The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1879-07-23
A FAMOUS FIVE.

A FAMOUS FIVE.
Three Boys and Two Girls Born at the Same
,...,r,, ,,.rt l;.fl Time, A,.qHasl-ftt ~
lsan Francisco Ohronicle.l
Queen Victoria's bounty Of $15 for ev-
cry case OF triplets appears to have had a
very stimulating effect in all parts Of her
extensive dominions. She has hitherto
confined the reward to cases occurring in
Great Britain, but the wife of an honest
German farmer in the colony Of South
Australia has recently presented an Iex-
tremely strong appeal for an extension
of the bounty beyond the limits of s''the
right tight little island" as Golden called
it. Jacob Schiller, farmer, residing about
thirty miles from the town Of Kapunda,
South Australia, appears to have attract
ed no attention beyond the circle Of his
friends, who we're few and far between in
the thinly settled region where he and
his fellow-colonists from Germany had
settled. His wife, on the other hand, at.
tracted attention wherever she went, and
we'll she might, if the reports concerning
her size, weight and achievements in the
way of increasing the population are:
correct. She is said to stand six feet
four inches in her stockings, and
to turn the balance at exactly PA
pounds and seven ounces She gave
birth to boy and slrl in March, 1878,
and to two boys and one girl in Septem.
Der, 1876, one child being born between
these two grand events, fact deemed of
so little Importance in her remarkable eff
forts to increase the population of her
adopted country, that local chronlc}ers
have not thought it worth their time to
furnish the exact date Of it's occurrence.
Her caowning effort, however, and one
that would, had she lived in America, at
once have gained for her the title Of
champion child-producer, took place in
October, 1878. She gave birth to three
boys and two girls. journalism in Aus
tralla is conducted in quiet, sober man
ner. The busy reporter in search of an
item is an unknown parsonage there. Two.
thirds of the newspaper is devoted to adj
vertisements, one-ninth to accounts of
what is going on Eat home,'' as they call
England, and the remainder to various
topics. It IS not strange, therefore, that
the most remarkable fact in Mrs. Schu-
ler's life was not Immediately made pub
lie. A friend Of the family wrote a let
ter to another friend and mentioned the
circumstances of the case. The friend
reported to the editor of the Nord Aus
traliche Zeitung, published at Brisbane,
and he inserted short paragraph in ref
erence to it. The Australiche Zeitune pub
lished at Adelaide, denied the story. These
two German Journals, the only ones in Aus
tri by the way, fought a verbal duel over
the matter for several weeks, when an
article appeared in the Melbourn Argus
in reference to the matter, purporting to
have come from one who had seen the
| mother and children. Finally, the South
Australian Register sent reporter from
Adelaid to the residence of Schiller, and
he furnished a minute report of the case,
proving its truthfulncss. It appears from
his published account that Mrs. Schiller
was at work about the house preparing
her husbands dinner, when she was com
PEELED on account Of indisposition to re-
tire to her couch. Her mother called the
husband from his work at the barn, and
he. in turn dispatched boy employed
about the place for Mrs. Haines: who
acted occasionally as midwife. This
woman lived about five miles away; and,
though she fastened accordingly, she
did not reach the residence of Schulc1
until two children had been born. There
was ample need of her services, ...owever
for three more little ones were soon added
to the. Schiller family. Every one pres.
ent appears to have been greatly aston
ished, for, though Mrs. Schiller had al.
ready made a reputation in this line, SC
! great an event was utterly unexpected
| The father Of the five is said to have sal
stupidity down and mechanically eazed
from one babe to another, simply saying
"Mein Colt! mein Gott!'' There were
three boys annd two, girls, but no facts as
to their weight and appearance immedi:
ately after birth are given. All
of them are alive, and are said to be very
healthy. Thanks to the wise provision
of Yankee ingenuity in Introducing the
nursing bottle, they have all been pro
vided with an abundant supply of that
fluid SO necessary to the sustenance Of in,
FAINT life. The neighbors Of the SCHUYLER.
donated various small articles and money
to assist Mr.. Schuler's family, and a six
penny subscription has been started in
the colony for their benegt. il will
probably yield enough to clothe, support
aud educate the five until they reach q
selfsupporting age, Judging by the result
Of similar subscription made in the
colonies for Pierce, the sole male survive,
Of the terrible Loeb Ard shipwreck.. and
who rendered himself worthy of it by
swimming back into the surf about zoo
yards and assisting Miss Carmichael, the
only one Of the passengeas Of the Inflated
vessel that escaped, to reach the shore.
That subscription amounted to nearly
$4,000. and it is probable that the fund
for the famous five will equal if not ex.
coed it, for when the Australian people
undertake to do thing they usually &C.
complish it. A full account of the case
has been transmitted to the Secretary Of
the Colonies at London in order that il
may be laid before the Queen. and Vic.
toria, herself the mother Of a large fa,ni-
ly, will no doubt suitably reward her