. In the large roor
where the guest was received stood a
enormous bed some ten feet in widt
I which Mrs Eng Bunker explained, wit
all the innocence and naivette imaginable
wa. brought into requisition wheneve
her husband, his brother, and her siste
visited Trap Hill. "Nothin' shorter sh
said, "would do for them all.' The VIC
= man herself was good looking thong
rather corpnlent, with rich auburn hai
fine teeth, and hazel eyes. The hous
e was neatly kept; the supper spread IL
the visitor excellent; and although unet
a uca,ed Mrs Eng displayed much goe
sense and shrewdness in her conversation
n On paying visit to the twins themse
YES, at the plantation in Surrey. they wei
= found engaged in shingling house. II
indoor arrangements OF Mrs Chang, pr
Il nounced "chun,' were more tasteful tn;
T.. those of her sister as she also excei!t
IT the latter in point of personal beauty
"a She has also three children; the eldest
whom, rejoicing in the name OF Josephl
Virginia, is six days younger than NJ
~ Eng's first born. The next child, no
N that we have come to these particular
was eight days younger than her sister
second daughter, and there was about
h. same discrepancy, if we may so speak,
il the ages of the younger, doubly cousin
As to personal appearance, the childr
~. were all much alike.
n. The twins seemed to be very happ
ad said they liked farming very much.
pi- regard to politics, they were decided Cl'
lin men and would like to vote for him
We President, as they expressed tiff
50 IMr Clay1 "would letthem." Their
or. iigious views embrace the Eastern d
do trlne of nansmigration of souls. II
do believe, on their death, they we 8
r their on simple words Ego in hog Fl
is and stay until we repent for de bad in
lJ. J>o IRA M IN boreo ~ Iaor