Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1871-05-18
4 WONDERFUL PRODIGY.
Exhibition OF the Memory OF Daniel
MCortnry-FHcuities Difficult to Eek
From the Cleveland Leader.

III
From the Cleveland Leader,
An exhibition was given at the We'd
dell House parlors, yesterday afternoon.
of the remarkable powers of memory
and association which were ascribed to
one Daniel MCortney, of Cardineton,
Ohio.
A number of our prominent citizens
and Representatives of the press were
present, who were given full oppor-
tunity of testing the accurancy and
universally of the knowledge claimed.
1t was asserted that Mr.. MCortney
could remember the day of the week
of any given date during the last forty
four years that he could tell any I'M
portant event which transpired at the
time, the state of the weather, the place
in which he then was, his occupation,
and the persons who were present with
him.
1t may not be amiss to state that
MCortney is tifty-two years of age,
nearly blind, having only within the
last eight years been able to distinguish
the coarsest print and acquire an inn
perfect knowledge of reading; he is
consequently ignorant, except as he'has
gained information from contact with
the world and the conversation Of those
among whom he has moved. He was
born near Mount Peasant, Westmore
land county, Pennsylvania, but has
resided most of his life in this State.
He is one of seven children, none of
whom exhibit the same faculties of
mind with himself.
During the years in which he has
remained in obscurity he has been per-
forming the common duties of the
laborer, saving wood. working upon
the farm, or assisting about shops or
railroads. In his general appearance
he exhibits the same awkwardness and
peculiar marks of intuition which dis
tingrish Blind Tom and other prodi-
gies with whom the public is familiar;
remarkable knowledge, which puzzles
themselves, a something which they
can never imItlrt and which none can
learn.
After the company had assembled,
MCortney was led into the room by
his agent, Mr.. O. G. Brown, and in
troduced to the company Being
seated, he was asked by gentleman
present if he knew him. He replied
that he knew his voice and spoke the
gentleman's name. He then told when
and where he had seen the gentleman
last, the year, day of month and week,
which were pronounced correct. Sew
eral passages were next read in differ
ent parts of the New Testament, and
their exact location, book, chapter and
verse Immediately given. Those pres
ent now engaged in general and
merciless examination, embracing this
opportunity for acquiring knowledge
of dates and days half forgotten, which
were connected with some important
event in their lives, 1t is safe to say
that every married man present gave
the date and asked the day of the
week of that happy event all found
the statements of their mothers as to
their birth day corToborated, and many
found his memory more correct than
their notes. Events of national and
State history for the last forty years
which had any claim to Importance,
were described as soon AS the date was
given. The most difficult mathematical
problems were PROFOUND and answer
ed almost instantly. The exhibition was
a most full and unanswerable argument
in support Of the claim that Daniel
M'Cortney has no peer in the class to
which nature has assigned him, that
his peculiar gifts are more varied and
wonderful than any other, and that the
public have right to witness their
working. Mr.. Brown has not decided
as yet to givea public exhibition in
this city, although we trust he may be
persuaded to do so. The public will
appreciate and reward an exhibition of
the blind prodigy's powers. Mr..
Browns address is Cardington Ohio.