Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1871-09-23

April last, while the judges of this judi
cial circuit were holding court at Den
ton, Caroline county-the county IN
which the man lives-Judges Wickes
and Stump, accompanied by Sheriff
. Richardson, went to the blacksmith shop
of this negro, which is situated about
six miles from Denton. The Sheriff
made known to him the object of their
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 1t upon
his tongue, &c" At later period he
WAS visited at his shop by DIR. K. I.
Tarr, editor Of the Denton Journal;
j. Marion Emerson, editor of the Den
ton .7msricaa Union James B. Steele,
I. III. Kemp, Clerk of the Court Il. J.
Jump, late State Comptroller of the
Treasury; ColonelR +. Carter and DR..
Z. O. Cherbonier. These gentlemen
came upon him wholly unawares, and
when requested by them to perform
some of the featS he has become SO IA
nous for in this locality, he Immediately
went through with the strange perform
ances | have mentioned | have con-
versed with q great number Of persons
who have seen him, gentlemen Of edu-
cation and integrity, all Of whom declare
that they DO not believe that the fire
has the least effect upon his hesh.
After he had concluded his perform
mccs in Dr.. Stacks office | sought Al
opportunity to converse with him. /
found him very ignorant, not able to
read and write, and in all respects al
unadulterated negro. His name is Ma
than Coker and he is about tilty-eight
years OF age lie was born III the town
of Hillsborough, Caroline county, Md,
and was the slave Of Henry l.. Seller,ot
that place, by whom he was sol to
Bishop Emary. In relation to his abll-
ity to handle fire, and how be first be
came aware Of it, he said Boss, when
| was about Is years old, old massa
Emary hired me out to lawyer whose
name was Purnell lie treated me bad
ly, and did not give me enough to eat.
| spied around the Kitchen one day, and
when the cook left shot in, dipped my
hand into the dinner pot and pulled out
red hot dumping The boiling water
did not burn and | could eat the hot
dumpling without winking SO after dat
| often got my dinner dat way. | has
often got the hot fat off the boiling wa
ter and drank it. | drink my coffee
when it is boiling, and it does not give
me half 10 much pain as it does to drink
4 glass OF cold water always likes it
just as hot as can get il" then in
teTogated him a. 10 the effect heated
substances had upon his hesh.a asked
him when he handled them with his
| hands if he did not suffer more than
when he took them inwardly, to which
he replied, mo, Boss, | often take my
iron out the forge with my hand when
red hot, but it don't burn. Since |
was little boy haveneyer been afraid
to handle fire. lie then stated that oft
en- when by himself he would pick up
red hot iron because his tongs were not
handy, and that he never felt any dis
comfort from IT, He felt no more harm,
he said, from handling fire than stones.
could cite a great number OF in
stances beside those already mentioned
and give the names of large number
Of gentlemen Of high standing who have
witnessed the wonderful doings of this
untutored African but do not deem
it necessary, as what | have stated can
be more than authenticated by almost
any prominent man living in this local
ity am thoroughly convinced, from
personal observation, that fire has no ef-
feet whatever upon his flesh, and | am
sustained in that belief by the united
Judgment Of all gentlemen who have
seen him, including large number OF
| physicians.
This man should he seen and exam
ined by our scientific men, and the caus-
es and effects Of his remarkable per
formances duly investigated for il is
certain that his power TO handle fire does
exist in a remarkable degree, and that
too, without the AID Of anything save
! what nature has bestowed