Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1884-09-19
Capt. N. v. Bates and Wife the
Tallest People in the World.
A KENTUCKY PRODUCT.
COmriCr-I IOnInnl.

Courier Journal.
Among the attractions at Harris
Museum the coming week will lie
Capt. NJ. V. Bates and wife, who have
a worldwide reputation as being the
two tallest people in the world. The
following is the substance of an IN
tervicw with the big couple:
was born in Letcher county, this
State, in 1915, said Capt. Bates, "and
Of course am Kentuckian. Ny par
ents were ordinary-sized people, and
| had no relatives remarkable for
their stature. | first entered the show
business with the original Van Am
burg, in 1865, and can say his was the
only circus | ever travelled with. l
was only with him few weeks, as l
did not like the rough life we neces-
sarily led in tent show. After that
| started on my own hook, showing
in halls and theaters and doing my
own managing. In 1869 went to
Europe and made tour of the for
eign countries. was married to my
present wife in st. Marks church,
London, England, in 1871, and we
made tour of Europe together. Re-
turning of this country, we Travelled
two or three seasons and then con-
cluded to retire from public life, and
for ten years past have lived quietly
on our farm in Medina county,
Ohio"
."Were you ever in Louisville be-
fore, Captain ?"
"Oh yes. This city was my home
from the close of the war until went
to Europe. 1 knew great many peO-
pie here most of whom have died or
moved, expect. Poor George Prem
tice and | were intimate friends, and
1 always thought him the most brill
liant man of his day. Then there
was Gabe johnson, 'Yuba Dam, as
he was familiarly called, another
bright man and a genius. served
under Clarence Prentice, a son of
George, in the Fifth Confederate cav
airy during the war"
"Your unusual height discommodes
you at times, docs it?"
ayes, and that is one of the main
objections to travelling. An ordinary
bedstcad is usually about six and a
half or seven feet in length, and as |
am seven feet eleven and half inch
es tall, | can get but little comfort out
of the ordinary bed. My wife and
are the same height exactly. | weigh,
ordinarily, 4S0 pounds, and Mrs
Bates 40 or 400"
Captain and Mrs. Bates have had
two children, both now dead. They
are considered very wealthy, and owl
some valuable farms in Ohio, and
take considerable pleasure i'll working
them and raising fine cattle. Theil
home at Saville was built after the
same massive proportions as them
selves, and is said to be perfect in it
apportionmcnts. The doors arc near
" nine feet high. The chairs, beds
and other furniture were all made t.
order, and are, of course, very large
Mrs. Bates was born in Nova SEQ
tia. She is a member Of the Baptis
church, and never misses an opportu
nity to attend services. Captain
Bates does not use liquor in an!
form, but is a slave to tobacco i'll TIN
l cigar form. The engagement will
: Mr.. Harris at his museum and the
0 ater in this city is the only one Capt
D Bates will make this season, it is NOR
Q than probable, and it was onl
o through friendship for Mr. Harris
Q who the big people have known 70
n years, that they were induced toleav
v their home. they are undoubtedl
o the tallest people in the world.