The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1884-06-06
A BURNING BOY.
A Case That Battles the Medical
Fraternity, and Affords an
Opportunity for Expcri-
ments.

N. o. Times. Democrat, May rs,
Those of the worlds workers who
are constantly on the 60 around
the streets OF a great city frequent.
ly stumble upon strange things
aud curious beings, that the or,li.
nary denizon never s"es nor hears
about. The unwritten experiences
of local reporter of great morn.
ing daily would ill book with
SURPRISES TO the unknowing, aud in
many cases read like the pages Of
fairyland sketches. His resources
Of information extend from the
palatial residence To the hut Of
squalor. away down In tho alleys
and bitches OF city life; from the
archives OF the municipal govern.
ment to the yarn of the sailor lad ;
from the secrets OF holy places TO
the records OF the criminal courts
and the private detective agencies.
All these added to his own expert.
ences picked mp in his every day
tramps around town fill him with
curious ideas, quaint thoughts, and
u knowledge oi various things thai
never come under the observation
OF people OF ordinary pursuits.
This fact became. strongly mp
parent the other day when the re
porter accidentally became awar,
of the existence of pei haps th,
greatest curiosity the world has
ever behel,l, and which hns been
living In this city for the last six
years. Ouly n few of the immedi
ate neighbors have ever more than
heard the rumors that such n thing
was no near and could be scell
every day. Many OF the children
had seen the boy, and nurse girls,
who had quit in alright, had
spoken OF il, but no credcnce was
given to wha. appeared to be such
a wild impossibility.
Yesterday, however, as the re-
porter was sauntering out in the
vicinity of the Fairs Grounds he
heard u street urcbin, who was VII
doubled up in his efforts to get a
better view through a crack In the
fence, say: "Little Jerry is a.fIv
again. Finding n knot hole, the
reporter closed it up with his IN
quisiiive optic, and saw u snrpris
ing sight Sitting there on the
back gallery OF tho little house
with his legs crossed, and IN Q
perfect state ofnudidity, was q big
fat, chubby boy enveloped in /.
flame of BLUSH light. He was lit
orally on fire from The soles of his
feet to the crown OF his head.
His feet were burning as freel,
as sticks Of kindling wood; hi'
fingers we're lighted like 80 many
tapers; his hair was blazing like .
pile OF fat pine sllavings, and th,
liquid flames were running up ant
down his entire body. He sa,
there kicking his legs out, clutch
ing at the flame aud laughing a
the sensation it seemed to produce
When he would snap his eyes
sparks like those produced b,
striking flint with steel would Il,
ont and scatter In all directions
Then he would run his tongue out
licking up the fire around him
then puff it out OF his mouth II
Jets and cnrls rs 1t it were smok,
from u pipe. The sight was trul.
a wonderful one.
All OF a sudden he gave a quick
strong blow, aud all was extip
guished, as II by magic. The re
porter was now dGmbfounled, bu
sbsrtly recovered apd sought tb
trout door bell. 1t was eyideptl.
a case requiring investigation
Quite O handsome, middle-age'
lady answered tho ring, aud, o.
being told the nature Of tho cal
she invited the scribe in, aud toll
him all about little Jerry,
She said she was bis mother, an.
that her husband, John L. HILBERT
was still alive aud doing contrac
work on the railroad. Jerry, sh
said was the youngest Of thre
children, and was now six years
/ age. When he was born his yer
deep carnation color was the caus
of much uneasiness to both parent