The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1892-06-23
SIAMESE CHANG AED ENG.
New Stories OF the Most Famous Twins that
"a ever Lived.
Richmond Dispatch.

Richmond Dispatch.
The recent death near Mount Airy, N.
c., of Mrs. Sallie Bunker, widow of Eng
Bunker, one of the world-rsnownod Si.
amese twins, recalls to mind much of the
domestic history of these gentlemen and
their families, comparatively little of
which has ever found its way into print,
which comes now direct from one who
lived in the neighborhood Of their homes
in the old North State, and who was
personal friend of the twins from bis
youth up.
Chang and Eng were born in 1911, in
the lowlands of Siam, of humble parent.
age, and at an early age lost their father.
As soon as they were old enough to be of
use to their widowed mother she put
them to the light work of tending large
Hock of ducks, which they took out every
morning in the boat to a neighboring
marsh where the wild rice was plentiful ;
there they remained all day, and at
night, at the blowing of a horn, the
ducks would waddle book to the boat,
crawl aboard, and then tho twins would
paddle them home. When the boys
were probably 12 or 1S years Of age an
English traveller happened that way,
and, after viewing them with amazement,
| for stipulated consideration With their
mother, obtained possession of them.
Leaving the East shortly after Mr..
Bunker for several years exhibited the
twins in every part Of the known world,
treating them with great kindness and
making money by them whever he went,
until 1882 be had amassed a fortune, and
the twins being by this time of age, he
considerably gave them their freedom,
With permission to adopt his name and
with enough ready cash to start them
comfortably in life. This happened in
Raleigh, n. g., and the young men,
though they loved their protector we'll,
loved freedom better, so With q. friendly
parting on both sides, they started out
to make their way alone-yet together.
While in Raleigh they heard some talk
regarding the excellent hunting to be
found in the mountainous part Of tho
State, and, wishing for little recreation,
they journeyed 10 the Piedmont section,
where they finally took rp their resi-
dence at the house of well-to.do farm.
er, named Yates, living in the county
of Wilkes, situated at the foot of the
Blue Ridge Mountains, and seventy-8ve
miles west of Greensboro.
Farmer Yates was fond of the chase.
Living in good, old fashioned style With
plenty of negroes and dogs, raising sup
plies of all kinds and surrounded by a
large family, he took life easy, and made
it pleasant for the twins, who boarded
with him for considerable time. While
there Eng Bunker became greatly attach
ed to Miss Ssllie Yates and Chang Bun.
ker lost his heart to Miss Adelaide.
Some time between 1885 and 1910 q
double marriage took place at the resi-
de1cs of Father. in.law Yates, and the
twins commenced their married life on
farm which was in easy distance of their
wives old homestead. Here they lived
happily farming part Of the time and at
intervals going on the road with Bar
mum and others, returning home occa-
sionally to their families and freSide
with well.6lled pockets. But the farm
on which they lived did not suit the
twins, so they purchased about 1000
acres in the adjoining county of Surrey,
within three miles of the then little vii.
lage of Mount Airy, now the terminus Of
the Cape Fear and Yadkin Valley Rail.
road. On this estate they erected large,
comfortable frame house, with necessary
outbuildings, and made many improve
ments. Being of cheerful, kindly dis
position, their lives passed smoothly for
several years, while several children
were born to each wife.
Some of the children were nearly
grown, when one day, from some cause
or other. squabble ensued, in which
the mothers look part, and subsequently
Chang and Eng, who, being men of spir.
it and courage, drew knives and were
about to attack each other, when the
wives, seeing the danger, begged them to
desist The twins ceased struggling,
but decided that they would then end
there be separated, and at once sent to
Mt. Airy for their family physician, DR..
Hollingsworth, man with quite local
reputation as skillful surgeon. He ar
rived with his instruments and after
being told what was wanted, remarked:
Gall right, just get mp on that table
and I'll fix you, but which would you
prefer, that I should sever the flesh that
connects you or cut of your heads? One
will produce much about the same results
as the other"
This brought the twins to their senses,
for they knew very we'll that the great
surgeons in London, Paris and New York
had decided that it would be death to sep.
arate them.
In perplexity Of mind how to guard
against future warfarein their household
the twins called in DR.. Hollingsworth
and Mesars. Gilmore and Rawley, of
Mount Airy, as arbitrators. These gen.
tlemen, after revolving the problem in
their minds, drew up legal contract
whose principal provisions were that out
of the money owned by the twins SINH
lar mansion and like outbuildings as
those which they then owned should be
on the large estate about one mile from
the existing homestead that the land