Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1879-05-07
Tallest Man and Woman Living
Interesting Facts Concerning the
Intelligent COupIe-Des-
criptiCe Details.
The Giants Castle-Their Furniture
The Clothes they Wear
Eighty Yards OF Silk in
one Dress!
Their Theory about Giants-A De-
vout Church Member-Their
Bridal ur-Before
Queen Victoria.

queen tlctOI1d'
GSt. LOUIS Globe Democrat, April 20. I
For some time past the public min d
has been excited by the wonderful
stories which the newspapers of the
country have published about remark
able couple, said to be the tallest and
largest people in the world. So ex-
traordinary were the accounts of these
giants that, as it was learned that Capt.
NV. Bates and lady were making a
tour of the West. reporter of the
Globe Democrat was dispatched to
interview the gigantic couple and as
certain the truth in regard to them for
the benefit of eur readers. 1t was no
small job, and it must be acknowledged
that in all his reportial experience the
writer had never before been detailed
to tackle any such weighty subjects.
From the reports, it was expected to
find two very fleshv people Of large
stature. SO many of whom are adver-
tjsed as wonders, but who are, in fact
monstrosltes, their immense develop
ments being the result of disease. No
more fallacious idea could be formed,
however, and when the reporter, after.
having sent in his card, was politely
ushered int the presence of Captain
and Mrs Bates, he found himself con-
fronted by two as perfectly formed
gentlefolk as he had ever seen. The
first impression was one of awe, and it
occurred to the interviewer's mind that
half the truth had not been told. a
feeling of insigniicance overcame him,
and he appeared to sink to the lillipu-
tian dimensions of
TINY JACK THE GIANT-KILLER,
that historical parsonage SO dear to the
juvenile mind Having recovered
from his astonishment, the polite
and courteous greetings were acknowl-
edged. Captain Bates remarked as
he extended bis hand, that, "he was
an admirer Of the press" and he fully
demonstrated his affections for it when
he allowed his own hundred square
inches of palm to enve:op the insight
icant member of its representative.
Mrs. Bates received with stately,
courtly bend of the body, learned pro-
badly in the halls of royalty, and it is
feared that the reporter awkwardly re-
coiled, as her towering form yielded,
from an unconscious fear that some
thing was about to fall on and crush
him.
But brief. description of these re-
markablc people mus: be given in or
der that some idea may be gained of
how they differ from ordinary mortals.
Captain Martin Van Buren Bates was
born in Whitcsburg. Letcher County,
Kentucky, November 9, 1916. He is
seven feet eleven and one-half inches
in height, and weighs AIS pounds.
His father was about six feet tall and
his mother was a lady of ordinary
stature. He was the youngest of twelve
children, seven boys and five girls, and
the tallest of his family, except him.
self, was brother killed at Vicksburg
during the war, and who was six feet
and two inches in height. No cases of
extraordinary size. have been known in
any of his ancestors, and bis extraor.
binary development must be viewed
simply as a freak of nature, as it cam
not be accounted for on any scientific
grounds.
Nature, as usual, did not propose to
do things by halves, and in l849 Miss
Anna H. Swan was born in Colches-
ter county. Nova Scotia. AS the Sc
quel shows she was intended as
| COMPANION FOR THE BIG BOY.
Her parents were rather small sized
people her father being but five feet
and four inches 10 height and one
hundred and forty FIVE pounds, while
the mother was five feet and two
inches, aud weighed one hundred and
ten pounds when in robust health
She had three brothers and FIVE sisters
all of ordinary size, and no othe. case
of remarkable growth has ever been
known among her progenitors. Mrs.
Bates was as tall as her mother: when
six years of age, but she continued tc
shoe. upward until to-day she is ex-
actly the same height as her husband,
seven feet eleven and one-half inches
her weight being four hundred and
thirteen pounds.
!. Both the lady aud gentleman are
perfectly proportioned, every member
corresponding and aiding to produce
symmetrical but colossal figure. When
the reporter called, Mrs. Bates, who
is an exceedingly fine looking lady
was dressed in handsome blue silk
cut in the most fashionable style, will
bands Of delicate white lace at tht
throi aud wrists. She wore quan'i
ty of very elegsn; jewelry, aud her hail
was dressed high, thus making her ap