The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1875-10-27
The Morristown Gazette.
THE MAN WITH AN IRON JAW
He Feeds on Live BuII-FrOgs,
Shakes and Fishes, and BIasti-
Gates CrOckery on Occasion.

He Feeds on Live BuII-FrOgs,
Shakes and Fishes, and BIasti-
Gates Cookery on Occasion.
Springfield ta1ass.) Republican.
Every New England village has
its notable character" distinguish.
ed by individualities more or less
odd and wonderful; but for purely
amazing powers of mastication, de-
giutition and assimilation N q pri-
vate citizen, who has never made
any public exhibition or special
boast Of his capabilities, BIandford
begs leave to take palm. Nor is
she likelt 10 be disputed In it. Her
cham, il d is John B1cDaFby, SIS.
ye4fs=Old frishmsH of very proneanc-
ed Celtic and stupid appearance
having scraggy ehira-whFsI1ers and
gray hair, who is Of medium height,
and marked by giant development
Of chest and body and this iudivid-
ual win eat a live snake for you.
taking mouthfu1s from its head down
ward, viii hold bullfrog by its leg
and crunch it down, piece by piece.
or will MUNICH smaller game in the
Way Of bugs, grasshoppers, etc. But
the massive strength of his Jaws and
teeth l. best illustrated when he
Chews, crockery, crushing and grind
ing it to powder with, his ordinary
food, when so disposed. For SAM
tary reasons, however, he wisely re-
frains from deyouriBg glass. All of
which. and much more, Is solemnIy
vouched for by responsible tax-pay-
ers of Blandford and vicinity.
a deserter from the English army
at Quebec, MoDarby first appeared
In this region about forty years ago;
and in his escape, tits said he ran
ga miles In "a hours without food
which is credible, perhaps. for lie is
possessed of an iron constitution.
He made an impression upon the
natixese at South Hadley Falls By
calling for pie. and cheese at the
hotel, or rather in what followed.
when he bit through plate and all.
lie mas since worked in Blandfond
and vicinity where be has displayed
MI his various accomplishments.
just now he resides with a sister at
Rassell, and helps johnson Tiffany
Oh bis Biandford farm; he has four
children living, to none Of whom, |
fortunately, have descended the /
fathers tastes or strength OF jaw.
At Chester, several years ago, with
the utmost nOnchalance, he lifted a
barrel of pork by the iron hoop, with I
his teeth and then, in a wager, put
down three dozen eggs, shells and
all. He won dollar bet at North
Bland ford too, by eating a raw two
ana one-half pound' picFereI And
even church members affirm that he
has been known to chew up-not
exactly three tubs of ice and then
10 callnfor soda water = but an
sarthen porter bottle. McDarby
served in the war-and now draws q
Ialfpension for q g-wound-mak-
ng a very convenient soldier at
lines. He was with the lnounted
Infantry, and when the exigencies of
Ire Campaign put his horse upon
hort crations, the obliging f.llow
would give the faithful steed his hui
nan fodder and subsist himself upon
snakes, bult-frogs, worms,
ats, etc. Again, while marching
rom Mobile to Florida, a black
make disputed the way, and the cap
ain ordered the negroes to cut clubs
nd STAY the sarpint' the sto-
v runs-when the useful McDarby
eized it, and, amid the establishment
T. the crowd, bit his head of. We
re not surprised, either, when Med.
els as that one Of the. witnesses of
he feat ran. to his commander and
demanded TO. know ''What kind of a
- snake eater they had in camp ~
After q battle, McDarby has been
nown to slice off a bit of dead horse
nd subsist upon it with apparent
elisif. 7 -+1
His marvellous strength is only in
is jaws, which are not malformed,
his teeth are good,
hough he has lost two, which he
out with a hammer when
hey showed signs of decay. In con-
ersation he viii never look at you.
nd can not be drawn out directly to- '
allz about himself. More than one
ttemot has been made to engage
i'm by travelling shows, but he re-
Ises all such allurements. He used e
, be very free to amase any private
Atties. by devouring snakes OF frogs,
insists that he is growing :,
q ahd must be-paid for exhibiting
mself. In this connection he is will
ng TO wager $50 that he ''will eat a
head off before it is done
ckipg," The man has never been
ok but once in his life. aud, though
hard drinker. at times, has never
"a any after headaches like com
on folks. Though the stories told
him seem so highly Improbable, it
rtaiuly is q fact that Well.nigh all A.
Q implicitly believed mp Blandford
~. where the people. indeed, have
en- mnch with their own eyes. s,
- ->-~-----
The greatest depth of the Pacific
can has been ascertained to be about
G miles.
"A Pulthey New York; girl put in a
ely ten hours work the other day.
. nailed IN that time 800 yrape-bOxes -