The south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1879-1883, 1879-10-07
THEIR THEORY ABourarAN s
A Dcvout Church Member Their
4olIe Bridal Tour Before
QUEEN VICTORIA,
St. LouIs Globe Democrat. April %

/ nos oSSh SAShSu " buS WOuuciiui
stories which The newspapers of The
country haYc published about a re-
lnarkable couple, said TO be the tallest
and largest people in the world. So
extraordinary were the accounts OF
these giants that, as il was learned
that Capt. NJ. V. Bates and lady were
making tour Of the West, u report.
ofthe Globe Democrat was dispatched
TO interview the gigantic couple and
ascertain the truth in regard 10 them
for the benefit OF our readers. II was
no small job, and II must be acknowl-
edged that in all his reportOrial ex.
perience the writer had never before
been detailed to tackle any such
weighty subjects.
From the reports, It was expected
to find two very fleshy people OF large
stature, SO many Of whom are adycr-
tised as wonders, but who are, in fact,
monstrosities. their immense devel-
opments being the result OF disease.
No more fallacious idea could be
formed, however, aud when The re.
porter, after having sent in his card,
was politely usllered into the pres.
cnce Of Capt. and Mrs. Bates, lie
found himself confronted by two as
perfectly-tormcd gcntlefolks as he
had ever seen. The first impression
was one Of awe, and il occurred to
the interyiewer's mind that half the
truth had not been told. A feeling
of insignificance overca,no him, and
he appeared to sink 10 the lilliputian
dimensions Of
TINY JACK THE sIAST-KiLLER,
that historical parsonage so dear to
the Juvenile mind. Having recover
ed from his establishment, the polite
and courteous greetings were ac-
knowledged. Capt. Bates remarked
as he extended his haad that The was
all admirer OF the press" and lie fully
demonstrated his affections for Il
when lie allowed his one hundred
square inches Of palm TO envelop the
Insignificant member OF its represen.
tativc. Mrs. Bates received with a
stately, courtly bend OF the body,
learned probably In the halls ofroy-
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
OH and crush him. -.t 81
But brief description of these re-
markable people must be gwen in
order that some idea may be gained
vf how they differ from ordinary
mortals. Capt. Martin Van Buren,
Bates was born in Whitcsburg
Letcher county, n.y., Noyembcr 8,
lS45. He 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. lilo 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 heighi. No cases OF
extraordinary size have ever been
known in any Ofhis ancestors, and
his extraordinary development must
be viewed simply as freak OF nature,
as II can not be accounted for on any
scientific grounds. :
Nature. rs usual. did not propose
to do things by halves, and in 1S4S
Miss Anna II. Swan was born In
Colchester county, Nova Scotia. As
the sequel shows, she was intended
as o ..s rH..fa.i adi ll $50 D.
| COMPANION FOR THE BIG BOT.
! 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
two inches, and weighed one hund.
red and ten pounds, when IN robust
health. She had three brothers anl
five sisters, all Of ordinary size, and
no other case OF remarkable growth
has ever been known among hel
progenitors. Mrs. Bates was as tai
rs hei mother when six wears OF age
but she continued to shoot upward
until to-day she is exactly the same
height as her husband, seven fee,
eleven and one. half inches, her weigh
being four hundred and thirteen
pounds.
Both the lady and gentleman or,
perfectly proportioned, every mem
Der corresponding and aiding to pro
duce symmetrical but colossal fig
ure. When the reporter called, Mrs
Bates, who is an exceedingly fine
J looking lady, was dressed IN hand
some blue silk, cut in the most fash
ionable style, with hands of dclicat,
white lace at the throat and wrists
She wore a quantity Of very elegan,
ljewelry, and her hair was dr6sset
} high, thus making her appear taller
than her stately lord. Capt. Bates II
PERFECT APOLLO IN FIGURE,
and quite q 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. HI
affects only q neatly-waved mustache
his broad cheeks given evidence of q
close intimacy with keen razor. ri,
| H ATALK WITH THE GIANTS. il
| Capt. and Mrs. Bates arc people Of
more than average intelligence, and
show that they have improved the
opportunities they have had for &C.
quiring information of people and
places during their extended travels.
"Do you think You have stopped
growing, Captain ~ asked the report.
er. H hant..HH rti
Capt. "-Wcll, hope l have.
have reached the height Of my umbi-
ton, and have got things perfectly
fixed to enjoy life as am now"
Upnn-ulV ara van brntuhf I'M IN