The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-02-02
FREAKS OF LONG AGO.
Some of the Remarkable Creatures
Who Lived in Past Centuries.

Who Lived in Past Centuries.
In 1870, according to writer in the St
Louis GIobe-Democrat, an enterprising
English publisher got together collection
of portraits and memoirs of remarkable
persons who have lived from the beginning
of the reign OF Edward III. in 1888 to the
middle of the eiEhte nth century. The mat
ter was in three volumes that were issued at
such long intervals that 10y the time the last
was reached the preceding two had almost
entirely disappeared.
Matthew Hopkins of Maningtree, who
was in l644-'45' 10 witchfinder for the asso-
citation counties of Essex, Suffock, Norfolk
and HuntingdOnshire, hanged in one year no
less than sixty witches in his own county
of Essex. He pretended to be a great critic
in special marks, such as moleS and warts.
that were supposed to be teats to Suckle
imps.
His ultimate method of proof was by
tying together the thumbs and toes of the
suspected person, about whose waist was
fastened a cord the ends of which were
helds on the banks of a river by two men,
in whose power it was TO strain or slacken
it. Swimm ng upon the experiment, was
deemed full proof of gilt, tor which King
James, who is said to have recommended, if
he did mott invent it, assigned a ridiculous
reason-"that as such persons had renowned
their baptism by water, so the water refuses
to receive them.n
Sometimes those who were accused of
diabOlcal prac ices were tied neck and heels
and tossed into pond. If they hoated o.
swan they were consequently guilty and
were burned If they were innocent they
were only drowned. The swimming
experiment was at last tried on Hopkins
himself, in his own way, and being found
guilty he was condemned and executed as q
wizard.
Mother Damnable lived in Kentish Town
in 1876. The memoirs call her shrew, and
say her real name was never known. There
are onjectures, however, that she might
have been the original Mother Red Cap
who kept pubic house near Kentlsh Town,
nearly opposite rival called Mother Black
Cap"
John Jarvis was dwarf. feet inches
tall, who died in 1850, aged 81 years. He
was page of honor to Queen Mary. A statue
carved in oak, was LETT for jarvis, and was
in the family of George Walker, Lisbon
Green, over 200 years 1t was colored TO
represent life, and was so natural people
thought it alive.
Margaret Nergh Gryifth was a WEIGH
woman. the wife Of a David Owyn, but,
like several married women III Scotland at
that time, welt by her fathers surname in
preference to tIat of her husbands. In the
lOTliGT part OI neT ne sue dCleu III Jue Ca
pacity of school mistress.
At 80 years of age she was married, and
on that day, imne liltelv after coming
from church. mental arrangement took
place from which she never wholly recov-
cred. What is very remarkable, a horn
sprang within the last year from one 81 e
of her forehead, and grew in a crooked
form 10 the length Of nearly 8 incaes. An
other also made It's appearance, out its
growth vas stopped. II is extremely prob
able she came TO London 10 be exhibited as
a wonderful PHENOMENON, as a tract was
issued bearing her name I'd d,'scIoi & her
as a my acuoI IS and monstrous by yet IN ST
true AID cor ayne discourse Of a woman, in
toe ,uids, Of yuose forehead, by the won
dertul works Of God, there growth olt a
horne Of 10 inch long
Francis Bajtgiia, a Roman youth, who
died when 30 years Old, was born with
two stones in one hand and one in the
otoer.
He refused pap when orr, but being
given lit some in drink, swallowed it
dow realty. Then when ne began to
want mar meat the physicians advised the
nurse 70 get some small 55!es witch lie
made away vita. ais manner was 10 put
three or four d. a spoon aud swallow EN-,
drinking glass OF eer al or. He devoured
about All 2 peck If these stones every day,
and "hen he cliuked upon his stomach or
shook his q YOU could near the stones
rattle as IN sack. Thee, with beer aud
tobacco, We're MS sole subsistence. Every
three weeks be voided lot VI SAM,
after which ne was auugry again for more