Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1871-09-28
A Remarkable Negro.
Eats Fire and Handles Red Hot Iron
Plays aeith Molten Lead and is P7onouncst
Fire Proof
m the New York Herald

|
An Easton, Talbot county, Maryland,
correspondent of the New York Herald,
furnishes an account of a wonderful enig-
ma 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 sea- of
Talbot county. While there heard from
several gentleman of prominence the story
of negro blacksmith who lived in an ad-
Joining county, upon whom fire had no ef
feet whatever. The story was so incredi-
bic that l gave it little heed, although it
related to me by gentlemen of the highest
standing in he community for honor and
integrity. A day or two after first heard
of this remarkable negro Mr. T. II. Rob
son, Editor of the Eastern Star, called at
my room, and stated that the negro was
in town, and that the physicians were go
ing to make an examination of him at the
office OF DR.. p Stack, and invited me to
witness the operations, which l very
gladly did. Mr. Robson and myself went
at once to Dr. Stacks office, where were
assembled Drs. Anderson, Goldsborough,
and Comegys, of Easton; Mr.. j. A
johnson, editor of the Journal, at Easton
Mr. 4. A. Pancoult, and Mr.. John c.
Henry, all prominent citizens Of Tablet
county.
A brisk fire of anthracite coal was
burning in a common coal stove, and an
iron shovel was 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 il there until the shovel
became black. His feet were then exam
ined by the physicians, but
NO BURNS COULD BE FOUND,
and all declared that no evidences of
heated substance having come in contact
with them was visible.
The shovel was again heated red hot,
taken from the stove, and handed 10 lim
lie 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 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 a store near DR..
Stack Office, was next placed in an iron
receptacle and heated until melted The
The negro then took the dish,
POURED THE HEATED LEAD INTO THE
PALM OF HIS HAND
and then put ii into his mouth, allowing
it to run all around his teeth of gums.
He repeated the operation several times.
each time keeping the melted lead in his
mouth until soliditied After each opcr-
alton the physicians examined him care
fully, but could find nothing upon hi.
teeth to indicate that he had been in tie
least affected by the heated substance he
had been handling After the perform
ances with the lead, he deliberately put
his hand into the stove, in which was a
very hot fire, took therefrom handful of
hot Goals and passed them about the
room to the gentlemen present, keeping
them i'll his hand some time Not the
slightest evidence of burn was visible
upon his hand after he threw the Goals
back into the stove
The exhibition was regarded by all who
Witnessed il as most remarkable for there
was 10 opportunity for
THE PRATICE OF CHICANERY.
Every gentleman present was there for
the purpose of detecting, if possible, any
trick-if trick there was-and none could
have had the least interest in aiding or
abbetting 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 me-
chanical or chemical appliances whatever,
for he has been
SUBJECTED TO TIE sEvEREsT TESTS
possible, not only at times specified By me,
but at several other times and places, and
in the presence of some of the first men in
the State of Maryland. In addition to the
case cited, which came under my own OBJ
servation, I will state that in April last,
while the judges of this Judicial Circuit
were holding Court at Denton, Caroline
County-the county in which this man
lives-Judges Wickes and Stump, accom-
panied by Sheriff Richardson, went to the
> blacksmith shop of this negro, which is
situated about six miles from Denton, on
the farm of p W. Richardson The
Sheriff made known to him the object of
this visit, when in the language of the
Judges, he performed
MOST ASTOUNDING FEATs,
such as handling red hot iron with his
bare hands, forging it into shape without
the use Of tongs, putting it upon his
tongue" etc. At later periou, he was
visited at his shop by DR.. c. L. Tarr, ed
itor of the Denton Journal; j. Marion
Emerson, editor of the Denton american
Union; James b. Steel; T. II. Kemp,
Clerk of the Court; r. j. Jump, late
State Comptroller of the Treasury; Col.
r. E. Carter, and DR.. P o. Chebonier
These gentlemen came upon him wholly
and when he was requested by them to
perform some of the feats he had been so
famous for in this locality, he Immediately
, Went through with
!. THE SAME WONDERFUL PERFORMANCES
| have mentioned have converscd with
a great number of people who have seen
!, him, gentlemen of education and integri-
: ty, all of whom declare that they do not
! believe that fire has the least effect upon
his flesh.
!, After he had concluded his performan
g ces in DR.. Stacks office, | sought an op
g portumty to converse with him. I found
him very ignorant, not able to read OF