The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1880-09-03

AN EXTRAORDINARY CREATU Rent. Z.
T. Barnum will perhaps read with regret that
there has arrived in this city without his
knowledge more remarkable dwarf than
any with whom his name has ever been con-
necteG. One of the passengers by the steam
er Wisconsin, of the Guion line, which ar
rived on Tuesday morning, on which ship the
parents of the strange little creature jour
neyed as emigrants, tells the following story
of its history and antecedents
bridget Sughran is the daughter of John
Suchran and wife, and was born thirty-oIe
years ago on an island OFF the coast of Kerry,
Ireland. For six months after her birth the
child continued to develop as seven brothers
and sisters before her had done. 1t is said to
have been a remarkably pretty infant. At
the end of six MONTHS however, II suddenly
ceased to grow and all the intervening years
of the child's life have witnessed no deYel-
opment in its stature. Its head alone mas
grown and is now the size OF the head OF an
average adult woman. Its limbs are rather
more chubby than those of an average infant
of six months, but its skin is as pale and del
icate in appearance as those of newborn
babe. Its hair is two or three Inches long,
but thin and fine like that of baby AHat-
temptS at training have been UNSUCCESSFUL IN
getting it to walk or talk or even TO utter a
cry. Though there is apparently no hallor-
nation of the tongue it does not give vent I'd
anV noise even under the influence CT pam.
Yet It is by no means idiOtic, for II under
stands conversation aud is keenly sensitive 70
remarks that may pass concerning ltselI- II
also appreciates and remembers klndneSSeS
it may receive and appears to have a very
good memory for faces. 1t eats but little, It's
food consisting of a very small quantity OF
milk with a pinch of bread. 1t Is very good
tempered as NAV be presumed, and gives Its
parents little trouble. For thirty-one years
the parents have nurSed and cherished 1t,
never giving it over to a charitable institution,
though often suffering for the necessities OF
life. They speak of the child as an ainlctlon
sent in kindness by the will of Cod ana do
not wish in any way to get rid of the burden.
The account they give of the origin OF the af-
Fiction accords with the superstition of the
country They term it an overlook.
case of Overlook they say, Is when some
l witch out of evil motive calls down calamI-
tv upon the object of lis ili-will. The father
/ re.ates how on one occasion, about the sixth
month of the child's age, two women were III
/ the house and one said To the othei, 'Sct
/ what beautiful child that Is, and thitt IRON
/ that time the child ceased e. grow Ihc
/ father substantiates this theory Of ms a1ilic-
/ tion by relating an instance in which a iairy'
woman or witch pointed to a particularly
/ beautiful COW among drove and immediate
! lV it fell dead. At all events lie deems II al
] affiictiOn from which only the pleasure oi
God can free him at the proper time ht
child is now on its way to Mahanoy CITY
/ Pa. where its parents intend to settle VIII
some of their other children
The physician at Castle Garden was muci
interested in examining the curious little Ue
ing. The child is partly bald and has los
many of its teeth-Nelo YORK World