Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-01-15
CHANGED FROM BLACK To WHITE
The Death nj Man who Wa. . Puxsie %
the Dortors.

the Doctors.
For many years Que OF the most familiar and
well-known figures on the streets of westmin-
ster. Nd, has been Abraham Ireland Familiarity
known 20 both old and young as Uncle
Aoram." hsrd-working. industrious colored
man. kind and genial in disposition and unob-
trusive IN manner. says a special from west-
minister to the Baltimore S.a. Until VERY re-
Gently he enjoyed excellent health. After .
short illness OF pneumonia. following an attack
OF the grip, ne died Saturday morning ct
o clock, In the eighty-third year OF his age. To
the younger generation Of Westminster ne was
probably not SO great n curiosity as 10 the older
ones, who remember him in his younger DAYS
as having shiny, Jet black skin. with every
indication Of his pure African lineage. and his
gradual change to pure white has been con-
slant source OF speculation and curiosity. The
change was not a sudden one but very gradual
and no change in his feelings or health wa. the
least noticeable. He was born az Soldiers.
Delight" Baltimore county, Nd. on Palm Sum-
day. 1909, of slave parents. and was the prop
ertv of Nicholas Lowe. who sold hmm 20 Amos
Lowe, with whom he moved TO Finksburs. Car
roll county. When fifteen years old his master
sold him 10 Mr.. Andrew Powder Of wes,min-
ster. with whom he learned the tanners trade
oAt uhhA was lortN-uNe wears old. lie
worked at his trade until 1870, but did NOT
think the tan had any effect on his color. a.
other colored men worked in the same ward
without any change OF complexion.
Botn his parents were full-blooded Afri-
cans. very black. as are all of his childrer
ms son David one of tho most prominent
colored men in the town. having a rich ma
hoSany complexion The first change notice.
able in Abraham white spot which ap-
peared on has cheek about thirty years ago.
then on ms forehead and one wrist. tho
white spots appearing on different parts %
his body and gaining for him the title Of
Leopard The spots then Increased rapidly
nnally coming together until his entire body
was OF sickly white. aptly described by
Huck Finn, in Mark Twains famou. book a.
''iish-belly white" The change was COM
piete and permanent. no fading from black
70 WHITE nor shading Of color. but pure un-
instakaole white. His head is perfectly
bald and OF the same deadly white as the rest
VI nis oody. lew spots OF color have APP
| Peareu IN recent years upon his face and thess
ne attributes 10 sunburn. as has lits has been
/ spent principally OUT of doors His body was
| winter than his face or hands There has
| never appeared 10 be any skin disease or un-
pieasaht 'ehing sensation, and the old man at
last suecumbed TO the hand of death as so
many others have done in the past wear. from
cold and the prevailing grip his bodily health
IN every other way having been still unim-
paired While puzzling the medical fra
lerhity Abraham attracted the attention
| OF the public and received several
offers TO place himself on exhibition in dime
museums, and also received a very fattering
offer from the veteran Snowman, z. II. Barnum'
but these he declined. preferring a quiet life
WITH his son, never caring for notoriety A few
years ago Mrs. Jacob Eldridre of Howell. Mich
a similar freak, died in that state and attracted
| considerable attention. She was also of full
| African blood, her grandfather having come
from Guinea, and her experience OF the change
II r alsar..A
lar TO that Of Uncle Abram," suffering no in
convenience nor showing any signs Of a skin
disease. She was the only other case known 20
the public up TO the present time