The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1879-04-17
A FREAK OF NATURE.
A Boy Child now in St. Louis who is
the Exact Counterpart ola Rooster,
who Eats and Acts Like one.
A Lusus Nature.

board II passo NE" who promises u
create profound sensation here
not only among the medical frater
nifty, but among the public at large
1t is boy six ears of age, and til,
formation of his head and feet pre-
sent the most remarkable freak o
nature, undoubtedly, that the worlC
has ever seen. His head is shaped
eX9cLly like that of a rooster, will
bill, comb, watLles and feathers com
plete. 1t is as large as the head Of
an ordinary child OF six years, anC
: the feathers extend To The shout
ders. The boy wears IA jacket close
~ buttoped at the neck, and pre-
sents the appearance of a huge
rooster clothed IN the garb of hu
mainly. There is absolutely moth.
ing about the head to indicate thai
1t is that of human being, and il
is as perfect a production on q
large scale of that of a member oil
the barnyard tribe as iG is possible
TO imagine. The feet and lower
limbs from the knees down, are also
those of a rooster, although they are
several sizes larger than even those
of the lai gest Shanghai fowl. The
hands are those OF a human being
perfectly formed, but abnormally
large. Except the head, teet and
lower limbs the child has a human
development.
The reporter followed Mr. Rath-
bone through the hail and into u
small sitting room, where he was
first introduced TO Mrs. 5 H. Rath
bone, and Mrs. Charles Rathbone,
the mother of the wonderful child.
The latter was a woman apparently
forty years Of age, with remark ably
pleasing and intelligent expression
of counJenance, medium height, and
looking perfect picture of health.
On a lounge near the window was
seated what appeared to be mon
ster rooster, dressed in jackets and
pants.
Come here, Charlie" said Mr..
Rathbone, there's a gentleman who
wants to see you"
The rooster stood up, and coming
toward the reporter extended his
right hand, which was as large as
that of a full grown man. To
say that the reporter was astonished
does not half express the sensation
experienced as this wonderful mai
formation came toward him. The
boys head was perfect fac sinaiLe
of that of rooster, except that II
was larger than that of any bird the
reporter had ever seen. The feaLh
ers were of a reddish brown color,
tinged with gold, and were absolute
ly beautiful, as they shone under
the lays of the sun that streamed
through the window. AS the boy
put out his hand the bill opened.
and lie articulated, "IIow do you
doP speaking each word slowly and
rather indlstinctly.
Very WE'LL" answered the report
eT, elbow do you do?'
"Very well-I thank-your'
"You have never been in st. Lou
is before?'
mo sir-I-jes came to-visit my-un
Gle and aunty."
"You haven't been out on the
streets yet, have your"
ayes. we-rode-in- a carriage when
we-came from the steamboat and
Pm-going- to take another ride to
morrow"
During this conversation there
was, of course, no expression to the
head, except that the eyes had a
faint appearance of intelligence.
The articulation was very indis
tinct, but there was pause between
each word, and they were so care
fully spoken that they were quite
readily understood.
"What do you think of that?"
remarked Mr.. Rathbone, smiling.
"Well, it is simply wonderful"
was all the reporter could say.
"Charlie, crow for the gentleman"
said Mr.. Rathbone,"
The boy Strengthened up and
opening his bill he gave vent to 3
ringing crow, such as a full-grown
rooster gives on a fine, clear morn
ing from the top of six-rail fence.
This was followed by a "tuck cav,
tuck cav, cav, caw," and other
sounds peculiar to the tribe OF
chanticleer.
Mr.. and Mrs Rathbone smiled at
the reporters expressiona of aston
ishment, and Mr.. Rathbone re
marked:
That, sir, believe, Is the most
wonderful child that this world has
ever SEEN"
The reporter admitted that this
statement was absolutely CORE ct
so far as his knowledge extended.
There is one thing that troubles
u.s." said the mother. "He wont
eat anything but what the chickens
eat. He has a peculiar taste for
worms and bugs and insects of all
kinds. At home he plays in the
yard, and after rain he has a per-
feet feast y f worms, and says that
they taste splendidly.
$50 they do" said the boy.
Had the reporter seen a genuine
rooster, horse or mule gifted with
the power of human speech, he could
not have been more astonished than
he was at the wonderful exhibition
he had just witnessed. 1t was so
utterly at variance with all the
known laws of nature, and bor-
dered so closely upon the supernat
ural, and that it seemed almost i'm
possible to believe that this wonder
ful child really existed and not a
trick of some sort. The collar OF
the Jacket was unbuttoned and
turned down, revealing the white
skin of a human being, through
which could be felt the collar bone,
upper ribs and breast bone. There
was growth of feathers only down
to the shoulders.
A Windmill that Runs by Water.