Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1871-10-05
A Fire Proof Negro.

Herald, writing from Easton, Talbot
County, Nd. gives the 70 llowing mar
vellous particulars. which are the more
remarkable from the fact that the persons
vouehing for their correctness are the
leading men r-individuals VIII ose eharac-
ters are beyond question Or reproach, in
that section
Business recently called me to the cas-
tern shore or Maryland, TO the point from
which we write, the county seat OF Talbo,
County. While there heard from
several gentlemen ofprominenee the story
offs negro blacksmith, who lived in an
adjoining county, upon whom fire had no
effect whatever. The story was SO in
credible tnatI gave it little heed although
it came from most reliable sources, and
was related 10 me BY gentlemen Of the
highest standing il the community for
honor and integrity. 4 day Or two after
I first beard of this remarkable negro,
Mr. 2 r. Robson, editor of the Eaaton
Star, called at NY room and stated that
the negro yas in town, and that tn
physicians were going to make an exc
animation of him at the Office of DR. P.
Stack and invited me to witness the op-
erations, which | very gladly did. BIr
Robson and myself went at once to DR..
Stacks Office, where were assembled Drs
Anderson, Goldsborough and Comegys,
of Easton ; Mr.. ] A. johnson, editor of
journal at Easton Mr. A. A. Pancoult
and Mr. John G. Henry, all prominent
citizens of Talbot County.
A brisk fire of anthracite coal was bur
ming ia a common coal stove and an lron
shovel was placed in the stove and heate
ed 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 physician. but no burns could be
found, aud all declared that no evidences
OF a heated substance having come IN
contact with them was visible.
The shovel was again heated red bot
taken from the stove and handed to him
He ran out his tongue as far as he couyd
and laid the heated showed upon it, licking
the iron until it became cooled. The
physician 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..
Stack IS Office, was next placed in an iron
receptacle aud heated until Noted. TIE
negro then took the dish, pourd the heat
ed lead 10 to the palm of his hand, and
then put it into his mouth, allowing it to
run all around his teeth and gums. He
repeated the operation several times, each
time keeping the melted lead in his neuth
until soIidlfed. After each operation Tie
physicians examined him carefully, bat
could fad nothing upon his flesh to In
dictate that be bad been IN the least affec.
ted by the heated substance he had been
handling. After the performances witt
the lead, he deliberately put his hand IN
so the stove. in which was q very hot
fire, took therefrom handful Of hot coal:
and passed then about the room to tht
gen tlemen present, keeping them In biz
hand some time. Not the slightest evi.
dence of burn was visible upon his hand
after he threw the Goals back into tht
stove.
After he had concluded his perfom
ances in DR.. Stacks Office I sought at
opportunity to converse with him.
found him very iguorsnt, not able to real
or write, and in ali respects an unadu ltera
ted negro. His name is Nathan Coke
and ne IS about fifty eight years of age
He was born in the town Of Hillsborough
Caroline County, Nd, and was the slave
OF Henry I Sellers of that p lace, by whom
he was sold to Bishop Emery. In reia-
ton to his ability to hand lie FIRE, and bow
he first became aware Of it. he said
Boss, when | was about thirteen years ok
old massa Emery hired me out to lawyer
whose name was Purnell. He treated mi
badly, and did not give me enough IL
eat
SHE'D around the Kitchen one day, enc
when the cook left | shot in, dipped my
hand into the dinner pot and pulled on
red hot dumping. The boiling water die
not burn and [ could eat the hot dumpl
ing without winking, so after dat I often
got my dinners dat way. I has often go
the hot fat off the boiling water and drank
it. I drank my coffee when it is DO ling,
and it does not give me half SO much
pain as it does to drink a glass of cold
water. I always likes it just as hot as ]
! can get it. | then iuterrogated him al
to the effect heated substances had upon
his flesh, and asked him when he handle
them with his hands if he did not suffer
more than when he took them inwardly
to which he replied, No. Boss. / often
take my iron out the forge with my hand
when red hot, but it don't burn. Since
way little boy [ have never been a.
fraid to hand le fire. He then stated thai
often when by himself be would pick up
red hot iron because his tongs we're not
handy, and that be never felt any discom-
fort it. He felt no mora harm, he said
from handling fire than stones.
I could cite great number of instances
besides those mentioned, and give the
names Of large number Of gentlemen of
high standing. who have witnessed the
wonderful doings of this uniutored Afri-
can; but I do not deem it necessary, as
what | have stated can be mors than
authenticated by almost any prosir ent
man living in this lecality.-I am