Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1874-02-05
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THE DEAD SLAMESE TWINS.

The New York Sun gives some additional
particulars in regard to the late Chang ano
! Eng that will be read with interest. 1t says
They made the tour of the United States, and
executing Tom Thumb, were the greatest ob
iects of wonderment to the people. Nor was
the curiosity regarding them confined to gap
ing ruralsts. To many men of science they
were the first specimen of joined and living
human beings. The fcshy ligature 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
we're sensitive in common. Much scientific
discussion arose concerning them, mainly
bearing upon the question Of possible separa'
ton.
THEIR LIFE IN NEW YORK.
Barnum got the twins in 1850, and for sew
eral years they were shown in his old museum
At this time they spoke English very imper
fectly. They were below the medium size
Chang was larger than Eng, and looked sew:
eral wears younger. He was, too, the mental
superior of his brother, although both were
Ignorant and had intelligence that scarcely
rose above low cunning. Their faces were Pc
culiarly repeling, yellow in hue, and closely
resembling those Of the Chinese cigar sellers
of Chatham street. Chang was the most ro-
bust and good natured. Eng was often sick
and always morose and peevisb. They had a
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,
underneath Chang, who was choking him
AS rule, however, Chang was more forbear
ing than the irritable disposition of his broth
er warranted. They played checks together
sometimes, and took lessons in English with
slow results. Their pay was 500 week
which they equitably divided and put into
savings banks. They never visited theil
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 60 to bed. Chang
had something of an appreciatlve vein OF tun
and liked to give seuselcss answers, IN his
broken English, to the numbcrless questions
of visitors. They remained with Barnum
until 1855, and it is believed that they had
then saved about $4,000 each. Growing
tired of show life, they decided to settle down
in 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 complete their domestic establishment
| Here they took the surname of Bunker They
were then bachelors of forty-four They mar,
ried English sisters of twenty-six and twenty
eight. 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, for although the twins
were not unduly exacting, it was hard to lind
women who were both willing and at all de-
srablc. 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 show in Lon
don when they accepted the offer of marriage.
The twins based their choice upon likencsses
forwarded by their agent, who gave assurances
Of the responsibility Of the girls. All having
been arranged, they were brought to America,
the twins paying their expenses, and the mar
rage solemnized quietly at Salisbury. The
wives were not beautiful, but were strong,
healthy English working girls. The domcs-
tic lives of the couples were peculiar Each
family had its own house servants and do
nestle establishment The plantations were
owned and managed separately, although in
matters of consequence Chang was usually
the master. The wives lived entire at their
homes, and the husbands MISUNDERSTANDING
one week at Chang's house and the next week
at Eng's. Each looked after his plantation
and other business during the weeks of living
at his own place, and the visiting brother was
not supposed to interfere. The wives did not
agree very well, and the strangely tied fami-
lies quarreled so serious y that the sisters fire.
quently had periods Of complete estrangement,
lasting for weeks at q time.
DOMESTIC INFEIICITY.
So, although Chang and Eng were rich,
they did not live happily. Mrs: Chang had
the first child, and it was a deaf mute. The
families increased rapidly, until Chang had
six children and Eng five. Of these children
four never heard nor spoke, although in all
other respects all were strong and not dcform-
ed. Eight are living, the oldest, a daughter
of seventeen, having lately been married to
the lessee of neighboring plantation. About
eight years ago Chang became converted in
religious revival and Eng also embracing the
belief, they joined the Baptist Church. They
we're regular in their attendance thereafter,
and retained their standing as good Christians.
Their temper, however, were not improved by
the spiritual change, and before the amanci-