South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1871-09-15
The Fire-Proof Maryland Negro

account ot the wonderful performances Oh ne
gro in Talbot county. Maryland, in handling
red-hot iron and doing various other feats with
hre, and now a correspondent Of the New York
Herald has furnished details Of the matter, with
names Of wilnesSss, - tha. Journal. We give
below his letter, written from Easion last mouth,
as published in tue Herald lie says:
Business recently called me 20 the Est
ern shore of Maryland, TO the point from
which We write, the county seat of Talbot
county While there | h ard from sever
al gentlemen Of prominence the story of a
negro blacksmith, who lived IN an adjoin-
ing county, upon whom FIRE had no effect
whatever. The story was so Incredible
that | gave it little heed, although 1t came
from the most reliable sources, aud was re-
lated to me by gentlemen of the highest
standing 10 the community for honor and
integrity.
\ day or two after first heard of this
remarkable negro, Mr.. r. *. Robson, edi-
tor of the Elstou Star, called a; my room
and stated that the negro was in town, aud
that the physicians were going to make an
examination of him at the Office Of DR.. +.
Stack, aud invited me to Witness the oper-
atoms, which | very gladly did. Mr. Rob
son and myself went at once to Dr. Stack s
office, where were assembled DIS Amber
sou, GollsbOrough aud Comegys, of Elst-
on DIR J. A Johnson, editor of the JOur-
nal at Elston Mr. \. y Piscault aud
Mr.. John e. Hcury, Nil prominent citizens
of Talbot county.
a brisk fire OF anthracite coal was burn
log in common coal stove, and an iron
shovel was placed in the stove aud heated
to a white heat When all was ready the
negro pulled off his boots and placed the
hot shovel upon the soles of bis feet, and
kept it there until the shovel became black.
His feet were then examined by the pbysi-
clans, aud uo burns could bc found, and
al declared that no evidence Of u 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.
lie ran out his tongue n far a. he coul J.,
aud laid The heated shovel upon it, licking
the iron until it became cnnied The ply
siciens examined the tongue, hut nund
nothing to indicate that he had suffer in
The least from the heated iron.
\ large handful of cowmor squirrel shot
procured from -''r' mar Dr. Sacks Of
icc, was mex p.er"f n - Ir'n re cp'oc'e.
and heated until ~ T." negro teen
rook the dish, poured p. Heated load info
the palm ct his hiui, ami hen put IL into his
mouth, allowing it 20 run al around his
teeth and gums lie repeated the op"rr-
ton several times, each time kccning the
melted lead in his mouth until sn,iIi"1.
After each operation the phy~ic ans exam
incd bin carefully, but cnuli iind nothing
upon bis dash 10 indicate lhnt he bni been
la tie least al ct.d ~ the hented sub
stance be had b EN- handling. After the
perform uces wilh che Lad ne Deliberately
pat his hand int ,-o stove. 10 which there
was a very hos fire., tool: theratrom hand
fu If hot GOALS and pissed .hem about the
room TO the gentlemen present, keeping
them in his hand some time. Not the
slightest evidence of d burn was vjsjlla up
On bis hanl after he throw the Goals back
into the stove.
The exhibition was regarded by all who
Witnessed X as most remarkable, for there
was M opportunity for the practico of chi
cnnery.
Every gen''eman present was there for
the purpose Of detecting, If possible, any
trick, if trick there was, aud none could
have had the least interest IN aiding or a
betting the negro in his perf)rmances.
Whatever solution may be bad Of this mat
ter, there can b. 40 d 'u5' bu, that this ne
gro handles fire IN the manner set forth a
bove, without the use of my mechanical or