The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-01-27
CHANG AND ENG.
THE DEAD TwINS-MERCENARY DISPOSAL OF
THE BCDIES-A SHOCKING BARGAIN.
General Press Dspateh.l

General Press Dispateh.l
NEW YORK, Jan. 25.
A dispatch from Mount Airy, N. c., says
that DIR. William Hollingsworth, who attend
ed the Siamese twins, is of the opinion that
the death of Eng was not caused by any vital
connection in the artery passing from one to
the other, through the lgament that united
them, and belieI es these was no such vital
connection through the igament, because
he has attended the twins when one was sick
and the other IN good health, and
when there was as much as
twenty beats difference to the minute in
their pulsation. The bodies, after being
embalmed, were placed in a coffin and en-
cased in large tin box which was soldered
and made air-tight. All was then put in
large wooden box and packed in
charcoal and made secure, and placed
in the cellar OF the house. 1t is reported
the bodies viii be disposed of at an enormous
price to some museum or medical college,
or placed on exhibition. This is to be SUBJ
iect to the decision of the members of the
family. Charge is made that a veil of mys-
terry has been thrown over the death of the
twins and the real cause of their death is
suppressed for the purpose of obtaining pos
session of the bodies for the above stated
object. a dispatch from Greensburg
says that DIR. Joseph Hollingsworth,
brother of the doctor who attended the
twins, while en- route for the north, stated
that his mission was to dispose of the dead
bodies OF the twins on the most favorable
terms he could negotiate. The sum asked
for the privilege of post mortem is stated
to be eight to ten thousand dollars.
A SKETCH OF THE TWINS.
THEIR SOCIAL wAYs-THEIR WIVES AND
FAMILIEs-A GLIMPSE AT THEIR CURIOUS
LIFE AND HISTORY.
The New York Sun gives an interesting
history of the Siamese twins: Barnum got
the twins in 1850, and for several years they
were shown in his old museum. At that
time they spoke English very imperfectly.
Chang was larger than Eng, and looked sew
eral years younger. He was, too, the men,
tai superior of his brother, although both
were ignorant, and had intelligence that
scarcely rose above low cunning. Their
faces were peculiarly repelling, yellow in
hue and closely resembling those of the Chi
nese cigar sellers of Chatham street. Chang
was the most robust and good natured. Eng
was often sick, and always morose and
peevish. They had sleeping room in the
museum, as did the other curiosities, and
one night rumpus was heard in it. On
breaking open the door the twins were
found fighting. Eng was on the floor un-
derneath Chang, who was choking him.
| AS a rule, however, Chang was more
| forbearing than the irritable disposition of
his brother warranted. They played check
ers together sometimes, and took lessons in
English with slow results. Their pay was
800 week. which they equitably divided
and put into savings banks. They never
visited their homes, and seemed to have no
care for their family When Eng was sick
Chang nursed him; but perhaps did so from
selfish motives. as the serious. illness of one
made it necessary for the we'll one also to
/ on IN m had a N IN
preciative vein OF fun, and liked to give
senseless answers in his broken English. to
the numberless questions OF visitors. They
remained with Barnum until 1856, and it is
believed that they had then saved about
S40, 900 each. Growing tired of show life,
they decided to settle down in warmer
part of the United States.
A DOUBLE WEDDING.
In their travels they had been in North
Carolina, and it's climate had pleased them.
SO they bought two plantations, and Sc.
cured wives to complete their domestic es-
tablishment. Here they took the surname
of Bunker. They were then bachelors of IL.
They married English sisters, aged 26 and
%. The girls had been servants, and it is
said that Lancashire dialect still clings to
them. The making of the double match in
volved much trouble, tor although the twins
were not unduly eXacting. 1t was hard TO
nnd women who were both willing and at
all desirable. There was no love-making
before the engagement. the courting was
done by proxy and correspondence, and the
ladies had seen their future husbands
only at a show in London when they ac-
cepted the offer of marriage. The twins
based their choice upon likenesses for
warded by their agent. who gave
assurances of the respectability of
the girls. All having been arranged
they were brought TO America, the twins
paying their expenses, and the marriage
was solemnized quietly in Salisbury. The
wives were not beautiful, but were strong,