Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-09-21
BABIES BY THE LITTER.

BABIES BY THE LITTER.
The Remarkable Fecundity of the 4u.tims
Three lHothers H,ih ffe Chitdren-.I
Iatron Irho Acor,as 4nything Less Than
Ttcins.
Washington Post.
"Is Mrs. Austin in?" asked the Post, upon
being admitted to a neat little cottage, on
the corner of M and Fourth streets southeast
yesterday.
That's my name replied the lady who
opened the door. Have seat, SIR The
Post man accepted the profered chair,
and, turning toward the lady, observed that
she was above the medium height, of a full
figure, not more than fifty years of age, and,
though feshy. active. Her hair was sprinkled
with gray, and the only eye she was pos
sessed of, blue. That she enjoyed good
health and fine constitution her whole ap-
pearance indicated, and her manner was
that of a woman who could take care Of her.
self.
Mrs. Austin" began the reporter, 1.-THE
Post sent me to interview you
"About what? Oh, know: about tie chill
dren I've had. Amt that it?'
"Thats it, precisely, madame"
Swell, I'll tell you all about it. I'm not
ashamed of it. I've given birth to forty four
children, and I'm not an old woman yet am
[? / don't feel old, anyhow, and don't be-
| lieve look old. I'm not quite tifty-f four yet,
but Pm SO near it might as well call that
my age: I'll be ffty-four years old on the
18th of this month. Amt | a young woman
to have had that many children? I've had
forty since | married my present husband,
and he's right out there in the back yard
| - nrI Il ,r,1,p
called out, .'Willam, come in here.''
Then she resumed her seat near the re-
porter, and, rafting right on, SAID:
''My husband don't like to tell about the
children I've had but 1 will do it. He's
ashamed of it, but | amt. I'm pround of
it, and why shouldn't | be? I've got cause
don't you think sop
The reporter replied that he had seen peo-
pie very proud of single child, and on that
principle Mrs. Austin certainly had a right to
become ecstatic of forty-four. Just here q
gentlemen entered the room, and Mrs. Aus
tin, pointing to him, said:
"That's my husband, and forty of my
children belonged to him. Now, William,
you needn't shake your head at me; I'm Just
going to tell the reporter all about it. | say
it's nothing to be ashamed of. Then why
shouldn't | tell him if he wants to know?
Yes, sir turning to the reporter), I've had
triplets sig times and twins thirteen times.
l never had less than twins at a time
CHOW many of all these children lived,
Mrs. Austin?"
.Only eleven of them were born alive; all
the others were fully developed, but were
dead at their birth. Why, I've got a sister
only forty hree years old and she had TWEEN
ty-sx children, and eight of them are living
to Harr X
liam, there my husband has got sister
that's had forty one children, and ten of 'eIn
are living yet. She brought eleven of 'em
to this town"
Docs she live here now
''No; she's moved to Connecticut. What's
the name of that place your sister went to,
William? Oh. know now, Norwalk. That's
pretty good for one family. amt it? Where
can you find another family with three
women that's had as many children as me
and my sister and my husbands sister,
''Are you native of Washington, Mrs.
Austin?''
'.No, indeed. l was born in South Caro-
lima, and raised in Tennessee. My grand
fathers name was lrby, one of the big
families of South Carolina. / come of royal
blood, tell you. My father was John G.
Klink, printer. He published paper IL
Memphis before the war Casey Young
knew him well. Everybody in Memphis
knew him. I've been through the war, if
you want to know about that. enlisted in
1862 in Tennessee
son which side?''
son the Union side; I've never betrayed
my country. I've always tried to be loyal
and God-fearing woman. [ was sent 10
hospital service in the army of the Cumber-
!, Ian IL \
taken the wounded off the battlefield. Oh.
Lord! that was an awful time. I've been
through the storm, can tell YOU You see
IN regular physician, and have been prac-
ticing for twenty-five years. | was one of
the first women physicians who ever prac-
ticed; | studied under DIR. Stone of New
Orleans You We heard of him, haven't YOU (;
But | know you have, because he was noted
man. l tended officers and privates, too
under Gen. Rosecrans until after the army
fell back from Chickarnauga, and then I was
sent to the valley of Virginia, and it was ur
there l lost this eye'-touching the siehtIese
socket. Give got medals for my service
and was given regular commission. My
husband was all through tie war and was
shot all to pieces. Oh, my. but I picked
him up out of the mud once lust torn tc
} pieces. He had a great big hole shot in his
head, and his skull was trepanned with &
silver quarter, and it's in bis head now
Come around here, William, and show that
place.
Mr.. Austin walked round to the reporter
and leaned over so that his head could be ex
ahmed. The silver coin was there COVERING
what had been very ugly wound. Durine
this examination the interviewer took oc
casion to study Mr.. Austin little He il
about five feet eight inches high, compact,
built and finely developed; black eyes ant
dark hair, and beard scarcely tinged Will
gray; well-shaped head and good counter
ance. He looked to be about forty. five wear
OF age, and his conversation proved him +
be man of sound common sense and fai