The south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1879-1883, 1879-10-07
THEIR THEORY ABOUT GIANTS
A Dcvout Church Member Their
.5lll Bridal Tour Before
QUEEN VICTORIA.

has been excited by the wonderful
stories which The newspapers of The
country hayc published about a re.
lnarkable couple, said TO be the tallesl
and largest people ia the world. ST.
extraordinary were the accounts oil
these giants that, as il was learned
that Capt. NJ. V. Bates and lady were
making tour Of the West, a report.
ofthe Globe Democrat was dispatched
to interview the gigantic couple and
ascertain the truth in regard 10 them
for the benefit OF ourreaders. twas
no small job, and il must be acknowl-
edged that in all his reportorial ex-
pericnce the writer had never before
been detailed TO tackle any such
weighiy subjects.
From line reports, It was expected
to find two very fleshy people Of large
stature, SO many Of whom are adver-
lised as wonders, but who are, in fact,
monstrOsities. their immense devel-
opments being the result OF disease.
No more fallacions idea could be
formed, however, aud when The re.
porter, after having sent in his card,
was politely ushered into the pres
cnce Of Capt. and Mrs. Bates, lie
found himself confronted by two as
perfectly-iormcd gcntleiolks as he
had ever seen. The first impression
was one of awe, and ii occurred to
the interyiewer's mind that half the
truth had not been told. A feeling
OF insignifcance overcaino him, ind
he appeared to sink 10 The lilliputian
dimensions Of
TINY JACK THE GIANT-KILLER,
that historical parsonage so dear to
the juvenile mind. Having recover
ed from his establishment, the polite
and courteous greetings were &C.
knowledged. Capt. Bates remarked
as he extended his haad that tho wa.
all admirer OF the press" and lie full,
demonstrated his affections for il
when lie allowed his one hundred
square inches Of palm 10 envelop the
Insignificant member OF its rcpresen
tativc. Mrs. Bates received with {
stately, courtly bend of the body
learned probably In the halls of roy.
atty, and it is feared that the reporter
awkwardly recoiled, as her towering
form yielded, from an unconscious
fear that something was about TO fall
on and crush him.
But a brief description of these re.
markable people must be gwen in
order that some idea may be gained
Of how they differ from ordinar,
mortals. Capt. Martin Van Buren,
Bates was born in Whitesburg
Letcher county, n.y., Noyembcr .,
lS45. lie is seven feet eleven and
one-half inches in height. and weighs
ATS pounds. His father was about
six feet tall and his mother was a
lady Of ordinary stature. lie was
the youngest oftwelve children, seven
boys and five girls, and the tallest OF
his family, except himself, was a
brother killed at Vicksburg during
the war, and who was six feet and
two inches in height. No cases OF
Extraordinary size have ever been
known in any ofhis ancestors, aud
his extraordinary development must
be viewed simply as a freak OF nature,
as II can not be accounted for on any
scientific grounds.
Nature. rs usual. did not propose
10 do things by halves, and in l849
Miss Anna ii. Swan was born In
Colchester county, Nova Scotia. AS
the sequel shows, she was intended
as o -..fr .fi .u t,a
COMPANION FOR THE BIG BOY.
,lier parents were rather small
sized people, her father being but
five feet and four inches in height and
one hundred and forty-five pounds,
while the mother was five feet and
1.-TWO inches, and weighed one hund.
rcd and ten pounds, when in robust
health. She had three brothers and
five sisters, all Of ordinary size, aud
no other case OF remarkable growth
has ever been known among her
progenitors. Mrs. Bates was as tall
as hei mother when six years of age,
but she continued TO shoot upward
until to-day she is exactly the same
height rs her husband, seven feet
eleven and onc-half inches, her weight
being four hundred and thirteen
pounds.
Both the lady and gentleman are
perfectly proportioned. every mem.
Der corresponding and aiding to pro
duce a symmetrical but colossal fig
nre. When the reporter called, Mrs
Bates, who is all exceedingly fine
looking hdy, was dressed Ia hand
some blue silk, cut in the most fash
ionable style, with hands of delicate
white lace at the throat and wrists
She wore quantity Of very elegan,
ljewelry, and her hair was dressed
high, thus making her appear taller
than her stately lord. Capt. Bates il
PERFECT APOLLO IN FIGURE,
and quite a Chesterfield in manners
He has a frank, pleasant face, giving
clear indications of The massive hear
within him. His garments are all Of
the latest style, and fit perfectly. liz
affects only neatly-waved mustacbo
his broad cheeks given evidence of q
close intimacy with keen razor. r,
fH ATALK WITH THE GIANTS. b
! Capt. and Mrs. Bates arc people Of
more than average intelligence, and
show that they have improved The
Opportunities they have had for &C.
quiripg information of people and
places during their extended travels.
"DO you think you have stopped
growing, Captain ?" asked the report.
Ell. 'a1H'i'. i
Capt,"-Wcll, l hope I have.
have reached the height of my ambi.
ton, and have got things perfectly
fixed TO enjoy life as am now" 2
! "Rep-"Were you brought up to