The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1884-06-19
AFREAK OFfNATURE.
An Ohio Monstrosfty, With an AMI
mails Nature and Voice Like

mails Nature and Voice Like
a Cyclone.
Marvellous as are the .'freaks" gather
ed together by the show people. they
haven't anything in the way of human
curiosity to compare with remarkable
being confined in the county infirmary
of Pike county. The creature is man
but his right to that title rests solely
upon the fact that he was born of wo-
man. In every other respect he differs
from his kind, and possesses no attri-
butte in common with ordinary repre-
sentatives of his sex. He bears upon
his person, in his habits, and vocal or
gans all of the characteristics of n bull
in as nearly perfect form rs it is pos
sible for a two-legged creature to pos
sess them. & : All 3
This remarkable being is named
John Haines. and is 40 years old. He
is the son of very respectable parents,
who at the time of the monsters birth
lived in Pebble township. Twelve
years ago the mother who gave birth
I to The unnatural object died. but his
father is still living. Prior to the
mother's death John was watched and
cared for at home, but since her demise
he has been confined ut the infirmary.
The existence of the monstrosity is
known to comparatively few people,
and many of those who do know of his
being have never seen him, being de-
TERED from visiting his cell because of
the terrible sight that would meet their
eyes.
Haines, or 'John,n rs her is called
by everybody who has occasion to speak
about him, has been confined at the in
iirmary twelve years. He is of modium
height, with very large head, and the
forehead broad and bold, with strong
ly marked ridge running down the con-
tor of it, The sides of the head are
fiat, running back almost at right an
giles with forehead, while the top of
the head slopes backward and down
ward at q sharp incline, leaving the
Uranium without brain room. His face
is dark skinned, heavy and british in
expression, and very repulsive. The
ewes are like those of bovine, and roll
about in his head in an aninalish sort
of way. A heavy mouth, in which a
restless tongue is almost constantly
rolling quid, strengthens the crea-
ture's likeness to bull. His large
ears stand out from his head like those
of an alarmed beast.
The long, thick, and bushy head Is
covered by close growth of short,
coarse, stubby hair. His shoulders
and breast are remarkable features OF
the monster, they being extraordinar-
lily thick and heavy. He has a remark
able depth of chest, the formation OF
which bears a strong resemblance to
that of his shaggy counterpart. From
the breast downward his body gradual
ly tapers to the thighs. His lower
limbs are slender and joined together
like those of noble steer. The feet
and hand are those of a man. s.
John is remarkably strong and Wig
orous combination of flesh and bone,
and prior TO his confinement in the in
Urinary he was noted for his wonder.
full speed on foot. He would dart
away from his home into the woods and
run like hound for miles, making the
air melodious as he went, believing
like bull. His actions are all govern
ed by instinct. His reason is an intin.
itessimal quantity.
He lacks the power of speech, and
the only word that he can say that pos,
sesses meaning to his hearers is "bac.
ca" He is intensely fond of tobacco
and the first thing visitor hears wher
nearing his apartment is his cry "Bac
ca! Bacca"
When he is given piece of the pal
atable leaf he tears it into little pieces
and puts them into his mouth, one at 6
time. He rolls the tobacco arounC
with his tongue like COW treats {
quid of grass, and finally swallows the
mass-tobacco and all. Tobacco is s
luxury that fills the poor devil with
keen delight, and when he sees poucf
produced his eyes roll in pleasurablt
anticipation. John is kept in con
finement in little eight by ten Gel
entrance to which is had through bar
red door of heavy hickory strips. JUS
in the rear of this is an inclosure, TWEEN.
ty or thirty feet square, aud unroofed.
The fence surrounding is about twenty
feet in height. This is Johns excrcis-
ing yard. He possesses the instincts
of bull, and is strongly affected by
changes of the weather. He becomes
greatly excited just before a rain,
thunder, snow, or wind storm, and
! will plunge out into his exercising-pen,
tear around at u fearful rate. paw up
the earth, and believing most fright
fully. He has voice of wonderful
power, and the bullish noise he makes
can be heard for a mile around. They
cannot be distinguished by stranger
from those of gorgeous bull. So un-
erring is John i'll his demonstrations,
that the residents in that locality rely
upon him as their barometer, and he
never fails to acquaint them with pend
ing meteorological changes.
He wears mems coarse clothing. az
ter manner peculiar TO himself. He
cannot be induced to wear suspenders
He is frequently presented with those
useful appendages to q males toilet,
but it matters not how bright and gau.
dy the colors may be, John will teal
the suspendcrs up and ornament his
neck, arms and legs with the pieces.
He keeps his pantaloons in place by
constantly holding them up by the
band in front. When one hand is tir.
ell he catches fresh grip with the 9th,
er and struts around his dismal quar-
ters with all the pomp and circum.
stance of prize bull at an agricultural
fair. He sleeps upon q small cot in
one corner of his cell, having for his
bed-fellows q number of old tin cans,
bones, and brickbats. He never re.
moves his pantaloons, and nothing can
induce him to wear shoes. He is a rug
ged, healthy creature, with a voice like
Kansas cyclone.
The mans history is sad one. Hi:
mother, very pleasant and intelli
gent woman. was one day crossing &
field not far from their home few
months prior to Johns birth. A vic
ious bull was pasturcd in the field. anC
when he caught sight of Mrs. Haine:
he came plunging toward her at full
tilt, snorting angrily. The terribly af
frighted woman ran with all speed tt
the nearest fence, and succeeded il
getting on the other side of it before
the bull, which was close in her wake
could harm her. The shock was ter
rible one, and Mrs. Haines suffered fol
days from nervous prostration. Tht
terrible effects of that fright was i'm
pressed upon her unborn child, ant
when he was ushered into the worlt
the poor mother found that her off
spring partook more of the nature of I
bull than he did that of human be
ing. Her grief over this misfortun,