The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-09-10
CURIOSITIES OF THE DAY.
Some Strange Stories Taken From News.
papers In Various Parts OF the Coun.

Some Strange Stories Taken From News
papers In Various Parts of the Coun-
try.
Fifteen years ago a white spot about
the size and shape of silver three-cent
piece appeared on the right wrist
Henry Winston, a full-blooded negro,
then living near Union City, Tenn.
Henry was at that time a young man in
robust health. Other spots soon appeared
on the arm and wrist until the whole
body was covered with them. Fearing
lest he had become a victim to the most
dreaded of slow diseases, the leprosy. he
went to New Orleans and was examined
in the presence of twelve physicians.
He was assured that his affection was not
that of a leper. but further the doctors
could not 90. Since then the change in
his skin has continued. He is now llv-
ing on a farm near Columbus, KY, the
father of q large family Of black children.
The only black places lett upon his per-
son are few spots on his hands and 4
mask, rs it were, on his face. This
mask covers all parts of his face except
the eyebrows, which are white and
straight. like those of an Albino of Cau-
casian blood. The skin Of the head. neck
and body is of healthy flesh color
white and soft-and hair is like that of =
white man. The first impression one has
upon seeing him is that he is q white
man with his face painted with iodine.
The eyes, however. are unmlstakably
those of negro. He is in the best OF
health, but does not enjoy his monde
script appearance.
Captain Stone, with whom travellers on
the Mississippi were well acquainted IN
the old days. moved from New Orleans
to Moundsvillc, W. Va. thirty-fivee
years ago. Among other things moved
fom his old home as reminders of his
life in the sunny land were two seeds
from a mahogany tree that long stood in
his New Orleans yard. In planting the
seed at Moundsville he remarked to
members of his family, who now very
we'll recall the circumstance, that one Of
the seed should sprout and produce his
coffin. One of the seed died; the other
Sprouted. In spite of many set-backs,
| fi.owns of the northern latitude and con-
spiracics of the elements. the sprout
tlourished and grew apace. From a
shoot it became n sapling. and in the
course of thirty years grew to fine tree:
About eight months ago a severe wind
storm passed over Moundsville. uptear-
ing, with dozen other trees, the beauti-
tul mahogany in, Captain Stones yard.
Captain Stone had the tree dried, sawed
into lumber and sent to Pittsburgh firm,
which, in last June, returned it to him
in the form of a coffin. Recently Cap
tain Stone died. and was buried with his
| g.. E,,1
Harrison Meyers killed 4 rattlesnake
five miles southwest Of Uniontown, Pa,
| near the old Gaddis camp on the noun
tains, the snake being white from fang to
rattle. This unequaled curiosity is de-
scribed by the Uniontown Genius OF
Libcrty in these terms: The snake was
about two feet long, of a clear white ex-
ccptins several dim red spots about one
fourth of an inch in diameter along the
back. The snake had some seven rattles.
and on being discovered and attacked
did not display the venomous DISPOSE
tion so usually manifested by this species
of snake. Mr.. Meyers is reliable. His
brother James was in company with him
1T the time. After killing the snake both
young men carefully examined and found
ii to be a genuine rattlesnake.
While eXcavating for spring for re-
union purposes on the lands of the Rev.
w. H. Mcfarland, near Cambridge, o..
John S. Gallup came in contact with
what appeared to be a smooth-cut
stone and dug down to the foot OF the
third step, where he found basin made
in the solid rock that will contain fifty
barrels or more of water. 1t was cleaned
out and spring is pouring into it from
the crevice Of the rock at the rate OF
10000 gallons day. There IS no writ
ten account Of these hewn steps and
basin, and tie oldest citizen had no
knowledge of their existence. This was
probably HI important watering place
during the mounu- builders period. At
any rate, it is a subject for investigation
bv the antiquarians. It's regarded as a
great curiosity and q wonderful discov-
cry and is the theme Of all converse
tion.
Little Morton Roberts, the eleven-year-
old son of j. G. Roberts, of Cincinnati,
was playing on one ofthe banks of the
Little Miami river, near Waynesville,
Ohio. recently, when he found a pebble
of remarkable size and brilliancy.
Pocketing the thing he presently took it
to his father, who in turn passed it for
examination to Cincinnati diamond
expert. The latter said that the boy had
found a pearl. Mr.. Roberts there
upon sent it to "a friend in New York,
ana it was examined by Tiffany. The
pearl was by him pron ounced to be of
the purest and most intense tints of opal,
weight six carats, and market value
$3.50. Apurchaser was found in Presi-
dent Dinsmore, of Adams Express
Company, and now Morton has $3.50 in
vested for him to draw with interest
when he shall have doubled his present
age.
Captain Lorenzo Dow Lawson. who
lives about three miles from Crisfield,
Md, lost valuable COW a short time
ago, the death of the animal being caused
by mosquito bites. Mosquitoes have
been more troublesome around Cristield
this season than has been known for
many years. During the day and even
ing smothers" are made by the mer-
chants and others to drive the pests
away, and ut night the smoke is so gen
eral rs to give Crisfeid the appearance of
being on fire. ....
Henry J. Stewart, OF Jasper, Ga,
sends to the Savannah Necs Il natural
curiosity in the shape of a sweet potato.
The Nc,vS says: 1t was grown by G. II:
Ancrum, and is wonderful freak of
nature, being ar exact imitation of n
snake coiled up As if in the act of strik-
ing. The resemblance is really start
ling,
Among the several hundred newspa-
per articles about hens eggs, the follow
ingfrom the Fincastle, Botetourt county,
Va, Herald, leads: A. II. Keeling, Dale
vile, has an egg which for size heads
everything we have heard Of lately. 1t
was by actual measurement nine and
one-half inches in circumference, length
wise, and six and one-half inches
around.
Encouraging Matrfm0nY.
There Is in Cincinnati National
Association for the Promotion Of Mar
riage." Its constitution says: "We
have viewed with alarm and the deepest
concern the rapidly-growing tendency Of