New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-01-08
A FIRE-PROOF MAN
AN EASTERN SHORE CURIOSITY.
Denfo, Oorrssnon denrs RoIfj,aors A ,a< rir1n

The good people OF Iuckahoe Neck--that land q
unauthorized good living, with allpcr aiding picty.;
attributes, wouid sem 10 be as much cut OF place
there ss Him the Almighty Hurled hn@ilolg flaming
from tn eheIeai sky.n for the TuclahJe Neck mon.
strosity II iii many respects devil incaIEaie, but u
1, liml;ss and .n"aen'ivs. In "mights statue N
of his satanic majesty, being six feet tall black
the hinges OF hadcs, giant in strength, and en-owed
fire nDharmcl, and with httlc IncOi venience. Mons
OF tie thousands who marvelcd at his unnatural powers
ten or twenty years ago will say that the alb We Is In
the least overaw1 picture Of Nathan Coker, whose
ie-eating exploits were the wonder OF this enlnsuia
oil having ong since quit the business Of hre-eaflng
from The profits of which he saved fortune thou
though he is still I'm robust health lie occupies small
cabin In Tuckaboe Neck, about three miles below
man is not to be found anywhere The old seldom
comes to Town nowsdays since the local option law hss
besetment was proheness for drink.
While in town the other evening Nathan was found
nn oe n eav Ho osl c o dwe with fond
TO his own statmcnt, astonishing. 1t in Denton,
where Nathan once lived, that he first discovered
In the house Of Lawyer Purnc Being in the kitchen
great deal his inclination was to taste some Of an
turned AM one day he dipped his hand into a boiling
p esbSa fac so SC%P hs lie got the mOrse and
and found that his hand hurt in the least
ms Rlerlng process went on COR some time, with
hbItion that Nathan made H'' of p"Oi himself eli;
TOOK place In the bar room of the local hotel when
ne took live Goals from he stove and held them in
the palm till they had expired. Then followed
on different occasions, Other moro trying feais u
endurance, such as wbe ting hot pc err ON hs
hands or licking IL with his to- quo and holding 10
IA his mouth, walking barefoOtcd among live Goals
and on hot tires A. the trial of Fred Lawrencs
session of court, Nathan grca ly amused the Judges
and many spectators by his exploits, and at the
hanging of Lawrence In Eas on he was present ana
gavo an exhibition which netted him S57. On ths
fnnL npfhf ttl
lead with injury. Hundreds OF colored men
were present Great was their CONSERVATION when
they Witnessed the performance On all occas ions
Ma han turned his supernatural powers to nrof' abs
never without hearing he Jingle Of money Judge
Stump once gave Nathan 50 for whetting a red.
hot poker on his hand. Tho pennsular towns Of
Centrevlle. Church Hill. Easton, Hsboro' and
with his performances. AT tho zenith Of his FRO
eating career Nathan made engagement with hs
manager Of Front Street Theatre, Baltimore, tai
greatly wdencd his reputation. Ho played "tho
tho sensation OF the day. Then followed an engage.
nent OF eight nights at Douglas Institu At boh
places no would go through the role Of the evil 0ns
wi so much reality that many in tho Monumental
City were turned from the ways OF the wicked ana
brOuht to repentance Nathan never used preparation
% protect himself from injury. some people mig CHE
suppose Hot lead was taFcn into his mouth ans
live Goals into his hands, and he would stand bare
His mouth known to be wadded with a.
besos wcre his feet hands encased with such
pro ectfon. Tho human phenomenon was never, by
any one here, explained Tho fact Is recalled THAI
some young men Of Denton. who were firm In their
belief that Nathan did us' some such russo, wero
of the opinion hat they could do the Accord
ingy, of them went forth to eat fire, and nearly
killed himself In the empt.