The Hawaiian gazette., 1874-04-22
sketch orthc Siamcsc Twins.

The following sketch ofthe remarkable
SiameSe Twins was written shortly before
their death. Some curious facts are re-
yealed in this little biography:
The SiameSc Twins, Eng and Chang,
lately residing in North Carolina, were
afflicted withillueSS in the year ISL. They
were born NJ small village on tho coast Of
Siam, in the year 1871. Their parents got
their living by fishing, and until 1929,
when Eng and Chang were brought 10
the United States, they made their living
by selling shell6sh. Their mother bore
seventeen children. At one time she gave
birth 10 three, and never less than two
But none Of these children were detormod
The Twins we've united at the anterior
part Of the chest by prolongation of =
kind Of tieShy band the size Of the hand.
This band of flesh, about two inches
broad and four inches thick, was capable
Of being considerably extended. One
could whisper in the ear Of one of them
without the other hearing; while volatile
salts applied 10 the noStrilS of one had no
effect on the other; and while pinchiug
the arm ot one excited no sensation in the
other. SJill ii YOU but stuck pin in the
exact vertical centre OF this connecting
link both would finch from the hurt. The
Twins were seldom observed 10 converse
with each other. They PLAYED good
game Of draughts made pretty much the
same moves. and st the same time, and ire
Quently played against each other.
Alter attracting vast amount Of al
tentlon among scientists ana Psychologists
in the Ola World, they married two sis
terS. and settled down near Salisbury.
North Carolina, on . well-Stocked planta-
ton In addition they had 81 one period
ample funds invested through their agent
in New York During the war they con-
;inUed 10 reside on their plantation, and
lived In the same quiet and harmony Is
ever. until some few years afterward. Of
course. no one ever thought Of drafting
them. and their negroes proSpered, except
when either OF the twins was ont Of tenn
per from 2nv cause: 1t was apt 10 work IL
self of in striking the first one that came
20 hand. from which the best escape was
70 keep out Of the way. The brothers
probably never would have had any diff
rcUl,v, but tina, their wives, though SIS
terS. turned away their hearts. aud children
we've the cause Of their arrangement.
Up 10 the period that each had five
children all pro>pered well enough. but
one Of them had q sixth, and this awoke
envy and jealousy To such s degree that
The twin sisters. not being bound together
Ike the twin brothers. would no longer
1--we under the same roof The brothers
we've. Il seems. about ffty-fOur years of
aEe. but one. we believe, the smaller and
teeb.e- Of the two. looked, Il : sid. ten
wears older than the other They could
turn either back 70 back or face TO face,
bur tba, iS Is far Is The remarkable bond
,hs, united them permitted, /, Is almost
certain that should either die the other
could not survive even more than q few
minutes. IS there : an artery IS large IS
the temCral arte-y that connects them.
y few years since they coueSponded with
some Of the leading surgical operators IN
London. 5 70 the possibility of the Um-
bllcuS being cUt, - that IN the case of the
death q one, the life Ot the other might be
saved. At the request Of . London sur
Ceou they visited that city. and MANY eN-
S-L--t-La> N S-C A-atA 90 4ASaN -li-l.l A-l >4-N
" Of such an operation. Among other
things s. liEa,ure was tied firmly for few
minutes SroUud the connection between .
them. 50 - 20 prevent the circulation Of
blood through the artery. But It seemed .
5 ii each would expire If this wen. per /
sisted In. The smaller Of the two faint
81 awSy sud lost sll consciousness, aud .
there were symptoms thai the same et- .
tect would follow TO the other but the
process could not be continued long .
enough without enSarCerinE the life Of
him who was the first 70 faint. Since the .
breakinE ont Of the Rebelion the twins .
both dressed in Confederate gray. and .
were both members Of the same Church, .
having united with s small Baptist Church .
In their neiEhborhocd. Of which they were 4.
considered very worthy members, though .
born Si4meSe-