Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1889-07-07

Europe and Auslrslis, and when in Amer
lea wore solitaire diamond ring given him
hy the Emperor OF Russia, which was val
usd at over $1,000. lie is also the posses
scr OF gold medal awarded him by the Ber-
In exhibition, aitesting him to be the tai
lest living man.
According to sn English newspaper,
however, the Chinese anomaly cannot
tightly claim this pre-eminence in stature,
since there appeared in London some three
years ago giant who far surpassed any
other whose height has been recorded IN
modern times. This giant was an Austri-
an by birth, named Wi8kelmeier, and his
height was 8 feet inches. He was born
in Friedburg in 1865, but showed no de-
velopment OF this extraordinary growth
up 70 the age Of "a, when he began grow
ing rapidly. At the time the account
nom which we quote was written he WAS
on exhibition al the London Pavilion
where a huge bed had been constructed
for him, and which WAS expected to be his
nome for some time.
The successor of Chang, with Mr.. Bar
NUNS show in 1855, YVES Norwegian
ramed Brusiod, who was only few inch
es shorter than Chang, but considerably be-
low him in intelligence and accomplish
ments. lie spoke Enghsh fairly well,
however, and wa very muscular, though
no. more teshy than his Chinese cOntem-
porary
o all modern giants, however, Captain
Msrtin Van Barren Bates, of Kentucky, and
has wonderful vile are the most interesting
Captain Bates weight hes been given at
4s6 rounds, and his hsigdt NJ Z feet ll3
iocaes. He wears q 26Iuch collar and q
No. IS boot. A writer VINO met him few
wears ago in private life, describes him as
dressing neatly in black and wearing n
massive gold chain and watch, presented to
him BIZ Q1een Victoria; a brilliant dia-
mond IN mis- shir.-bOsOm, and fashionable
collar end scaIf. His feee was rudy and
healthy looking, and his smile pleasant
and winning.
Whsn in England in 1875, Captain Bat
es met the famous English giantess, Miss
Anna Swan, 20 whom he was soon after
married. Mrs. Bates was exactly the
same height SIS her husband, and together
they made O handsome pair. Her weight
al mat time was little over 400 pounds,
and hgT form was very charmingly prepor-
toned. Ii may interest lady readers to
koow that 90 yards of goods we're required
10 make this lady's wedding gown.
A reporlef who visited the giant couple
a, their residence at Seville, O, several
vssrs ago, gives vivid picture of the dom
icile of these mammoth people: 1t IS
difficult matter 10 convey an adequate idea
of the proportions OF such dwelling as the
one occurred by the Ohio giants. A door
that is feet 6 inches high is large size
opening in a side Of a house-that ~,
dwelling house not a cathedral. But
the doors Of the d0micile of the Bates
giants are 10 feet high, and the knobs are
neatly as high as the reporters head. Ire
house was built by Captain Bates in 1876.
and ia elegantly furnished The couch
upon which the big couple sleep was MADE
especially for them, and 10 curiosity 70
look at. II Is extensive enough to give
the great big psople room enough to stretch
in. and it looks as big as an ordinary-sizsd
hcor. It is really 10 feet long, wide IN
proportion. and about twice az high as a
common bed. The magnificent dressing
case is also a huge affair, with glass upon
il nearly IS big as the side OF a house
In The sitting-rOOm is piano OF ordi-
merry size itself, but 1t Ia mounted on
blocks two feet high, so that the instu-
nent is way up in the air, out of the reach
Of common folks. There are two rocking
chairs in this room that are so big that the
reporter had to climb into one OF them the
same as an infant would Chamber into q
hight chair. IL is very expensive for the
giants 70 live, as they have to pay such
fxorbitaut prices for every thing they
wear. Fer instance, it costs the captain
: so for pair of boots. 1t is the most
astonishing sight TO come across the two
giants out for drive. City folks who
have seen the ponder,us wagons with
wheels reaching to the second story OF
house. used to haul stones weighing tons
and tons, can form au idea OF the vehicle
used. IL is pulled by SIX stout Norman
horses. and 1t is enough to make a man
think he has got 'em sure to suddenly
meet such a spectacle on the road out In
the country. Passing wagons have TO lei
the rails down and drive into the ad-
Joining fields until the giants 90 by.