The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1884-12-17
MARRIAGE OF xOysTROslT1ES.
R~ecorlections of a Veteran Snowman.


Recollections of a Veteran Snowman.
when John O'Brien, the well-known
circus man, was in the high-tide OF
prosperity said W. G. Coup, the
veteran Snowman, to Il Chicago repor-
ter, among the attractions in the re-
tinue OF side-shows following his tent
there was a freak known as Walter
Stewart. This human monstrosity was
without legs or hands, but he had short,
stubby arms, and it was considered an
interesting sight to see him shave
himself by the use of these half-formed
limbs. Although repulsive in other re-
spects, it is said that Stewart possessed
average intelligence. One season
O'Brien was accompanied on his tour
by a charming and beautiful young
daughter. Kitty was her name, and
she was the idol of her amusement-lov-
ing parent. He was worth at least
$25O,O0O at that time, and he lavished
every attention upon his beloved child.
Kitty had her own will in almost every
thing. She got acquainted with the
side show monstrosity, Walter Stewart,
and day after day went surreptitiously
to onvers with him. At length, be-
for the father had the slightest inkling
of the course affairs had taken, his
daughter had become strangely in.
fatuated with, and secretely married,
the deformed creature. O'Brien. in his
anger, cast her completely of. and
never spoke to either of the two after.
ward. But Kitty chung stoutly to her
choice, ministering to his wants, &C.
comparing him in shows and museums,
and to all appearances loving him.
"Perhaps you rene nber John Bat
tersby, the skeleton man. No? Well
John vas long q great card for side
shows and museums. and, by the way,
I think he is still living. It is wonder
full how long these skeletons do live.
Battersby was married some twenty
years agoto Hannah the fat woman Of
Maine, after which they always made
engagements and travelled together.
Hannah was the biggest fat woman I
ever saw, too. She weighed upwards
Of 500 and there was over 400 pounds
difference between the weight of hus-
band and wife. The union, I believe,
was blessed with several children.
civilian Thompson, a steamship en-
! gineer, became infatuated with Ann E.
Leak. a woman without arms, and mar
ried her some ten years ago. They
subsequently went to Australia togeth-
er and, I am told, made a good deal of
money. She has been seen with all the
big shows in this country time and time
again. They have a very fine boy, and
the mother can crochet, knit, sew and
write with her toes as we'll as most Ia
dies can with their hands.
"And then there was Nine. Myers,
the bearded lady-you have seen her?
She became the wife of Amos Myers, of
Ctsego, New York, seven or eight years
ago, ard they have travelled together
with all the shows since at different
times. He seems as careful and proud
of her as of a babe.
Don't you remember that balloon
marriage of two of my people at Gin
cinnati? In 1875, a short time before
Prof. Donaldson made his fatal trip
from Chicago, he took up Charley Col
ton, my assistant treasurer, and a pref
ty hippodrome rider and chariot driver
whom Cotton made his bride high up
in the air. I went up with them and
we had a gay time. Over $4,000 people
saw US start on the ~eventful voyage.
Poor Donaldson! it was the last we'd
ding he ever witnessed.
"Chang, the Chinese giant, eight feet
high, was first welded to a very dim
inutive woman of his own country. She
accompanied him on his exhibition
tours, and at length died in Europe.
Then Chang, when the season of grief
had passed. sought and won the hand
of an Englishmoman, Of 40 pounds
weight, at Manchester. She still re-
sides there, and has three children.
When the father goes home and reaches
out his hand in greeting, they always
think he has brought home a smoked
ham.
"Chemah, the Chinese dwarf, became
the legally wedded husband Of a young
girl named Blackmore, who followed
him from Brooklyn to Chicago about a
year ago. She weighs $50 pounds.
sell Bowman, the man who has feet
growing out Of his body, and no legs.
has been married twelve years and has
a wife and three children living at
Reading, Michigan.
Gamma Jones, the celebrated 'Esau
child with Barnum several years ago,
united her destiny with that Of Dick
Elliott, a side-show talker, and she has
since grown an elegant crop of beard.
They have made much money.
"Col. Goshen, the well-known giant,
now employed commercially Chicago,
had q wife who deserted HIM and carri-
cd away part of his fortune"