Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1888-01-14
A FIRE-EATING NEGRO
He Halls From Caroline County,
Maryland and il No Fraud.
HOW HE DOES TT.
He Tells q Reporter Something
Of His Eventfui Life.

A reporter OF the Denton Journal had a
long talk recently with an aged colorcd
man named Nathan Coker, who made q
fortune by exhibiting himself as fire
proof negro. This Is what the reporter
learned:
at was In Denton. where Nathan once
lived, that he first discovered himselfto be
fire proof In his youth he was . servant
In the house Of Lawyer Purnell. Being
in the kitchen good deal his inclination
was to take some Of oil the choicest dishes,
when the housekeeper's eye was turned,
and one day he dipped his hand into a
boiling pot to catch dumping. He got
the morsel and rellshed Il SO well that he
grabbed for another, and found that his
hand was not hurt In the least. This pill
fcring process went on for some time. with
no injury to the hand. The first public
exhibition that Nathan made of himself
took place in the bar.room Of the local
hotel, where he took live Goals from the
stove and held them in his hands. Then
followed ON different occasions other more
trying feats Of endurance, such as whet-
ting red.hot poker ON his hands, or lick
ing it with his tongue; walking bare.
footed in live Goals and on red.hot tires
At the trial Of Fred Lawrence In Denton
carly in the seventies. after an adjourned
session Of the court, Nathan greatly anus.
cd the Judges and many spectators by his
exploits, aud at the hanging of Lawrence
in Easton he was present and gave an ex.
hibition which nctted him $S7. lie there
repeatedly took u mouthiul Of moulten
lead, with no injury. Hundreds of dar-
kies were present and great was their con-
sternation when they witnessed the per.
Torrance. On all occasions Nathan turn
cd his supernatural powers to profitable
account. lie would "cat fire. at any time,
but never without the jingle Of money,
Judge Stump once gave Nathan $3.50 for
whctting red hot poker on his hand. The
Peninsula towns Of Centrcville, Church
Hill, Greensboro, lIillsborough, Easton
and other towns within easy walking dis.
lance, were often RECALLED with his per.
formances. About this time Nathan made
an engagement with the manager Of the
Front Street Theatre in Baltimore, which
greatly widcncd his reputation. lie play
cd the devil" there for three weeks to
crowded houses, being the sensation Of
the day. Then followed an engagement
Of cigh, nights at Duglas Institute. Al
both places he would go through the role
Of the evil one with so much reality that
many in the Monumental City were turn
cd from the ways of the wicked and
brought to repentance. Nathan never
used preparations to protect himself from
injury, as some people might suppose he
must have employed. Hot lead was I. ken
into his mouth, and livid Goals into his
hands, and he would stand barefoOtcd on
II ho, stove with no injurious results. Ills
mouth was never known tObe wadded with
asbestos, nor were his hands or feet in
cascd with such protection. The fact
is recalled that some young men, who
were firm in their belief than Nathan did
use some such rusc, were of the opinion
that they could do the same Accordingly
one of them went forth 10 eat fire, but
nearly killed himself In the attempt"