The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-07-20
TlrLEST BOY ON EARTH.
sEvEN FEET FIVE INCHES
- AND STILL CROWN g.

aI9 "a stands on a street Car His
VIC paars over the RoorFrom a
uose cart > a Circus.
~, The san Francisco Erzmtner.
-rs.ra ia side show connected with Sells
In front of this side show is an inn
oHou,' ,onvas that is triumph of the cir
llo"' '..,-isI and word artist. 1t is painted
Gus r' ~. colors Of the rainbow, and few
ID o. found outside. The picture repre-
'nA' man dressed in a French guards
''"', inform Of the most brilliant hues.
sl. is dash OF the strong freedom Oh
.-.o,iostion that characterized the circus
'U- No. +, the sign, for, according to the
P'I the many-hued guardsman would
- At least Is feet high.
rn,ss who attended the circus while it
oakland noticed that sign, but there
M". yarv few who recognized in the pct
and the wording beneath 1t. The 60
49, If All Giants, the portrait or al OAK
land boy. .. ,o.ra.art
~ Sullivan. who has been for years very
S.oroinant figure up IN the streets OF Oak
Pr and Who has suddenly developed into
tsfbe tallest mao in the world.
Tbere "a hardly man, woman, and GER
~ not a child in Oakland who does not
krov Toe Sullivan, the extra driver OF Hose
cart No. of East Oakland
Several years ago Joe first came 60 East
Oakland He was nothing but boy then.
bout II years old. He was tall, over
crown lsd, but hardly gave promise OF be-
eeoming the tallest man in the world, or any
.bino near it. He had been working on
rancR over in Moraga valley, and he drifted
into East Oakland with the tan from that
hot little valley still on his face.
lanes Moffit, the father Of Frank J.
Nofltt was then chief OF the fire depart
Tnsnt The old chief lived right next to
tbe East Oakland engine house in those
DAYS. and In some way he picked an &C
Gnsintance with Joe Sullivan. He was a
indy old man and took an interest in the
nov. and soon got him humble position as
snistitute with the Brooklyn Hose Com
psDy, From that time Joe Sullivan became
oae Of the principal figures OF East Oak
land.
Joe drifted around East Oakland for sew
eral years, and all this time he kept right
on growing. Somehow he never seemed to
get his right growth. He passed the 6-foot
marx, and kept right on reaching for the
9-f9ot mark. Even that was reached aud
then passed, and he came to be known all
over the county as the East Oakland
Giant"
People who came to Oakland were apt to
be somewhat startled aud wonder If they
had not struck the country Of the Baron
Munchausen when they saw one Of the San
Pablo avenue cable cars with a pair of feet
showing on the step while over the top OF
the car peered a head, the body being hid
den from view. But it was only Joe Sulli-
van, the East Oakland giant. As for get
ting inside the car. that was impossible.
lie was compelled TO stand on the platform
and then his chin would be- on level with
the roof of the car.
When an alarm of fire called him down
town there would be more of a crowd
around Joe's hose cart than around the fire.
he lowered above everybody aud the
horses looked like piRulies alongside Of him.
But with all this, Joe was modest and re-
firing. He felt his immense height and was
very sensitive to the notice that he at
tracted. AS the days went by and he con-
tinued to grow and his fame spread abroad,
he received many offers from circuses, dime
museums and shows. But Joe refused them
all He would rather work as a substitute
In the Oakland fire department and con-
tlnue to do duty as a human hook and lad
der than travel with any show.
But two weeks ago Joe succumbed to the
influences Of gold and he joined Sells circus
and is now on the road.
Joe received a reception from his friends,
guerdsman in the red pautaloons was none
other than their old friend Joe Sullivan.
But Joe's position and prominence seemed
70 worry him. He seemed to feel the i'm
mense policemans uniform in which he was
dressed the guardSman uniform appearing
only in the picture) more than be did the
somewhat easier aud more negliges uniform
OF the Oakland fire department.. Perhaps
II was the company Of his friends, but Joe
Seemed i'll at ease and yVhap tho abOUrna =,
came around aud told of his good points
Joe blushed
"And now, gentlemen and ladies, 4" ratified
on the Snowman, there we have the tallest
man in the world. You all seem to kno v
LIN, Tor you all call him Joe. but apparently
you did not know that right in your midst
you had the tallest man In the world. And
now am sure that you all want a photo
graph of him, not only because he is the
latest man in the world, but also because
you all seem to know him."
The words were hardly out of the show
mans mouth before Joe had shrunk into bis
uniform and stepped down from the little
raised platform.
a., u don't care about notorietv," said Joe.
don't want anything OF the kind. 1t
OH gong to do me any good"
Joe Is scarcely more than boy now, for
ne IS but "a years old. His exact hight
without shoes is feet 5 inches, though be
Is rated at the circus as slightly taller than
mat he weighs 300 pounds and does not
snow the least trace of fat.
Ithlnk that | am growing yet" said
zoe. Il don't think that l have fully
T9acned my growth. l always feel we'll.
NY iather was 5feet 10 inches high and my
IuoIher was feet 9 inches .in hight. have
10 brothers or sisters. and I know of no one
Ill my family who is as tall as | am. Ihave
several uncles on both my fathers and
mothers side who are tall men, but not un-
usually so. When 60 east / am going to
'epIesent Alameda county and Oakland"
me last was the only statement that Joe
IMAGE with even the faintest trace of pride
mere are no records for comparison. and
ueuce no means to dispute what the show
nun SAID, that Joe Sullivan is the taIlest
tu3n IN the world
once he was close TO appointment on the
ponce force Of Oakland His application
Vas On he, and Chief Tompkins recon-
. .u that he be appointed to fill the
I;aoaucy caused by the reHgnation of Po-
.'o9nan Rand, for the chief believes In tall
psolcc,5'nen, just as the father of Frederick
tue ureat believed In tall grenadiers, but
IRE the time for appointment Rand
"1uurew his resignation, which he had
presented during little huff. and the giant
las as never appointed. But he wears a po-
"ceman's uniform now.
Swamps
arc not the only abode of malaria. You find it
d hasa