The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1884-06-21
A BU RNiNG BOY,
A Phenomenon Found In New Or
lenns that Battles the Med
fcai Fi fraternity.
New Orleans Times-Democrst, ]


Those of the worlds workers who are
constantly on the go around the streets
OF great city frequently stumble upon
strange things and curious beings that
the ordinary denizen never sees nor hears
about. The unwritten experiences of a
local reporter of a great morning daily
would fill a book with surprises to the
unknowing. and in many cases read like
the pages of fairyland sketches. His re.
sources of information extend from the
palatial residence to the hut of squalor,
down in the alleys and bitches of city life;
from the archives of the municipal gov.
ernment to the yarn of the sailor lad;
from the secret of holy places to the
records of the criminal courts and the
private detective agencies. All these
added to his own experiences picked up
in his everyday tramps around town, fill
him with curious ideas, quaint thoughts,
and knowledge of various things that
never come under the observation of peo.
pie of ordinary pursuits.
This fact became strongly apparent the
other day when the reporter accidentally
became aware of the existence of perhaps
the greatest curiosity the world ever be.
held, and which had been living in this
city for the last six years. Only few
of the immediate neighbors had ever
more than heard the rumors that such a
thing was so near and could be seen every
day. Many of the children had seen the
boy, and nurse girls who had quit the
place in alright had spoken of it, but no
credence was given to what appeared to
be such wild impossibility.
Yesterday, however, as the reporter
was sauntering out in the vicinity of the
fair grounds, he heard a street urchin,
who was all doubled up in his efforts to
get a better view through crack in the
fence, say:
AA1 LL oENIsA 40 Eh-HANL shN-hiNs
Finding knot-hole the reporter closed
itup with his inquisitive optic, and saw
surprising sight. Sitting on the back
gallery of the little house, with his legs
crossed and in perfect state of nudity
was big, fat, chubby boy enveloped in
flame of blush light. He was literally
on fire from the soles of his feet to the
crown of his head.
His feet were burning as freely al
sticks OF kindling wood; his fingers were
lighted like so many tapers; his hair wa.
blazing like pile of fat pine shavings
and the liquid flames were running W
and down his entire body. He set ther,
kicking his legs out, clutching at til,
flame and laughing at the sensations i
seemed to produce. When he woult
snap his eyes sparks like those produced
BY striking flint with steel would seattle
ont in all directions. Then he woult
run his tongue out, licking up the fir
around him, then puff it out of his moutl
IN Jets and curls as if it were smoke from
apipe. The sight was truly wonderful
one.
All of sudden he gave a quick, strong
blow, and all was extinguished, as if b,
magic. The reporter was dumbfounded
but shortly recovered and sought tn
front door bell. 1t was evidently cas-
requiring investigation. Quite a hand
some, middle.aged lady answered tn
ring, and on being told the nature of tn
call, she invited the scribe in, and tol,
him about little Jerry.
She said she was his mother and tina
her husband, John L. Herbert, was still
alive and doing contract work on tn
railroad. Jerry, she said, was the young
est Of three children, and was now 81
years Of age.
When he was born his very deep car
nation color was the cause Of much un
easlness to both parents, but the docto
said at the worst it could only be eczema
so, as soon as his constitution would pc,
mt, they commenced to rub him wit
all sorts Of salves, ointments and lini
ments, but Jerry only became the redde
alter each application of the prescribe
pseventatives. Then the physicians sal