The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1880-09-01
AN EXTRAORDINARY CREATURE.
A Dwarf Who Ceased to Grow When Six
Months Old, and Can Neither Walk Nor
Utter n Sound.
New York Herald.l

Mr.. p. t. Barnum Will perhaps read with
regret that there has arrived in this city
without his knowledge a more remarkable
dwarf than any with whom his name has
ever been connected. One of the passengers
by the steamer Wisconsin, of the Guion
Line, which arrived on Tuesday morning
on which ship the parents of the strange
little creature journeyed rs emigrants, tells
the following story of its history and ante
cedents:
Bridget Sughran is the daughter OF John
Sughran and wife, and was born thirty-one
years ago on an island off thecOast of Kerry,
Ireland. For six months after her birth
the child continued to develop.Fas seven
brothers and sisters before her had done 1t
is said TO have been a remarkably pretty in
FAINT At the end of six months, however,
it suddenly ceased to grow, and all the in
tervening years of the childs life have wit
messed no development in its stature. Its
head alone has grown, and is now
the size of the bead an average adult
woman. Its limbs are rather more
chubby than those of an average in
FAINT of six months, but its skin is as pale
and delicate in appearance as that of q new
born babe. tshairis two or three inches long
but thin and fine like that of baby. All
attempts at training have been unsuccessful
in getting il TO walk or talk, or even TO utter
a cry. Though there is apparently no NAL
formation of the tongue, itdOes not give vent
TO any noise even under the influence of
pain Yet ii is by no means idiOtic, for il
understands conversation and is keenly
sensitive to remarks that may pass concern
ing itself. 1t also appreciates and remem-
bers kindness it may receive, and appears to
have a good memory for faces. 1t eats but
little, its food consisting of a very small
quantity of milk with pinch of bread. 1t
is very good-tempered, as may be presumed,
and gives its parents little trouble. For
thirty-one years the parents have nursed and
cherished it. never giving it over to a charit-
able institution, though often suffering for
child as an affiictiOn sentin kindnesses by the
will of God and do not wish in any way to
get rid of the burden. The account
they give of the origin of the
affiiction accords with the superstition
of the country. They term it an over
look A case of overlook they say,
is when some witch out of evil motive calls
down q calamity upon the object of its Ill
will The father relates how on one occa-
sion, about the sixth month of the child's
age, two women were in the house, and one
said to the other, See what beautiful child
that is and from that time the child ceased
to grow. The father substantiates this theory
of his affliction by relating an instance in
which 'fairy-woman,' or witch, pointed TO
particularly beautiful cow among drove
and Immediately it fell dead. At all events
he deems it an affiiction from which only
the pleasure of God can free him at the
proper time. The child is now on its way
to Mahanoy City, Pa, where its parents in
tend to settle with some of their other chill
dren"
The physician at Castle Garden was much
interested in examining the curious little
being. The child is partly bald, and has
lost many of it's teeth