The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-01-28

Medical Men Quibbling While the
Bodies are DecOmpOsing.
THE INQUEST DISPUTE,
Interesting Resume OF the Public and
Private Life and Social Relations
of Chang and Eng.
MOUNT AIRY, Surrey County, n. T., /
Ian "a 1874

MOUNf AIM, cuiiCy Souuty, ~. -,
Jan. a. 1874.
while the ou tside world is exhibiting deep in
,erest in the death OF the Siamese Twins, and while
the scientific medical men are iretting over the
uusolved problem OF the hcament that connected
them their bodies are slowly but surely decOmpOs
ING in the box IN the cellar OF Eng's house, four
miles from this point Thoroughly
bungled job than the 'boxing'' process could not
wen have been executed. having for its object the
preservation Of the bodies. In the first place the
vlscera were allowed to remain in the bodies.
There was injection of any kind OF pre-
serving agent. Had DIR. Hollingsworth used
suphate OF zinc, corrosive sublimate. or in
TACT. any good disinfectant the bodies might nave
been kept in state of preservation for an in
definite period. Then, instead OF packing the
bodies in ice or placing the charcoal Immediately
around them, they were laid in the inner box IN
the same manner that a corpse would be in
coffin. This box was closed and then put in an
airtigbt tin case and the latter was
PACKED IN CHARCOAL
IN a still larger wooden case. Now any one havlng
practical sense knows that the charcoal on the
side Of the tin can have preserving effect what
ever The large box containing the charcoal. tin.
inner box and the bodies was then placed in the
cellar OF Engs house, where 1t Is said to have been
temporarily buriedp about one foot under ground.
Tnus the matter STATUS pTeSeut 6Hu onlf
for the scientific world lies in effort that Is now
being made, but OF which cannot yet make public
mention, to compel the authorities to hold an in
quest on the bodies, which the pres sent mystery
as to the cause OF Changes death may be explained.
BEFORE THE END.
On the Thursday evening previous to their de-
mise the twins rode from Changes house zone
miIeD to Eng's house. The evening was damp and
cold, and Chang having previously had slight at
tack of pulmonary pneumonia the exposure on
this occasion Is alleged to have precipitated his
death But that is too vague and the facts scarcely
justify such conclusion On Friday evening,
the 10th inst Chang, when he retired, was
was in his usual condition as partially paralytic
invalid. No apprehension whatever was felt for
his safety, nor did he himself seem to be alarmed
any worse than on any preceding night. In the
morning he was found dead, nobody being present
except a little negro girl, who was asleep. In two
hours after this discovery Eng expired, and If
these circumstances do not demand an inquest
then the laws providing for such legal investiga-
ton in the case OF mysterious death ought to be
abolished
During my brief stay OF a few hours here I
have had conversation with Mr. R. 5. Gilmer, a
lawyer, who was intimately acquainted with the
twins and their families, and from him OBJ
tanned quite number OF facts connected with
their history yet unpublished
THEIR ADOPTED NAME.
AS is already known they were born IN Siam on
the 18th Of May. 1911, where they lived until 1922
when they were brought to the United States by
captain named Comm. This person claimed
them as his property and exhibited them for
lengthy perioe, realizing handsomely from his en-
terprlse, the twins implicitly believing he had as
perfect a night and title to them as to any other
uOnda and q
continued my informant was unable to say, but
man named Bunker appeared, who knew the cir
cumstances OF their origin, and who interested
himself sufficiently in their behalf to free them
from the species of slavery in which they were held
by Coffin. This done they adopted the name OF
their patron, and began giving exhibitions them
selves under the style and title OF the
FIRM OF E. c. BUNKER.
Their pecuniary and otherwise brilliant success
- now q matter OF history, with which all the
readers or the HERALD are familiar. Nearly every
civilized nation in the world was visited by them,
and the medical men Of every country &C
knowIedged them to be the greatest living natural
curiosity OF the age. 1t was during one OF their
tours through the United States travelling as
they did at the time in an open barouche OF their
own, that they visited place called Trap Hill in
the adjoining county OF Wilkes. Here they made a
stay OF a few days, and here it was they made the
acquaintance OF q family called Yates, with whom
they became very intimate and friendly, the at
traction being two young ladies, respectively
named Sarah Ann Yates and Adeline Yates This
was in 1s4a In very short time Eng evinced a
decided liking for Miss Sarah Ann, or Miss Sally
as she was called; courrship followed, and, to
make the story short, Eng proposed was accepted
by the damsel, and a marriage was the immediate
result. Chang, though pa. tner OF Eng in every
ks.n
and felicities, Of which ne was constantly re-
minded, and this STATE OF ngle-bessedness be-
came very irksome to him. He grew miserable
and quarrelsome, and nothing could be done to
please him, and CHS sort OF companionship was
quite disagreeable to the newly welded pair.
How was it to be remedled, was the question
that agltated Eng's and his wite's mind when,
suddenly, one d;ly, with woman's tact, bright
idea struck Mr.. Eng. and she lost no time in
communicating it to her husband she had a
panacea Tor all Changes woes, and this was that he
should
MARRY HER SISTER
Adeline. Eng smiled serenely at the proposition,
Chang frightened up at 1t, but the next question
that presented itself was, would the young lady
agree to come into the family as a wife as well as
peacemakerY'' Mrs Eng said leave all that to
me, will tx that" And sure enough she did BY
her persuasive elOquence Miss Addy was won over
and in two weeks from the date of Eng's marriage
there were two Mrs. Bankers
AS PLANTERS AND SLAVE OWNERS
They then settled down in Wilkes county, where
they purchased small farm, upon which they con.
timed to reside until 1s47, making occasional
tours to exhibit themselves. In that year they
moved to this county, and purchased the plantation
upon which Changes family now live, which is quite
o large and valuable one. At this time they had a
number OF slaves, which were subsequently in
creased to about the number OF forty. With this
force and an overseer they worked the plantation
and were generally regarded as very successful
planters.
PARTNERSHIP DISSOLVED.
Upto the year 1867 they lived together quite har
moniously, it Is said, when owing to domestic
quarres, the true cause OF which never has tran
spred, dissolution Of the firm Of f. and Q. Bunker
was agreed upon. Some say 1t was lighting among
the children, Others that IL was jealousy OF the
wives about the number OF children they had that