The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1879-07-25
Startling and True.

Startling and True.
DUMB MAN sPEAKs-A DEAF MAN LISTENS TO
MusIc-TnE WILLIAMSON WONDER.
Mr.. EDITOR ALLOW me to inform your read
ers OF strange event which has recently taken
place near our village. On the night of the 3d
instant the gin Of speech was suddenly bestowed
Ihnnl I'd youth, twenty-three years of age,
"a! chs life been known as q deaf Nuts
by al 6f 06f0 0lder citizens.
Your Oak Lawn readers will remember Mar.
Gus, deaf mute boy; slave of Col. L. E.. Ware,
deceased, who was employed after the war by
Col. Wares son-in-law, Mr.. Arnold, as q hand
about the house and farm. His services were
quite valuable, as he was an active, obedent,
intelligent boy. He frequently came over to
Williamson as teamser, and thus became we'll
known in our community.
Eight years ago Mr.. Arnold removed to Mis-
sissippi. Just before his departure, Marcus
disappeared. No one knew whittier he had
gone. His mother tried in vain to get informa-
tion of his whereabouts. No tdings of him
reached his friends at home until the last day of
June, when his return to the house of his uncle,
Edward Jones, was as unexpected as his mystic
rious departure years before.
In the mean time he had learned to converse
in writing, so that he found no trouble in COM
municating his history during his long absence
from home.
= Nothing noteworthy occurred from Monday
to Thursday the 3rd instant. On that afternoon
'he became extremely nervous and restless
clearing dreadful, loud noises, and seeming as
if his head would burst with pain" This con-
dition continued till after nightfall. He then
tainted his extremities became cold and his
body was convulssd with violent paroxysms-
After something more than an hour these symp-
toms relaxed, and he broke his long silence
by asking quite audibly, but not very distinctly
for drink of water.
At intervals of about fifteen minutes during
the night, he continued to speak, saying almost
anything he wished, but feeling fatigued after
every effort
On the 4th, he spoke as occasion required,
with increasing ease, freedom and clearness
On Saturday the 9th, with several other gen.
ucmcn, visited him, and conversed with him
for about On hour and half. He had no diff
Guilty in hearing all we said and we noticed
considerable Improvement in his articulation du-
ring interview. At first, he declined trying to
pronounce the word civilians, on" because he
said he could not pronounce it right but at the
close of the interview, he inadvertently pro-
nounced 1t very well.
The extent of his vocabulary, clearness Of his
articulation, the correctness Of his vowel sounds
the accuracy Of his accentuation, and the gen.
cral propriety of his language, were matters of
great astoaishment to us all.
Sunday afternoon, lie heard his first music.
He attended serviceat the colored Methodist
Church, and the singing, which was right Wig
orouS, oNerpoWercu nlm lie cOulQ not reQlze
tho distinctions of the sounds but it all seemed
to him "lke loud noise blown through
straight horn" After service, he heard q young
lady play some sacred pieces on the reed organ;
and though he enjoyed it q little, it still chad
no turn"
On Monday. while listening to the piano, he
seemed greatly interested, and professed to en-.
joy it very much but it seemed to me, as |
watched him, that he was more impressed with
the quick movements of the hammers than with
the tones Of the Instrument. '-''"'.'
For the statement in connection with his
strange attack on Thursday afternoon, am in
debted to Marcus himself and his uncle, Ed.
mond Jones. whose character for veracity is un-
usually fair in our community. AS to the other
points in the above narrative, there is no room
Tor doubt He was deaf mute from his birth
till he left here eight years ago. He seemed to
be in the same condition when he returned last
Monday week. He can hear and speak now as
we'll as the majority Of our people. How the
wonderful change was brought about, remains
to be explained.
With your permission, I will send you for
your next issue, his account of his history dur
ing his absence, which may throw some light
on tho mysterious question.-REv. 8. LANDER,
in Greenulle Neps.