The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-04-30
a FREAK FROM EUROPE.
He Has Two Tongues and Too Many
Fingers and Toes and Is Cursed.
I.oo, tLa Na,, Val. pooo.oo.

He Has Two Tongues and Too Many
Fingers and Toes and Is Cursed.
From the NeD York Recorder.
Samuel Kupferman, a 15-year old freak,
with six fingers on each hand, six toes on
back to Europe yesterday by Col. Weber.
The lad came over last November on the
steamship Fuerst Bismarck, in charge of a
woman named Mrs. Hannah Hershoffer,
who now lives on Rivington street. In the
immigration bureau Mrs. Hershoffer, it is
said, claimed Samuel as her son. After get
ting through the Examination she turned
the boy out to shift for himself.
An agent OF the Hebrew charity organ
ization who visited the woman was told
that the child did not belong to her; that
he was the son of parents who were neigh
bors of hers in little town in Hungary,
and that she had taken the boy with her be-
cause his parents wanted to get rid Of him.
They had superstitious fear of Samuel be-
cause of his detormity. The streets of New
York scarcely afford the school or lodging
facilities desirable for boy Of Is, but Sam
my wandered about, unable to speak En-
glish and existing as best he could upon
charity and ash barrels. The Hebrew 80
ciety procured him several situations, but
his nomadlc character asserted itself In each
case, for he could not De induced to remain
beyond few weeks He found himself a
situation as freak in one of the Bowery
museums, but even this grew tlresome.
He told Agent Morris ReinherZ, on Ellis Is
land, that people Tried to cheat him because
he could not speak English. Sammy is a
good-iooking lad, with blue eyes and light
complexion, but be Is small for his age.
He said yesterday the greatest ambition OF
his life was to get new suit of fine clothes
TO replace the shabby ones in which he ap-
peared.
With proper training, Col. Weber be-
lieved, Sammy could be made a good boy,
but there is no institution in New York that
would take him in. The people from his
own country would have nothing to do
with him because of the number of his
fingers and toes and his two tongues.
JEsHToF CHILD.
He is what is known as Jeshtof child,
and it is believed by the peasantry of
Hungary that only bad luck would be the
portion Of those with whom such one finds
shelter, The superstition says that. the
tongues are given to curse his birth, the six
fingers to tear the heartstrings Of those who
succor him, and the six toes to show that he
walks much and is a wanderer. The advent
of a babe formed so in a neighborhood is
the source af endless gossip and the retell-
ing of the old legend with variation. The
story is to the effect that Johann Rodik
once upon a time rode out from his fathers
house to visit a distant town. Johann was
the only son of the miller, who was the
richest man IN the principality, so rich. in
deed, that even his sove gn, trincs Mart n,
stood III some awe of his influence. Young
Johann was fair and handsome, and as he
rode away many women looked after him
with admiring eyes,
1t is related that in going through piece
of woods near hamlet his horse became
frightened and he was thrown. Old Franz,
the woodchopper, found him unconscious,
and carried him to his hut. near the edge Of
the road. Franz had a daughter, who was
said to be more beautiful than even the
daughter of Prince Martin. The old man
guarded well her charms, however and few
of the young men were permitted to see
her. and then only under the watchful eyes
of her father. Her mother had died when
she was a child, and she had taken care Of
the old mans kitchen for years.
Johann was nursed by Roselle, who could
not withstand the charm Of his presence.
He was completely smitten on his side. and
while old Frenz was away in the woods