The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1871-09-29
A REMARKABLE NEGRO.
Eats Fire and Handles Red Hot Iron.
PI0ys with Molten Lead, and is Pro-
mOE.eed Fire Proof
[From the New York nern1d !


An EastOn, Talbot county, Mary
land, correspondent of the New York
Herald furnishes an account OF q
wonderful enigma in the person of
negro man. The writer SAYS:
Business recently called me to the
eastern shore of Maryland, to the point
from which we write, the county seat
of Talbot county. While there I
heard from several gentlemen of
prominence the story of a negro black
smith, who lived in an adjoining
county, upon whom fire had no effect
whatever. The story was so incredi-
bic that I gave it little heed, although
1t came from most reliable sources,
and was related to me by gentlemen
of the highest standing in the COM
munity for honor and integrity. A
day or two after first heard of
THIS REMARKABLE NEGRO,
Mr.. T. r. Robson, editor of the Easton
Star, called at my room, and stated
that the negro was in town, and that
the physicians were going to make an
examination of him at the office of
DR.. P. Stack, and invited me to wit
ness the operations, which very glad
ly did. Mr.. Robson and myself went
at once to DIR. Stacks office, where
were assembled Drs. Anderson, Colds
borough and COmegys, of Easton
Mr.. j A. johnson, editor of the Jour
nal, at Easton; Mr.. NJ. A. PancouIt,
and Mr.. John @. Henry, all prominent
citizens of Talbot county.
A brisk fire of anthracite coal was
burning in common coal stove and
an iron shovel was placed in the stove
heated to white heat. When all was
ready the negro pnlled off his boots
anA ro1a0aA hnE uInxyoI
soles of his feet, and kept it there un-
til the shovel turned black. His feet
were then examined by the physi-
clans, but
NO BURNS COULD BE FOUND,
And all declared that no evidences of
any heated substance having come in
contact with them was visible.
The shovel was again heated red
hot, taken from the stove, and hand
ed to him. He ran out his tongue as
far as he could, and laid the heated
shovel upon it, licking the iron until
| it became cooled. The physician ex-
amined the tongue, but found nothing
| TO indicate that he had suffered IN the
| least from the heated iron.
A large handful of common SOUR
rel shot, procured from a store near
| DR.. Stacks Office, was next placed In
an iron receptacle and heated until
melted. The negro then took the dish,
POURED THE HEATED LEAD INTO THE
PALM OF HIS HAND,
And then put it into his mouth, allow
| ing it to run around his teeth and
| gums. He repeated the operation sew
eral times, each time keeping the
melted lead in his mouth until solidi-
fed. After each operation the physi-
clans examined him carefully, but could
| find nothing upon his flesh to indicate
that he had been in the least affected
| by the heated substance he had been
handling. After the performances
| with the lead he deliberately put his
| hand into the stove, in which was q
| very hot fire, took therefrom a hand
| ful of hot Goals, and passed them
| about the room to the gentlemen pres
| ent, keeping them in his hand some
! time. Not the slightest evidence of a
| burn was visible upon his hand after
! he threw the Goals back into the stove.
| The exhibition was regarded by all
who witnessed it as most remarkable,
for there was no opportunity for
THE PRACTICE OF CHICANERY.
Every gentleman present was there
| for the purpose of detecting, If pOssi-
| ble, any trick-if Tick there was-and
none could have had the least interest
| in aiding or abetting the negro in his
I performances. Whatever solution
| may be had of this matter, there can
be no doubt but this negro handles fire
| in the manner set forth above, with
| out the use of any mechanical or chem
ical appliances whatever, for he has
been
SUBJECTED TO THE SEVERESTs TESTS,
Possible, not only at the time speci-
fed by me, but at several other times
and places, in the presence of some of
the first men In the State of Maryland.
In addition to the case cited, which
came under my observation, l will
state that in April last. while the
Judges of this Judicial Circuit We're
holding Court at Denton, Caroline
county,-the county in which this
man nIives-Judges Wickes and Stump,
accompanied Icy Sheriff Richardson,
went to the blacksmith-shop of this
negro, which is situated about six
miles from Denton Son the farm of w.
P. Richardson. The Sheriff made
known to him the objectO their visit,
when, in the language of the Judges,
che performed
MOST ASTOUNDING FEATS,
Such as handling red-hot iron with his
bare hands, forging it into shape with
out the use of tOngs, putting it upon
his tongue,n etc. At later period he
was visited at his shop by DIR. G.. E,
TaTr, editor of the Denton ,JO71T7ICl /;
J. Marion EmmersOn, editor of the
, Denton american Union Jas. b.
i Steele; T. II. Kemp, Clerk of the
of the Treasury; Colonel Il. Il. Car
ter and Dr.. p. 0. Cherbonier. These
gentlemen came upon him wholly IN
awares, and when requested by them
, to perform some of the feats he has
become so famous for in this locality,
he Immediately went through with
THE SAME WONDERFUL PERFoR1IAN-
CES,
I have mentioned. I have cOnversed
with o great number of people who
. ton and integrity, all of whom declare
that they do not believe that fire has
the least effect upon his flesh.
II After he had concluded his perfOT-
mances in DIR. Stacks Office I sought
, an opportunity to converse with him
2 I found him very ignorant, not able *
read or write, and in all respects
AN NUNADULTERATED NEGRO.
5 His name is Nathan Coker, and h
o is about ffty-eight years of age. H
It was born in the town of HillsbOrough
: Caroline county, Maryland, and wa
the slave of Henry L. Sellers of tina
place, by whom he was sold to BishO
Emary. In relation to his ability {
g handle fire, and how he first becam
: aware of it, he said: BOSS, when
: was about thirteen years old, oil
= AIassa EmaTy hired me out to a law
= yer whose name was PuTneII. Il
y treated me badly, aud did not give ~
= enough to eat. I SHE'D around the kitcE
= en- one day, and, when the cook left
:. shotin, dipped my hand into the dinnC
~ not and 10FllInd Ouf