The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-01-11
THE SIAMESE TWINS
Personal RECOLLECTIONS OF
THOSE INTERESTING FREAKS.
k~entuckian Who Knew Their Fami-
lies Tells a Truthful story About
the Strangely United Couple.
Louisville Post.

Louisville Post.
Each country has given to history men
famous in certain walks of life. In this
particular Siam has more than done it's
duty, for it was under her flag that Shang
and Yang Bunker were born-afterward
known wv as 1.-The Siamese TWINS"
1t is doubtful if dame nature Will ever
again produce a freak that can command
half the attention that was bestowed upon
this famous couple, who were interesting
alike to scientists and laymen.
Mr.. Edward Ledrord, TOR the last eight
years a resident of Louisville, spent his
boynood in Mt Airy, Surry county, North
Carolina, where the Slamese TWINS lived,
or rather had homes, for they were travel
ing the MAJOR portions of their lives. Mr..
LedIord was personally acquainted With the
famous men from Siam, for years daily
assoclating with their children. in con-
versing with a reporter he recalled many
interesting recollections. In part, Mr.. Led
ford said:
Mount Airy nest!es in the shadow or
the Blue Ridge mountains, presenting as
fair a sight as can De found IN all thae tls-
tureSQue region. Many years ago the ola-a!-
ese twins, while travelling through that
country, met two sisters, daughters OF slns-
swartny sons OF Siam could not resist. As
a consequence, the brotnerS proposed mat
rimony and were accepted by the sisters.
The Sramese were named ,Bunker-ondng
and Yang-the former being the largest.
Each spoke the English language fuently.
miles from Mr.. Airy. The houses were a
half a mile apart, being separated by Stew
arts creek. The twins would take Turn W
ing united, as a matter of course, they could
not visit separately. So Yang was COM
PEELED to spend every other week at Shang's
freside and vice versa. For reasons best
known to themselves the two families never
, lived under the same roof. Neither ever
had q rrnr6 RI a " UhIla "a the lei
home, remaining absolutely dumb. And
this may have something TO do with the
born a dumb child. Shang was the father
of five ci-ldren-Decatur, Montgomery, Will,
Fred and Rosalie. The latter developed into
a beautiful woman and became the bride
of Wilfred Ashby, son of the leading to-
bacco dealer of Mount Airy: Montgomery
was dumb. Yang was the father OF four
| children-Christopher, Kate, Albert and an
other--a girl-whose name disremember.
ridine e'G horseba asku through the streets Of
Mount Airy. Kate, deaf and dumb, married
a professor in the University of Raleigh.
Montgomery was the first boy to leave
his native town, going to California. Some
time afterward Fred and Will shot a negro
brother in California. These were all of
| Shang's sons. AT last accounts they were
still on the Pacific coast, engaged in farm
ing. Several years ago Will Bunker was
a delegate to the national Republican con-
%vention, being a member of the California
delegation.
I1ILlI IIol1L IL u.
THE twins were always highly respected
in the community in which they lived, as
they were honest, upright citizens. They
spent two months of each year at home
one month at a time. Their semi-annual
| home coming was the leading social event
of the little town and great preparations
were made for the occasion. They were
met at the depot by the populace in general
and were escorted to their homes, three
1 p,fIac distant bu the villa GO hr9 &c hand
Arriving there, the twins would invite all
within the spacious premises, a banquet
would be spread and merry-making would
reign supreme. These demonstrations we're
neld alternately at the homes of the two
men. the families meeting at one house
times, not often, however, Shang and
Yang would engage in violent disputes, and
as it was a physical impossibility for them
to engage in a fistic combat, they would
butt one another, frequently having BACKED
mode of warfare. If at home during these
| Ats of i'll nature they would invariably call
oh lei. ' and s nlDsasonsim IN Mount Airy, ot each
Imploring him to sever the cord that bound
them. During one Of thelr nome visits OF
several times for the purpose of being sep
arated. Each time the Doctor refused to
undertake the operation; knowing that such
both. Finally he became tired of the
visits of the quarrelsome twins, and upon
instead of one he agreed to do SO. Seat
l ment hi tn fhe e the d4 thaa. s Mfere in a n5are-
BILE solicitations he had agreed to per-
form the desired surgical operation. and
held responsible. He read the state
ment TO the twins, with the request that
the same time remarking that he was
ready to proceed. The Siamese immediate
Becoming Disguised DR.. Hoilingsworth or
dered them out of his office. The brothers
g weuId very %anyni 1ninagnan the ana medical xoMeo m snat if 'nf ss
would kindly step out on the sidewalk.
to do. So this put q stop to their trips
.These strange men always dressed very
extensively. seeming to have a weakness
for claw-hammer coats and white vests.
They never paid any attention to the man
fairs in the hands of their sons, ali of whom
were Industrious and frugal. The sons de-
voted their time to farming and stock-rais-
ing, possessing some good blooded live stock.
Though their mothers were American, the
children resembled their fathers-smoky
complexion, dark eyes and straight, black
hair.
.sOne night shortly after returning from
one of their trips, Shang and Yang retired as
usual, being at Shang'S house. They were
apparently enjoying good health. The next
morning Yang awoke to find his life com,
notified shang's family of his discovery.
Couriers were dispatched to town for medi-
spon diai was An0f Be-. 'h aoli a0es4ss mn0 rp sal
their arrival Yang was found to be in a
state of delirium-produced, they said.
from fright over the death of his brother.
The doctors Immediately decided that the
only possible way to safe the life of the
surviving twin was to cut the cord that
bound him to the dead one. But before
preparations for the operation were COM
pleted the angel of death hath beckoned,
and the brothers were again united-this
time on the other shore. They died as they
had lived, and thus they were buried
together. Their remains now rest in the
family cemetery near Mount Airy, Sur
ry county, North Carolina.
II do not remember the exact date of the
death of these famous men. but it was IN
the early seventies. They were about fifty
eight years of age when they died"