The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1884-05-22
MOySTROsITIRS.
The RecOllectiOns of a Veteran Show
man.

10e marriage III OulCsSO Va JULIAN
Saunders the twenty-toed woman, to
Louis St. Clair, late advance agent
of the Buffalo Bill Wild West Combi-
nation, CAUSES w. O. Coup. the vet-
ersn Snowman, to express his dis
gust with such alliances, clal ming
that they usually resulted from mer-
cenary motives. To o News report
er he gives the result OF some obser
vations taken on the road:
"When John O'Brien, the we'll
known circus man, was in the high
tide Of prosperity, among the attrao-
tons in the retinue of side-shows tol-
Logging his tent there was a freak
known as Walter Stewart. This hui
man monstrosity was without legs
or hands, but he had short stubby
arms, and it was considered an inter-
esting sight to see him shave himself
by the use of these half-formed limbs.
Although repulsive in other respects.
it is said that Stewart possessed aver.
age intelligence. One season O'Brien
was accompanied on his tour by his
charming and beautiful young daugh-
ter. Kitty vas her name. aid she was
the idol Of her amusement loving
parent. He was worth at least $780,.
900 as that time, and he lavished
every attention upon his child. Kitty
had her own will in almost every
thing. She got acquainted with the
side-show moDstrosity, Walter Stew.
art, and day after day went surrepti-
tiously to converse with him. At
length. before the father had the
slightest inkling of the course affairs
had taken, his daughter had become
strangely infatuated with, and secret
ly married. the deformed creature.
O'Brien, in his anger, cast her com.
pletely of, and never spoke to either
OF the two afterward. But Kitty
clung stoutly to her choice, minister
ing to his wants, accompanying him
in shows and museums. and to all
appearances loving him.
perhaps you remember John
Bsttersby the skeleton man. Nof
Well, John was long great card for
side shows and museums, and by the
way, I think he is still living. Il Is
wonderful how long these skeletons
do live. Battersby. was married some
twenty years ago to Hannah, the
fat woman of Maine. after which
they always made engagements and
travelled together. Hannah was the
biggest fat woman [ ever saw. too.
Bic weighed upward OF 500 and there
was over 400 pounds difference be-
tween the weight of,husband and wife
The union, I believe, was blessed with
several children.
William Thompson, q steamship
engineer became infatuated with
Ann E. Leak, g woman without
arms, and married her some ten
years ago. They subsequently went
to Australia together and, I am told,
made good deal of money. She has
been with all the big shows in this
country time and time again. They
have very fine boy, and the mother
can crochet, knit, sew and write with
her toes as we'll as must ladies can
with their hands.
And then there was Nine. Meyers,
the bearded lady-you have seen herr
She became the vile of Amos Mey-
ers, OF Otsego. n. Y, seven OR eight
years ago, and they Travelled together
with all the shows since at different
times. He seems as careful and
proud Of her as babe.
"Don't you remember that bal
loon marriage OF two of my people at
Cincinnati? In 1875. q short time
before Prof, Donaldson made his
fatal trip from Chicago, he taok up
Charles Cotton, my assistant treasur-
er, and pretty hippodTome rider
and chariot driver whom Cotton
made his bride high up in the air.
l went up with them and We had q
gay time. Over $4,000 peopls saw
us s;alt on the eventful voyage. Poor
Donaldson! it was the last wedding he
ever witnessed.
"Chsng, the CHINESE giant, eight
feet high was first welded to 8 very
dininutive women OF his own country.
She accompanied him on his exnibi-
ton tours. and at length died in Eu,
rope. Then Chan, when tue season
of grief had passed, sought and won
the hand OF al Englishwomen, OF lac
pounds weight, at Manchester. She
still resides there, and has three
children. When the father gees
home and reaches out his hand in
greeting, they always think be ha:
bIooght home a smoked ham.
"Chemah, the Chinese dwarf, De
came the legally welded husband o
a yound girl named BIackmore, wht
following him from Brooklyn to chi
cage about year ago She weigh
$50 pounds.