Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1884-12-01
MATRIMONIAL MIRACLE.
Wedding of Strange and Remarka
BILE Couple Under Most Peculiar
Circumstances.
The Bride a Giantess and Both Deaf and
Dumb-A Startling Episode,
How the Husbands Music Woke Up
His Wife's Dead Sense of Hearing.
Chicago Inter OCEAN.

NHlchSo iuteT Ooiuus
There was quiet but remarkable
wedding in the city Sunday morning,
but which was not written up in the
society columns Of thedsily papers, and
which might not be announced now
but for the most remarkable sequel.
The contracting parties were Hugh |
Blackbern, aged &c. of Scotch parent
age, but born in Yonkers, N. ", and |
Miss Olga Johansen, aged 10, Norwe-
gian. who came to this country with
her parents seven years ago. The par
ties became acquainted at Yonkers,
but in January, 1883, the Johansen
family moved TO Chicago aud settled
here, and since then Mr.. Black
bern has EmRde several flying
visits 10 the city. The ceremony was
performed at the residence Of the
brides parents, on North avenue, the
Rev. Alex Bergen of Yonkers .officiat-
ing. Blackbern ia below the medium
height, but is a very big little man,
weighing 2l9 pounds. The now happy
Mrs, Blackbern, though barely 10 years
of age, is perfect giantess. She stands
six feet three inches, weighs 237 pounds,
with blonde hair down 10 her waist,
blunt features, and eyes that seem al
most pinkish, che il a most striking
parsonage. When her husband, with
his shortcut fiery red hair and whis-
kers, and his azure blue eyes, stands
beside her, they make a couple who
can ,noverigo anywhere without attract
ing attention and causing remark.
Mr.. Blackbern was born deaf. Years
ago
sKILLFUB SURGEONS
performed an operation upon him in
! New York city, and by means of
email gold tubes he was made to hear.
This was when he was Is years old.
! His parents spent most of their small
means paying the doctors and sur
geOns. When he recovered his hear
! ing he could not talk, aud the task of
| learning had TO be begun just as baby
begins, or as one begins the study OF
foreign tongue. he now hears and
| talks well, and has finished educa-
ton. He Is in business at Eonkers,
and in a short time win take his wife
to the pretty home he has prepared
for her there. Mrs. Blackbern was
born with all her senses, except that
of speech, When a child she fell
victim to the typhoid fever. or come
dreadful sffliction like it. Up to this
time she had been very diminutive for
her age. When che recovered she was
deaf and her brain WAS so impaired
that she was pronounced hopeless
imbeclle. After two years in an asy-
lum, however, she completely recov-
cred her reason, and she accumulated
flesh so rapidly and grew so large that
her parents could hardly believe that
the person returned to them was really
their Olga. Deaf and dumb as she wa'
when the marriage was performed the
"best mani and the bridesmaid acted
as Interpreters, and the clergyman
questions were put TO her in the finger
language and her responses were com
municeted in the came way. Mr.. Black
bern is, of course, an adept in thil
silent language, having been deaf anC
dumb himself in his early years, auc
the couple seemed to converse ever
more quickly than their relatives AnC
friends, who possessed all the senses
THE MIRACLE OF THE MARRIAGE
remains to be told, and it is this tina
the relatives and friends are mos
elsted over. Mr.. BlackbeIn 10 q grea
= lover OF music. He can hum or whif
tie the most difficult pieces after hear
ing them once, and never hRvin
learned to play any instrument, bu
J constantly whistling, he has becom
. most proficient In the art. With hi
> lips alone he produces the loudest an,
the lowest sounds. and by doubling VI
his two hands and placing them at hi
mouth plays notes as sweet as hnte
1t The airs Of the old masters are all ia
70 miliar TO him, and he plays then
y with On effect at once surprising an,
I T., If Ia ia ~
r which he calls Life at Last, ant
G whether original or not it is most en-
tertAininE. Pathetic, sad and sweet, 1
Is full OF plaintive, exquisite melod.
and has a rollicking, jolly final. OF
n the Monday evening following tn
4 wedding the brides parents gave lit
Z tie social party, at which dozei
le couple offriends were present Dun
ipe the evening Mr.. Blsckbern wa
asked to whistle for the company ant
he did so. Come Haste to the Wed
!, ding Mendelssohn's wedding
~ March, Ever Bright and Fair an,
- numerous other things were given II
y fine style, greatly edifying those pres
=, ent. except the bride. Deafand dumb
- ehe knew nothing of music, and Goul
= not hear If she did. Her huf
:, - band was the center of attention 70
-, the time being, and no one was loon
"a ing at her. He commenced his med
~ lev, Life at Last and as he PR
so ceeded quick movement by his VII
- attracted attention to her She ha
y arisen, her eyes were sparkling wit
-. delight, and she was standing gain
a. on the musician with an attitude ia
~ OF rapture. As the sweet, sad airs
= oHASaED FROM aRIRF TO wAILINf
40 and to despair, her excitement II
~ creased and ominous glances were e.
De changed between the parents an
friends. IL was feared that 'her hea
was giving away again" The hn
band saw all this, and woul
OF nave ceased but for viii
pered word from the clerg,
man. The sweet notes continues
: and the company said they never ha
- heard such music before. In u
midst Of the joyful finale Mns. Blael
g laF