Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-10-05
Gales and Skttehes.
Madame Victoria DEAD.
THE FUNERAL OF THE HEAVIEST WOMAN
IN THE COUNTRY.

Mrs. Emma NJ. Mark ley. who was cred
tied with being the heaviest woman in the
country, was buried from her home at No.
525, Lombard street, Sept. 4. She was
known to the amusement public as Nine
Victoria. Her advertised weight was over
600 pounds. and her actual weight about
$50 pounds Nine. Victoria was born in
Reading. Penn, about 80 years ago, and
was slim and delicate throughout her girl
hood. At 10 she weighed only 80 pounds,
but from this age she began to gradually
gain in flesh. Between three and five
years ago, when she made an application
for an insurance policy, she weighed only
$50 pounds. From this time her weight
increased rapidly until she gained the dis
junction OF being the latest woman in the
country, il not In the world. This honor
was officially conferred on her at the Fat
Women's Congress" at the Ninth and
Arch streets museum, last winter, when
she carried off the first prize.
Aside from her great weight Nine.
Victoria possessed very pretty and in
telligent face, and at the same exhibition
received the second prize for beauty
During that display of ponderous women
Nine. Victoria was for the first time
pitted against her rival in the matter of
avoidupols, Hannah Battersby, who up to
that time had been considered the heaviest
woman in the world. The official weigh
inc at the museum, however, gave the
championship to Hannah Battersby' S
younger rival.
Mime. Victoria first placed herself on
exhibition as n fat woman in Trenton in
1876. She then made an engagement
with Adam Forepaugh's circus, travelling
with him for one season. She then ex
hibited herself at New York museum,
and after leaving there retired for time
from public life and started sailors
boarding house at No $40 Lombard street
When the Fat Women's Congress was
converted she was prevailed upon to en-
ter as contestant for the prizes. This
was her last public exhibition
Two years ago Nine Victoria was
placed on exhibition for short time at
No. 729 Chestnut street, and while there
sustained an injury that finally resulted
in her death. The platform on which her
chair was placed was hastily constructed.
and the giantess expressed her fears as to
its strength. Soon after she had mounted
precipitated her to the floor. In her tall
her ankle was sprained, and soon after
ward she was attacked with erysipelas in
the leg. The disease was arrested tor
a time, but it broke out at invervale
afterwards, and the fatal attack
seized her about three weeks ago
week ago Sunday, while suffering great
pain. she fell out of her bed. A number
OF strong men tried to lift her back on her
bed but failed. They succeeded in plac-
ing her on mattress on the floor, how
ever, where she remained until her death.
Nine. Nictoria's weight seemed to in
crease during her illness, and some time
before her death measurements of several
parts of her body were taken. The cir
conference of her arm at the biceps was
Sc inches. Her waist measured 81 1-2
inches. and from soulder TO shoulder she
measured 3 feet l2 inch. The measure
meut across her hips was just feet. On
the night of her death it required the full
strength of nine men to carry her body
from the second story to the parlor on the
ground floor.
Early this morning crowd gathered
around the the house eager and clamorous
W iVoh tu tut uttu Wplidu MANY OI
them were drawn through feelings of love
and gratitude toward the woman. as she
had befriended scores of poor persons in
the neighborhood. The body was placed
in coffin that is probably the largest
ever built. 1t was constructed of three
inch walnut planks, and was stoutly braced
on the inside with dozen heavy
iron bars. 1t was 6 feet 10 inches
long, 46 inches wide and feet deep.
1t was too large to pass through
the door, and was taken through the wide
single window and carried TO the under
takers window by II stout men. There
was not hearse in the city large enough
to contain the coffin The burial took
place at Odd Fellows Cemetery. Nine.
Victoria had a morbid fear that her body
would be stolen for the pupose of dissec-
ton, and asked that it be cremated, but
her husbands limited means prevented
him from carrying out her wish.
Mr. Markley. who is a young man
about $50 pounds, said his wife
,ever had an extraordinary appetite, and
,ever ate more than himself. She Was