Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1879-04-04
A FREAK OF NATURE.
a Boy Child now in 81. Louis who is
the Exact COunterpart OF Rooster,
and who Eats and Acts Like
One-A Lusus ERturae.

st. Louis Tintes-JOnrnal: "The steamer
Colorado, which arrived in this city on Tues
day last, had Oh board a passenger who
promises to create profound sensation here,
not only among the medical fraternity, but
among the public at large. 1t Is boy SIX
years of age, and the formation of his head
and ieet present the most remarkable freak
of nature, undoubtedly that the world has
ever seen. His head is ped exactly like
that of a rooster, with bill, comb, wattles and
feathers complete. 1t is as large as the head
of an ordinary child of six years, and the
feathers extend to the shoulders. The boy
wears jacket closely buttoned at the neck,
and presents the appearance of a huge
rooster clothed in the garb of humanity.
There is absolutely nothing about the head to
indicate that it is that of human being, and
it is as perfect production on a large scale
of that of a member of the barnyard tribe as
it is possible to imagine. The feet and over
limbs from the knees down, are also those of
a rooster, although they are several sizes
larger than even those of the largest Shang
: hal fowl. The hands are those OF human
being perfectly formed, but abnormally large.
Except the head, feet and lower limbs the
child has a human development.
YOU CAN SEE THE BOY.
The reporter followed Mr.. Rathbone
through the nall and into a small sitting
room, where he was first introduced to Mrs.
S. II. Rathbone, and Mrs. Charles Rathbone,
the mother of the wonderful child. The
latter was woman apparently forty years of
age, with remarkably pleasing and intelE-
gent expression of countenance, medium
hight, and looking a parfect picture OF
health. On lounge near the window was
seated what appeared to be a monster rooster,
dressed in jacket and pants
Come here, Charlie, said Mr.. Rathbone,
"here's gentleman who wants to see you"
The rooster stood up, and coming toward
Id To-. ~, 81,
was as large as that of full grown man. 10
say that the reporter was astonished does not
half express the sensation he experienced as
this wonderful maltormation came toward
him. The boys head was perfect fac SIM
lie of that of a rooster, except that it was
larger than that OF any bird the reporter had
ever seen. The feathers were OF a reddish
brown color, tinged with gold, and were
ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL,
as they shone under the rays of the sun that
streamed through the window. As the boy
put out his hand the bill opened, and he ar
ticulated, How do you do?" speaking each
word slowly and rather indistincty.
Very well, answered the rep orter, How
do you?" -,
You have never been in st. LOUIS be-
fore.''
''No-sir-I jes came to -visit-my -uncle-and-
aunty."
''You haven't been out on the streets yet,
have you?"
eyes we rode in carriage when we
came-from -the-steamboat and-I m going-to-
take another ride to- morrow"
During this conversation there was, of
course, no expression to the head, except that
the eyes had faint appearance of intelli-
gence. The articulation was very lndlstlnct,
but there was a pause between each word,
and they were so carefully spoken that they
were quite readily understood.
what do you think of that?" remarked
Mr.. Rathboue, 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
RINGING CROW,
such as a full grown rooster gives on fac,
clear morning from the top of six rail fence.
This was followed by "tuck cav, tuck cav
cav. caw-caw," and other sounds peculiar to
the tribe OF chanticleer.
Mr.. and Mrs. Rathbone smiled at the re-
porter's expressions of astonishment, and MIR.
Rathbone remarked:
That, sir, | believe, is the most wonderful
child that this world has over seem
The reporter admitted that this statement
was absolutely correct as far as his knowl
edge extended.
There is one thing that troubles US, said
the mother. He won't eat anything but
what the chickens eat. He has peculiar
taste for worms and bugs and insects of all
kinds. At home he plays in the yard, and
after rain he has perfect feast of worms,
and says that they tasae splendidly."
so they do said the boy.
Had the reporter seen a genuine rooster,
horse or mule gifted with the power of hu-
man speech, he could not have been more
astonished than he was at the wonderful ex-
hIoition he had Just witnessed. 1t was 80
utterly at Variance with all the known laws |
of nature, and bordered 80 closely upon the |
supernatural. that it seemed almost impossi- ]