Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-07-19
HE HAS TWO HEARTS.
The Wonderful Darkey Who Dropped
Into the Editors Room.
DOUBLE SETS OF RIBS LIKEWISE,
And an Ability to Work Them Up and
Down, Beyond Precedent.
A PHYSICIAN MORE THAN coEFIRMs IT

"I'se Doctah Willyum-m King. the Yam
kee Black Man from Boston. Use got two
hearts, an two sets of ribs, an kin stoI
eeder heart-jes as easyP"
The foregoing was the startling announce
ment of short, heavy-set negro who
strobe into THE DISPATCH editorial
rooms last night. The colored gentleman
took off his coat, mopped his brow with q
bandana, and dropped into chair. He
then raised his only remaining upper gar.
ment and proceeded to roll abou,
his abdomen, which consisted oi
great soft bulb, in a
most ludicrous manner. Suddenly the
workings Of the muscles ceased, and, when
the city editor and the reporters put their
hands on the negro, where formerly there
had only been a soft bulb there was now a
hard, resistant, bony cage. In other words,
the ribs appeared to extend from the neck
to the legs.
these false ribs, the latter were gradually
allowed to recede, and apparently tele-
scoped up behind the true ribs.
At the request of Mr.. King, the city edi-
tor put hand on each side of the negro's
chest, and was surprised to find distinct
impulse or thud on each side, just be-
low the nipple, as though two hearts
were beating against the ribs. Next
the negro, after a sort Of convulsion of the
abdominal muscles, protruded violently
throbbing internal object down below his
ribs on his left side; then. allowing this to
recede to its place, he pulled down what he
called
HIS OTHER HEART,
which could be seen and felt pulsating low
down on the right side. With one hand on
this pulsating mass and the other on the
left breast, both hearts could be felt dis
tinctly beating.
Here it was thought advisable to call in
physician to explain the phenomenon. A
messenger was sent out, and soon returned
with DR.. Chevalier @. jackson. The doc
tor proceeded to make thorough exami-
nation, and soon reported the results sub
stantially as follows:
The man has two distinct hearts, connected
only by the large blood vessels and probably a
very elastic pericardium. He has the power of
moving these two hearts independently, and
can place them one at = time down in his
groins, when they can be seen and eltpulsating.
He can stop one or both from beat.
probably longer, if would let him.
The stopping of either heart stops the pulse
beat on the Corresponding side II both hearts
the heart, at the wrist, temples. nor anywhere
else in the body.
The left heart IS the larger. being as big as
cocoanut. which is large heart for this sized
man. The right heart Is smaller-about as big
as goose egg. When one heart is down
in the flank, and the other in its
natural place, the two organs are separated
about IA inches. As they lie ordinarily in the
chest, they are about two or three inches apart.
POSSIBLY IT'S HOPS.
His pulsation is about normal; but he has a
murmur in his right heart which may be
from drinking He has an alcoholic
pulse. and probably if he don't give up whisky
he will turn up some fine morning on the dis
secting table. He will be worth more dead
than living-that is, worth more financially,
for any anatomist will gIve $4,000 for
his body. As to the phenomenon of
stopping his heart, that is not an
absolutely new thing; there have been three
stopping his heart for exhibition. failed TO get
it going again, and died in consequence
None of the three cases l refer to
could stop their hearts for as great a length
of time as this man. have warned him to be
careful, for he already has murmur in mis-
right heart. and with his alcoholic habit it will
be no surprise TO me to hear of him some day
not being able to start his heart after stop
ping 1t.
The most peculiar thing about it is the fact
that each heart appears to be complete
and to furnish blood each to its own side of
the body. In some species of the lower
animals there are two distinct hearts, but in
them the right side sends blood to the lungs
and the left side to the general circulation
through the whole body. As to
HIS SECOND SET OF RIBS,
they seem to be there, but the great thickness
and rigidity of his muscles makes q positive ex-
animation impossible; certain it is, however, he
has some sort of bony formation which he has
The power to bring down SO as to cover his
.runk resemble bony barrel. / will make
nave more time. He is certainly the only man
living who has any of the peculiar qualities
hat he has shown me.
Mr.. King is about ! feet 2 inches in
height, of herculean build, with gigantic
oieeps. He has travelled from one end of the
,arth to the other exhibiting his peculiar at
tributes 20 the medical profession. He is at
present boarding near the south end of the
Panhandle tunnel. He says he is 72
years old, though he does not look it BY 80
7ears. He claims to be able to bend a
hree-quarter inch iron bar across his left
lrm; and To feel his arm no one would
loubt it. Physicians everywhere are in
ensely interested in his case