Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1875-09-24

He FEEDS Of LIVE BULL-TROGs, sSAKEs AM
FISHES, AID xA-IICATEs CRocKERY on &C

He FEEDS OK LIVE EULL-TROGs, sSAKEs AND
FISHES. AID xA-TICsTEs CRocKERy on &C
CAsI0S.
Every New England village rs its nota-
/ bic character distinguished by lndiyid-
ualities more or less odd and wonderful; but
for the purely amazing powers Of mas:iea-
/ ton. deglutitiOn and assimilation IN pri-
/ vate citizen. who has never made any pub
/ lie exhibition or special boast of his caps-
/ bilities, Biandford. Mass, begs leave TO
/ take the palm Nor Is she likely to be dis
puted in IT. Her champion Is John Ne
| Darby. a sixty-fve-years-old lrlshman OF
very pronounced Celtic and stupid appear
ance, having scraggy chin-whiskers and gray
| hair, who Is Of medium height, and marked
| BY giant development Of chest and body 4;
and this individual will eat a live snake for
you, taking mouthfuls from its head down
ward will hold a bull-fr0g by its leg and
crunch it down piece by piece; or will MUNICH
smaller game in the way of bugs, grasshop-
pers, etc But the massive strength Of his
laws and teeth Is best illustrated when he
chews crcckery, crushing and grinding 1t to
powder with his ordinary food. when so dis
posed. For sanitary reasons, however he wise
" refrains from ieyOuring glass. AL OF
which, and much more, IS so!emnly vouch-
ed for the responsible taxpayers OF Bland
ford and vicinity.
4 deserter from the Epglish army al One
bee. McDarby first appeared IN tins region
abou. forty years ago and 10 his escape,
It Is said, be ran si1ty-tour miles IN twenty
four hours without tood-which IL credible,
perhaps. for he Is possessor OF an iron con-
stitutiou. lie made an impression upon the
natives.of South Hardy Falls by calling for
pie and cheese at q hotel, or rather IN what
folloyei. when be bit through plate and all.
He has since worked in Blandlord and vicin-
ity where he has displayed all his various &C
eomplishments. Just now he resides with
a sister at Russell, and helps johnson
Tiffany on his farm he has four children
living, 20 none of whom, fortunately. have
descended the fathers tastes or strength OF
law. At Chester, several years ago. with
the utmost n01chslsnce. he Lifted barrel
of pork ~ the iron hoop, with has teeth
and then, in a wager. put down three
dozen oi eggs. shells and all. lie won
dollar bet at North blsudiord. too, by eat
inrara,r Observation-Disclosures plckereI.
Ard even church members sthrm that ne
has been known to chew up-not e4lctiy
three tubs of ice and thea to call Ter SOFA
water''-but an earthen porter bOtt!e.
Mr. Darby served in the war-and now
draws a halt pension for q leg w0und-mak-
inr A very convenient soldier at times lie
was with the mounted infantry. and when
the exigencics Of the campaign put his
horse upon short rstions, the oblging ieiloy
would give the faithful steed Ms human fod-
der .anL ~ bsist himseit upon animate snakes,
buil-iroes. worms. Fat-, etc Agalu, "nlie
marching from Mobile - Florida. BLACK
snake disputed the gay, And the captain
ordered the negroes 10 cot clubs hnc say
the "ssrpnt so the story Iuns-When
McDarby seized II, and amid she atoh,sn
ment OF the crowd, bit It's head eff. We
are not surprised. either, when MeDarby
tells Us that one Of his witnesses of the feat
ran to his commander end demanded 10
know what kind of snake-eater they
had in camp :" After battle McDsrby has
been known to slice bit of dead morse
and subsist upon it with apparent relish.
His marvellous strength is only IN his
jaws, which are mal!ormed, apparently
his teeth are good, though he has lost two,
which he knocked out with 4 hammer when
they showed signs Of decay. In eonyersa-
ton he will never icok at you, and can
never be drawn out directly to talk about
himself. More than one attempt has been
made 10 engage him by travelling sh0~s,
but he refuses all such allurelnents. lie
used to be very free 20 amuse any private
parties ny GevOuring snakes or frogs. but
latterly insists that he il growing old and
mus: he paid for exhibiting himself in
this connection he is willing to wager httv
dollars, that he will eat Il ton-cat's head of
before its done kicking Tie man has
never been sick but once in his lite. and
though q hard drinker. at times, has never
had any alter headaches, like common folks.
Though the stories told of him seem so
highly IMPROBABLE. 1t certainly Is fact
that well nigh all are implictitiy believed
up Blandford way, where the people. in
deed. have seen much with their own eyes.