Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1879-05-30
Tallest Man and Woman Living,
interesting Facts Concerning the Intelligent
couple-Descrirtive Details.
[st. Louls Clobe. Democrat, ApriI 9sl

est and largest people in the world. % OK.
traordinary were the accounts Of these giants
that as 1t was learned that Captain M. V.
Bates and lady were making tour Of the west,
a reporter of the Globe. Democrat was dis.
patched to interview the gigantic couple and
ascertain the truth In regard 10 them for the
benefit of our readers IL was no small Job,
and II must be acknowledged that IN all his
rcportorial experience the writer had never
before been detailed TO tackle any such weigh.
~ subjects.
When the reporter found himself ushcred
into the presence OF Capt. and Mrs. Bates, he
found himself confronted by two us perfectly
formed gentlcfok ms lie had ever seen, and IL
occurred to the intervcwer's mind that half
the truth had not been told
Capt. Bates remarked as he extended his
hand that "hc was mn admirer of the prcss.o
Mrs. Bates received him with II stately, courtly
bend OF tho body.
But brief description of these people
must be given IN order that some idea may be
gained OF how they differ from ordinary NOR.
tails. Captain Bates was born IN Whitcsburg,
Letcher county Kentucky Noycmber0 9, 1916,
He Is seven feet eleven and onc.half inches IL
height, and weighs 47S pounds. His father was
about SIX feet tai, and his mother was lady
OF ordinary stature. lie was the youngest of
twelve children, the tnllcsL of the family ex.
cept himself was brother, who was six feet
and two inches In height. No case Of cxtraor
binary size have ever been known In any Of his
ancestors and his extraordinary dovclopcment
must be viewed simply as freak of nature.
Nature, rs usual, did not propose 10 do
things by halves. and In lS49, Miss Anna II.
Swan was born In Colchester county, Novia
Scotia AS the sequel shows she was intend.
cd as n companion for Tho big boy. Her par
entB were smGs izcd people, her father being
but five feet four inches In height, and weighed
one hundred and iorty.lvo pounds while the
mother was five feet and two Inches, and
t,.I,n nj In Had ...I a.
when In robust health. She had three brothers
and two sisters all Of ordinary size, Mrs, Bates
was M tnll az her mother when only ak years
OF age, but she continued to shoot upward
until to day she IL exactly the same height ns
her husband her weight being -four hundred
and thirteen pounds.
Captain Bates Is perfect Apollo In figure,
lie hns a frank, pleasant face; his garments
arc oil Of the latest style and lt perfectly.
TALK WITH TIM GIANTS,
Capt. and Mrs Bates are people Of more
than average intelligence.
ado you think you have stopped growing,
CaplninY''
Capt-"Well, hope have have reach.
Rcp-"Wcrc YOU brought up 10 any busin.
esS w
Capt-"I nm II thorough granger | WINS
brought up on n lnrin ana own one myself nj
Seville. Ohio. have one hundred md sixty.
two acres IN lne rhupc."
Rep--"YOu have giant castle on II ~
Capt--"Yes the lower story IL twelve and |
onc.half feet In height, and the upper one
twelve feet, Our door-wnys nre elghtand one |
hall feet high
Rop--"Of course your furniture compares
with the building"
Cnpt-"ln every room we have chairs for
my wife and sell but Of course We have ord
nary furniture for my friends md servants, The
bcdsicud h eight feet and four Inches long and
ilye feet six inches wide. The chairs, bercnu.
and wash stand, aud, III fact, everything cor.
responds. We experience grcut deal Of In.
convenience when travelling, on account Of tho
dimlnulivn size Of the ordinary furniture.
Rcp-"Where have you been since you lett
the farm 7"
Capt. aorvcd In the Fifth Kentucky In.
iantry during tho war Confederate, You know,
Since then have been amusing myself mostly
travelling about looking ut the little mon and
women
Rcp-"Thc rendy goods stores nru Of
but little use TO you, Captain !"
Capt--"Nota Bit There Is not n single
garment OF article | use but what has to DO
made especially for mo My boots aro about
No, II, my hats are nearly nine, my collars
twenty Ave inchos and ! guess " my gloves
were gagged they would run up to 1T least
fourteen. ! have the most trouble with my
eothcs-my trousers, In fact You SEQ tho cloth
ia made narrow, nnd while it.ia all right for
|
consumes an Immense quantity, unless the nap
runs both ways
Rcp-"Cnpiuln, does your strength cores.
pond with your size w
Capt-"l think 1t would If | developed It,"
Rcp-"Dd you ever hear of anyone rs large
ms yourself w
Capt-"No sir. | nm satisfied that nm the
largest man In the world, and probably m
largo Ms was ever born. have devoted much
time to studying tho subject, and am satisll.
cd TINT there never existed II race Of giants ns
IL clnlmed.n
Rcp-"Mrs. Bates, presume that you ARE
the largest Indy In the world
Mrs. B-"Whilc we were abroad the most
eminent physicians and scientists assured ma
thcrc never before wnsn lady within eighteen
inches of my height"
Rep-"Excnse my inqulsltivencss, but how
many yards OF elk Nre ihcro In the dress You
wear w
Mrs. B--"Well, this Ia rather scant, there
are only slylyhye yards in IT, My full oven.
tcrn"
The reporter did moi become too nqulsltve,
being exceedingly modest.
Rcp-"l suppose that you have your spec.
ial pow In church w
Cnpt-"Ycs, indeed we have nice now
Baptist church 1T home, aud have had seats
constructed for Us. My wife isu member OF
the church and II very dovout baptist"
htp-.l IVY nhIUnn, MNuhiHe, nUb ulu lheY
haptlsc YOU In tho rvcrY
Mrs. B-"No, indeed, sir. ! was immersed
IN the haptistry."
gher wedding aud presentation to the
Queen:
Oh these events the gentleman and lady give
very interesting account, The wedding
took place on Dune II, III London. As u brid.
al tour they visited tho 'Starnnd Garter llotel,'
few miles from the city, and passed two
days IN that fashionable and expensive retreat.
"lt Ism fine place." said the Captain. "Our
bill was over seventeen pounds, and It was MS
long MS my arm, every Incidental being put
down. ! have II framed NJ humc.n
On returning to London they found an order
from the Queen awaiting them, requiring them
70 present themselves NJ Buckingham Palace |
on the alst
Az the time appointed they were gracously |
received, there being present the lords and In.
dies Of tho land. The Queen was somewhat
rcscrved She made them both bridal gifts. |
The Captain received massive gold striking
watch, The bride was presented with splcn.
did diamond cluster ring
Captamy
Cant--"l was thinking all the time how |