The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1871-09-21
Extraordinary Exploits of an Ignorant Mary
land Negro.

A newspaper extract of somewhat doubtful
origin was circulated some time ago, giving an
account of the wonderful performance of ne
gro in Talbot County, Maryland, in handling
red-hot iron and doing various other feats with
fire, and now correspondent of the New York
Herald has furnished details of the matter
with names of witnesses He says:
Business recently called me to the county
seat of Talbot County. While there l heard
from several gentlemen of prominence the story
of negro blacksmith, who lived in an adjoin-
ing county, upon whom fire had no effect what
ever. The story was SO incredible that | gave
it little heed A day or two after first heard
of this remarkable negro, MIR. T. K. Robson,
editor of the Easton Star, called, and stated
that the negro was in town, and that the ply
sicians were going to make an examination OF
him, and invited me to witness the operations.
Mr.. Robson and myself went at once to DIR.
Stacks office, where were assembled Drs. An
derson, Goldsborough and Comegys, of Easton ;
DR.. J. A. johnson, editor of the Journal at
Easton Mr. A. A. Pascault and Mr.. John G.
Henry, all prominent citizens of Talbot Coun.
ty.
A brisk fire of anthracite coal was burning
placed in the stove and heated to white heat.
When all was ready the negro pulled off his
boots and placed the hot shovel upon the soles
of his feet and kept it there until the shovel
became black. His feet were then examined
by the physicians, and no burns could be found,
and all declared that no evidence of a heated
substance having come in contact with them
was visible.
The shovel was again heated red hot, and
taken from the stove and handed to him. He
ran out his tongue as far as he could, and laid
the heated shovel upon it, licking the iron un-
til it became cooled. The physicians examined
the tongue, but found nothing to indicate that
he had suffered in the least from the heated
iron.
A large handful of common squirrel shot,
procured from store near Dr.. Stacks office,
was next placed in an iron receptacle and hea-
ted 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, al
lowing it to run all around his teeth and gums.
He repeated the operation several times, each
time keeping the melted lead in his mouth un-
til solidifed. 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 SUBJ
stance he had been handling. After the per-
formances with the lead lie deliberately put his
hand into tho stove, in which was very hot
fire, took therefrom handEul of hot Goals and
passed them about the room to the gentlemen
present. keeping them in his hand some time.
Not the slightest evidence of burn was visi-
BILE upon his hand after he threw the Goals back
into the stove.
The exhibition was regarded by all who wit
messed it as most remarkable, for there was no
opportunity for the practice of chicanery.
Every gentleman present was there for the pur-
pose of detecting if possible, any trick-if trick
there was-and none could have had the least
interest in aiding or abetting the negro in his
performances. Whatever solution may be had
of this matter, there can be no doubt but that
this negro handles fire in the manner set forth
above, without the use of any mechanical or
chemical appliances whatever, for he has been
subjected to the severest tests possible, not only
at the time specified by me, but several other
times and places, and in the presence of some
of the first men in the State of Maryland. /
have conyersed with greater number of peo-
pie who have seen him, gentlemen of educa-
ton and integrity, all whom declare that they
do not believe that fire has the least effect upon
his flesh.
After he had concluded his performances in
DIR. Stacks Office, l sought an opportunity to
converse with him. Ifound him very ignorant,
not able to read or write, and in all respects an
unadulterated negro. His name is Nathan
Coker, and he is about ffty-eight years of age.
He was born in the Town of Hillsborough,
Caroline County, Maryland, and was the slave
of Henry l.. Sellers of that place, by whom he
was sold to Bishop Emery. In relation to his
ability to handle fire, and how he first became
aware of 1t, he said: "Boss, when was about
thirteen years old, old Massa Emery hired me
out to lawyer whose name was Purnell. He
treated me badly, and did not give me enough
to eat. 1 spied around the kitchen one day,
and when the cook left shot in, dipped my
hot dumpling. The boiling water did not burn,
and 1 could eat the hot dumpling without wink
ing so after dat often got my dinner dat way.
l has often got the hot fat off the boiling water
and drank it. drink my coffee when it is
boiling, and it does not give me half so much
pain as it does to drink glass of cold water.
/ always likes it just as hot as / can get it." ]
then interrogated him as to the effect heated
sui 'ance had upon his flesh, and asked him
when he handled them with his hands if he
did not suffer more than when he took them
nwardly, to which he replied, "No, boss, l Of
ten take my iron out the forge with my hand
when red hot, but it don't burn. Since was
little boy have never been afraid to handle
fire." He then stated that often when by him
self he would pick up red hot iron because his
tongs were not handy, and that he never felt
any discomfort from it. He felt no more harm,
he said, from handling fire than stones.
I could cite great number of instances be-
side those mentioned, and give the names of q
large number of high standing who have wit.
messed the wonderful doings of this untutored
African but do not deem it necessary, as
what 1 have stated can be more than authenti'
Gated by almost any prominent man living in
this locality 1 am thoroughly convinced
from personal observation, that fire has no eff:
feet whatever upon his flesh, and am sustain.
ed in that belief by the united judgment of all
gentlemen who have seen him, including a
large number of physicians.
TURNING THE ScALEs.-An aged freedman
in our community, says the Dawson (Ga.l Jour-
nal. having saved enough of his earnings to