The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-01-15
A fire.ProoI Man.


Denton Correspondence baltimore American.
The good people of Tuckahoc Neck that
land Of unaduteratcd good living, with all
pcryading piety-have dwelling among
them one who, in his natural attributes,
would seem to Ice ~ much out OF place as
"him the Almighty hurled hcadlong fam
ing from the ethereal sky" For the
Tuckahoc Neck monstrosity is in many rc-
spects devil incarmte, but is harmless
and inoilonsiyc. In mighty STATURE in
color and general makeup, lac makes mp
tn the ideal OF his Satanic majesty, being
six feet tall, rs black rs the hinges Of hadcs,
giant in strength, and endowed with such
salamandrne qualities that lac can endure
fire unharmcd, and with little inconvcn-
fence. None OF the thousands who mar
yclcd ut his unnatural powers ten or twenty
years ago will say that the above is in the
least an oNcrdrlwn picture Of Nathan
Cocker, whose llrc-cating exploits were the
wonder NJ this peninsula Ia generations
past. Nathan is now eighty four years old
having long since quit the business OF fire.
eating, from the profits OF which lac saved
fortune Of II 900. lie worked only when
he felt like II, though lac is still in robust
health. lie oc, dpies n small cabin in
Tuckahoc Neck, about three miles below
Denton, and more inoilcnsiye and kind
licr old colorcd man IL not 10 he found any
where. The old man seldom comes Ia town
nowadays, since the local option law has
done away with the places OF his former
resort. Ills bcsctmcnt wasa proncnoss for
drink.
While in town the othcrcvcning Nathan
was found 10y the. american correspondent,
and happened 10 bc in u laxative mood.
lie dwclt with fond memory upon his ire
qucnt visits here, aud the way he used to
pour the red liquor down his throat
was, according to his own statement, as
tonishing. II was in Denton, where Ma.
than once lived, that hc flret discovered
himself 10 he lircprool. In his youth lac
was servant in the house Of Lawyer
rurncll. Being in the kitchen great
deal. his inclination was 10 taste some Of
all the choicest dishes when the house.
keepers eve was turned, aud one day hc
dipped his hand into boiling pc, Ia
catch dumping. lie got the morscl aud
rclshcd II ~ much that lac grabbed Tor
another, and found that his hand was not
hurt in the least. This pilicring process
went on Tor some time, with no injury Ia
the hand. The fint public exhibition
that Nathan made Of himself took place in
the barro0m Of the local hotel, when lac
took live Goals from the stove and held
them In the palm I'LL they had expired.
Then followed, on different occasions,
other more trying fcais Of endurance, such
~ whciting hot poker on his hands, or
licking II with his tongue and holding il in
his mouth, walking barciootcd among live
Goals and on hot Tires. AZ the trial oi
Fred. Lawrence in Denton, early Ia the
seventies, after an adjourned session Of
court, Nathan greatly amused the Judges
and many spectators by his exploits, aud
ut the hanging Of Lawrence In Easton, hc
was present aud gave an exhibition which
melted him Ss7. On this occasion lac ~.
pcaicdly look mouthiuls Of molten lead
with no injury. Hundreds Of colorcd men
wcrr present Grcat was their cOnslcrnn-
ton when they witnessed the perform
ancc. On all occasions Nathan turned his
supernatural powers 10 profitable account.
lie would Feat fire" nj amy time, but never
without hearing the Jingle oi money.
Judge Stump once gave Nathan - Tor
whcttng rcd-hot poker on his hand.
Tho pcninsular towns of Ccnlfcyillc,
Church Hill, Eastop, llillsboro aud othcn,
within walking distance were often rgulcd
with his performances. AZ the zenith Oi
his fire eating career, Nathan made AN en-.
gngcmenl with the mnnagcroi Front street
theatre, Baltimore, that greatly widcncd
his reputation. lie played the devil"
here thpu weeks 10 crowded houses being
| the sensation of the day. Then followed
an engagement Of eight nights 1t Douglas
Institute. At both places lac would 90
through the role oi the evil one with ~
much reality that many Ia the Monumcn.
tai City were turned from the ways oi the
wicked aud brought 10 repentance.
Nathan never used preparations 10 protect
himself from injury ~ some people might
suppose. Hot lead WIS taken into his
mouth aud live Goals into his hands, aud
lac would stand barciootcd upon u red hot
stove, with no injurious results Ills
mouth was never known Ia be- waddcd
| with asbestos, nor were his feet aud hands
incitscd with such protection. The human
| phenomenon was mover, by any one here.
explained. The fact II recalled that some
Young men oi Denton, who wcU firm "
| their belief that Nathan did use some such
russ, were Of the opinion that they could
10 the same. Accordingly ono oi them
went forth 10 cat fire, aud nearly killed
| himself In the attempt.