The daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Ind. Ter. [Okla.]) 1898-1902, 1900-06-08
TATTooED FRoMHEAD TO FOOT
Sailor Tortured by the Patngonians
Seeks to Have Blemishes
Removed.

1
pital are about to. undertake the re-
moyaI OF, tattoo marks from Thomas
Ladbourne, Al years old, who mas been
living in this city since the arrival of
the British ship Centurion from Chill
some weeks ago, says the Philadelphia
Times.
Ladbourne is. beyond dispute the
most heavily tattooed man in America
His 'face, body and limbsNare covered
with weird devices. The manner in
which the man received his disfgure-
ment and the character of the designs
themselves make a strange story. In
the early part Of this year Ladbourne
shipped as a sailor on the British
steamer Kurdistan, then On voyage
10, the west coast pf South Africa, ta
load a cargo Of nitrate for Philadel-
phia.
Capt. Lintebales did not tal1e pilot
at Montevideo, as is generally the case
when steamers go through the Straits
Of Magellan. He intended to find his
own way among the maze Of islands
which lie off the southern part Of the
wild Pategorian coast, and in doing SO
found that the voyage was a perilous
one. He did not dare to sail at night
for fear of grounding in those unsur-
veyed warers. Punctnally at sunset
every night he dorpped anchor. The
crew of the Kurdistan had ample time
to go ashore. Every morning they
would take their guns and make excur-
sions into the country beyond the
beach.
Ladbourne, who was an expert
marksman, always accompanied his
mates, and they frequently returned
with their game bags full. On one oc-
casion I.adbourne wandered too far
from his companions. He was lost in a
wilderness of sand hills and stllnted
trees. While wandering helplessly
about he was captured by Patagonian
cannibals.
What befell him in their hands he |
told to Capt. GoodchiId, of the Cen
turion, when he succeeded in reaching
The natives did not desire
Ladbournes death, but contented /
themselves with tattooing him with
every conceivable design under the
sun. He escaped from their hands and
reached the coast of Chill in trading
bark.
Capt Goodchild, of the Centurion, be-
ing short of men, shipped Ladbourne
for the Philadelphia voyage When the
steamer reached here be was turned
adrift. The police of the Second dis
-rict had their attention called to the
man about two weeks ago, principally
rom the fact that his appearance
struck terror to the children of the
downtown streets. The district sur
yeon and wardphysician examined him
n the rollroom of the station house,
md were astonished at his appearance.
On his breast he had figure closely re-
iembling the signs Of the zodiac, while
lis back bears an almost identical rep
'esentation of the winged lion. typical
If Assyrinn sculpture.
The latter is regarded as the most
feature Of the case How
he natives of the lonely South Amer
can peninsula could conceive an al
egorical figure thought to belong TO
My Babylon and Ninevah gives it a
nyst terious aspect. Nevertheless there
S no doubt about the truth OF LAD
'ourne's story. The Kurdistan has
ince returned TO Philadelphia, and her
aptain reported that he had lost a
nan on the Patagonian coast who was
ot tattooed. He is familiar with the
dventures Of Ladbomne, having heard
I them while in Chill.