Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1883-08-23
Helena, Montana, Thursday, August %, 1883
REMARKABLE CHILD.
With Neither Arms nor Limbs, But in
all Other Respects Perfect.

With Neither Arms nor Limbs, But in
all Other Respects Perfect.
Mexican Inteligencer.l
By the kindness of Mr.. and Mrs. Oscar
Elizea, living four miles southeast of Mexi-
co, we visited and examined their little son,
John Rodney, just ten months old, which
had the misfortune to be born into the world
without arms or limbs. 1t is one of the
most remarkable case on record. On the left
side the shoulder joint and the arm for two
inches and half in length is perfect, the
arm terminating in about the shape OF an
ordinary-sized hens egg at the small end.
The right arm, as perfect as the other, is
about three inches and half in length,
terminating as the other in shape, but, un-
like the other, it has a well-developed joint,
though small, with apparently half or
three-quarters of an inch OF the ulnar bone
or lower arm. The lower limbs are some
what similar, though in length the reverse
of the arms, the left one being the longest,
the final bone being about three inches in
length the right is about an inch shorter,
both terminating somewhat more abIuptely
than the arms, and like the arms, having
small teat-shaped projection about the size
of large raspberry. In every other respect
the child is perfect, with about the ordinary
flesh Of child of its age. AS if to COM
penSate for the unfortunate absence OF arms
and limbs, nature has blessed the little fel-
low with an exceptionally fine head, and
seemingly active brain. He is as bright and
cheerful as little bird, but has the misfor-
tune of cutting his teeth during the heated
term, which is annoying him greatly. The
little fellow seems to possess strong will
and disposition to be quite independent,
and has even at this early age learned to
wait on himself, thus furnishing good ex-
ample to older persons, and more capable of
helping himself than he. He goes for what
ever he wants in any part of the room by
rolling himself like bottle changing his
course as he pleases by the use of his head,
giving whatever direction he chooses to the
course of his body.
While Mr.. and Mrs. Elizea are the recipi-
ents of universal sympathy in their sad mis-
fortune which might have been greater,
they, like sensible persons always do take
a rational view of the atfiiction, and have
adopted themselves to it philosophically and
with cheerful resignation.
Little Johnnie is the special pet of both
parents and five sprightly, lovable sisters, all
of whom constitute cheerful happy family.
The Trip OF the Maid of the Mist.
A short sketch of the memorable trip of
the Maid of the Mist, on which were the
only persons who ever went through the
whirlpool rapids, and the whirlpool itself,
and came out alive, will be of interest The
boat which made this trip was built in
1854. For awhile she took passengers from
both the American and Canadian shores,
and ran up very close to the foot Of the falls.
Owing to some change in her appointments,
which confined her to the Canadian shore
for the reception of passengers, she became
improbable. Her owner wishing to leave
the place, determined to sell her, and he
received an offer of little more than half her
cost if he would deliver her at Niagara,
opposite the fort. This he decided to do
after consultation with Joel E. Robinson,
who acted as captain and pilot on her trip
under the falls Mr. Robinson consented to
act as pilot for the fearful voyage, and the
engineer, Mr.. Jones agreed to 90 with him,
A machinest, Mr.. Mcintyre. volunteered to
share the risk with them. The boat was
put in complete trim, all superfuous articles
being removed from the deck and hold.
Notice was given of the time of starting,
and large crowd assembled to see the fear
full plunge, no one expecting to see either
boat or crew again after she should leave the
dock, which was Just above the railway sus-
pension bridgde. About o'clock in the
afternoon of June Is, 1861. the engineer
took his place in the hold, and knowing
that their fitting trip would be short at the
longest, set his steam-valve at the proper
gauge, and waited the tinkling signal that
should start them on their flying voyage.
Robinson took his place at the wheel and
gave the starting signal. With shrek from
her whistle and white puff from her
escape-pipe, the boat ran up the eddy a
short distance, cleared the smooth water and
shot like an arrow into the rapid under the
bridge. She took the outside curve of the
rapid, and when a third of the way around
it a jet of water struck against her rudder, q
column dashed up under her starboard-side,
keeled her over, carried away her smoke
stack, started her Overhang on that side
threw Robinson on his back and threw Nc
Intyre against her starboard wheelhouse
with such force as to break it through.
Every lOOker-on breathed freer as she
emerged, shook her wounded sides, slid into
the whirlpool and for a moment rode again
on the even keel. Robinson rose at once.
seized the helm, set her to the right of the
large pot in the pool, then turned
her directly through the neck of it.
Thence, after receiving another drenching
from the waves, she dashed on without fur
ther accident to the quiet bosom of the river
below Lewiston. The boat was - feet long.
with II feet breadth of beam, s feet depth of
hold, and carries an engine of 100-horse
power.