Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-07-22
AN UNFORTUNATE SNOWMAN.
His Indignation When Taken for a
Tramp Owing to his Defprmities.
Mem York Ti1Qes


The steamboat Sylvan Dell was Just
about to start for COney Island last night,
when a wretched looking specimen Of
humanity came down Pier No. 6 and at
tempted to cross the gang-plank. He was
about feet in height, had no arms, his
legs were distorted and stunted, and an
extraordinarily large head supplied gro
tesque feature to his strange appearance.
Under his hat he wore an Oilskin bandage,
while kind of canvas wrap encircled his
body. He tOttered helplesslY along, and
seemed each moment about to fall to the
ground.
ssYou can't come on this boat" said
Charles Hoyt, the mate, roughly; ''get off
with you."
"Why can't l comeP' asked the strange
individual, in an articulate voice.
eve amt a-gOing to have tramps and
lOafers here" was the answer. The deck
hands began to grin and scott at the I'M
fortunate being, and off he tOttered to
wait for the next boat. He was more
successful this time, and managed to get
on the deck, where he dropped into a seat
"a huddled up mass of clothing, from
which his great red face peeped wrath
fully.
"f,n have that man discharged" he
shouted to the crowd which Immediately
surrounded him. "Pve been grossly in
suited and Pll write to the company.
They don't know who l am or they would
be more respectful. They weren't aware
they'd got Prof. j. Gessley to deal with or
they'd have been more civil."-
The old man fumed for few moments
and then went on; 81 may be a bit of
tramp, but Pm no loafer. Pm Ga years of
age, and only been drunk three times in
my life. The rascal, to insult me like
that! Pve been very unfortunate in my
life and that's why Pm at this pass.
was robbed a short time ago of my double
headed child, which had four arms and
one body, and that broke me up"
"YOur own childp
s'Oh, nor' he answered scornfully, 81
leased her for five years down in Georgia
for So, 800, and if she had lived l should
| have been a rich man now. But" he adj
| det regretfully, Zone head died short
| time after birth, and the other head twen-
| ty-three hours afterward. Well, | kept
| her in alcohol and made 5000 a week by
her until was cruelty robbed of her.
Then l was on my beam end. About a
/ year afterward somebody sent her back
to me, and said they had found her in a
| loft. She'd been taken from me, and the
villain was remorseful-that much
know. She is now with my show in AL
bany, Ga.
s'Are you the proprietor of a showW
"You bet | am. / cut out figures with
| my feet, and write by the same means.
You see l was born with my present de-
! fOrmity, and am a kind of curiosity N.Y.
/ self. Pm we'll known, let me tell you,
| and have free passes on all the railroads
for myself and my company. Oh, the
wretch who called me loafern
"Why are you going to COney IslandW
ssIm going to see a man who has sa-
loon there to make arrangements for my
Georgia show to be exhibited there. He
promised to go into the speculation with
me. and he offered, ;" he added ruefully, "tO
give me his hand on it, though he knew
very well that / have no hands. I'm ex-
empted from paying any license for run
ming these shows by the government on
the principle that man has got to make
his living, and that is all l am able
to do for mine. Now, hold me stiff while
/ rise from my seat"
The poor old Professor was subjected
to one more humiliation. The conductor
of the train took him round the waist on
arriving at Coney Island, in order to help
him down, and both rolled over on the
platform. The old man rose smiling.
ssHere, mister, you've dropped your
walking stick" said one of the porters,
running up to him with silver-headed
cane.
ssLeave me alone,s was the angry re
joinder; II should like to know how
could hold walking stick without hands
YOU'RE an unfeeling pack,' ana Prof
Gessley tottered of.