Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-01-24
THE DEAD SIAMESE TWINS.
A Ligature That Joined Them In
Life and Death.

Their Social Ways, their wives and
Families, and their Mental Charae-
teristies-A Living Body hound 20
n Corpse.
From the New York Sun, Jan. 81.
The death of the Siamese twins in
Mount Airy, near Salisbury, n. c., on
the 18th of this month, ended one of
the most remarkable of natural Pheno-
mena. They came to this country IN
1929, when they were Is years old,
having previously been shown IN Eu-
rope. They were born on the coast OF
Siam, and their parents lived by fish
inc. NoneOf their fifteen brothers and
sisters were defOrmed, although many
of them were twins. They made the
tour of the United States,
and, excepting Tom Thumb were
the greatest objects of wonder
ment TO the people. Nor was the curl
osity regarding them confined TO gap
ing ruralists. To many men of science
they were the first specimen OF Joined
and living human beings. The tieshy
lieature which linked them was about
foot in length, two inches broad, and
four thick, and through II ran 'large
artery and many veins, making their
circulation identical. Their breathing,
too. was simultaneous when they were
asleep. They were not so entirely one,
however, but that each had an entirely
separate existence. Their senses were
totally disconnected. One could not
feel hurt inflicted on the other. the
ligature being the only part in which
they were sensitive IN common. Much
scientific discussion arose concerning
them, mainly bearing upon the question
Of possible separation.
THEIR LIFE IN NEW YORK.
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. They
were below the medium size. Chang
was larger than Eng, and looked seye-
raj wears Younger. He was, too, the
mental superiorof his brother, although
both were ignorant, and had lntell-
gence that scarcely rose above low cum
ming. Their faces were peculiarly re-
pellTng. yellow IN hue, and closely re-
sembling those Of the Chinese cigar
sellers of Chatham street. Chang was
the most robust and good natured.
Eng was often sick, and always mOrose
and peevish. They had 4 sleeping
room in the museum, as did the other
curiosities. and one night Tumpus was
heard IN it. On breaking open the
door, the twins were found fighting.
Enc was on the floor, underneath
Chang. who was choking him. As rule,
however. Chang was more fOrbearlng
than the irritable disposition of his
brother warranted. They played check
ers together sometimes, and took les
sons in English with slow results.
Their nav was 500 a week, which they
equitably divided and put into savings
banks. They never visited their home,
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 well one
also TO 90 to bed. Chang had some
thing Of an appreciative 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 1t Is be-
Iieyed that they had then saved about
$40. 900 each. Growing tired OF show
life. they decided to settle down IN a
warmer part of the United States
DOUBLE WEDDING.
In their travels they had been IN
North Carolina, and its climate had
pleased them. So they bought two
plantations. and secured wives to COM
pIete their domestic establishment.
Here they took the surname OF Bunker.
They were then bachelors of forty-four
They married English sisters, aged
twenty-six andtwenty- The girls
had been servants, and 1t Is SAID that
Lancashire dialect still clings to them.
The making of the double match IN
voIved much trouble, for although the
twins were not unduly exacting, 1t was
hard tn find women who were both will
ling and at all desirable. There was
no loye-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 accepted
the offer of marriage. Inc Twins
based their choice upon hkenesses for
warded by their agent, who gave as
surapees of the respectability Of the
oirls. All having been arranged they
we're brought to America, thetwins pay
ING their expenses, and the marriage was
soiemnizsd quietly in Salisbury. The
wives were not beautiful, but were
strong. healthy English working girls.
The domestic lives of the couples were
peculiar. Each family had It's own
house. servants, and domestic establish
ment. The plantations were owned
and managed separately, although IN
matters OF consequence Chang was
nsually the master. The wives lived
entirely at their respective homes, and
tbe husbands alternated-staying one
week at Chang's house, and the next
week at Eng's. Each looked after hls
plantation and other business during
the weeks of living at his own place,
and the visiting brother was not sup
posed to interfere. The wives did not