Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1886-09-23
DON'T DRINK IN THE DARK.
Mrs. Mary Powers did, and for Seven
Years She Carried a Bat in her
Stomach.

Boston GoDe.I
Mrs. Mary Powers, of Cambridge,
Mass, elected from her stomach Mon
day night a winged and living ba t,
which she had swallowed while drink
ing water seven years ago. Her house
was visited by a Globe reporter yester-
day. A middle-aged, pleasant-faced
woman answered the inquirer's knock.
When asked IL she was the one who
had borne living bat in her stomach
for seven years she answered in the
affirmative. Ushering the reporter in
to the parlor, she left the room and re-
turned in few moments, carrying i'm
her hand glass preserve jar. At the
bottom of the jar black object ap-
peared to be moving about.
"There it is" said she; "and ifa wo-
man ever suffered more than 1 have
during the past seven years, I would
like to see her."
An examination of the strange crea-
ture in the jar revealed the body of a
bat with hooked wings and other ap-
pendages peculiar to that animal. It
was black on all sides, and the lower
part of the body was covered with a
thick film of dark hair. The body was
about three inches long, and its ex-
tended wings measured over seven
inches across from tip to tip. The most
peculiar feature of the animal was the
head. 1t was about one inch in length,
and shaped somewhat like that of a
lizard. From its lower jaw several
tufts oflong dark hair hung in clotted
masses. The eyes and nostril are we'll
marked. The head was topped with
two extremely long ears. It weighed
from two to three ounces, and possibly
more.
ut is hard to believe" said Mrs.
Powers, "but Til tell you how it hap
pened. One dark night about seven
years ago, when 1 lived in Arlington, l
went out to the pump to get drink of
water. I drew the water into dipper,
and, without examining it, drank it off.
Immediately after began to feel pain
in my side. Itgrew worse as the night
advanced, indeed, so much so that be-
fore morning suffered the NEST terri
BILE pains in my stomach and sides.
"Things went on in this way for two
weeks with occasional spells of rest,
when the torture l was enduring be-
came so excruciating that could stand
it no longer. | was taken sick and went
to bed. DR.. Harris came and failed to
discover the cause of my strange condi-
tion. l sent for other doctors but with
out any further result. They were all
Still went on suffer-
ing. After enduring indescribable tor
ments for over a year I went to the
Massachusetts Hospital and asked them
to do something for me. The doctors
examined me, and finally told me to go
home. My sufferings increased. I lost
the use of my limbs, arms and fingers,
while the pains in my back and side
whenever l attempted to move are hor-
rible to think of even now.
Saturday, Sunday and Monday were
the worst days since the eventful night
seven years ago. About IL o'clock Mon
day night that creature passed from my
bowels, since which time I have en-
joyed the best of health. I recovered
the use of all my faculties"
Over 300 people visited the house yes
terday, to all of whom the strange crea-
ture was shown. Several professional
men here also visited the premises and
looked at the bat. They seem to be all
at a loss to account for its place in the
animal kingdom. 1t is still alive.