The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-09-02
CoRPULENT FRED BAsHAw.
Nineteen Years of Age and Weighs
Three Hundred Pounds

| Urom the Manchester IN. II. Union-)
In Claremont, N. H.. nestled among the
| Unity Hills is the Sullivan county farm,
an institution the community is proud Of.
| for it is conceded to be the neatest and
best kept farm in the county. The super
| intendent and matron are Mr. and Mrs.
! Charles Willard. formerly OF Charlestown,
who are assisted by Mr.. Willard's sister.
| Miss Eliza Willard. The Union" repre-
sentative had occasion to pay the place
visit recently. and was cordially received
BY Miss Willard, who furnished him with
| tie information he was seeking and then
kindly volunteered to show him over the
| premises. The interior OF the buildings
| bore the same evidence of tidiness as did
] the exterior and grounds. Each room was
supplied with an iron bed, bureau, chairs.
| and table. The rooms are high-studded
and airy with some very slightly windows.
AS the newspaper man and his guide
were inspecting the dining room there APP
peared young man who had to pass
| through the door sidewise, for he was al
most as broad as he was tall. Upon en-
quiry it was found that the youth had been
| an inmate of the farm for about five years,
| is but nineteen years old, and weighs 800
| pounds. His name is Fred, Bashaw, jr.,
! and he was born in Charlestown. His
parents were poor and he was never sent
| to school. AT his mothers death he was
| cared for by his grandparents until their
death, when the county took charge of
him
His father was also an inmate of the
county farm, being in the insane ward, but
in some manner he escaped. remaining
away about a year. after which he APP
peared again, well dressed but not much
improved in health. He remained about a
month and again disappeared, and nothing
has since been heard from him.
Fred is a willing worker, except in very
warm weather: then it is too much for
him. He is verF childish in his ways and
baby talk is what is generally used when
talking to him. lie is by no means fool
ish. but quite bright for one with his lin
tied advantages He has a fine tenor
voice and can sing quite well. He is not
clumsy. but is very light on his feet for
boy Of his weight. He likes dancing
and does very well at the art
There are sixty-two inmates at the farm |
at the present time. mostly old people, a |
number of whom are blind, others deaf !
and dumb and a few who are insane. The |
demented ones are kept in a separate |
building. but only one is violent enough !
10 be kept under lock and key. Years ago |
these poor creatures were fed out of tin |
dishes and ate their food from the fi6or; |
but since they have been under the care
of Miss Eliza Willard she has, with her
kindness toward them, won their favor, and |
they now eat at a table with the usual |
dishes. with the exception of the violent |
patient. The pleased expression upon |
their faces was very noticeable when the |
matron was present for. as was told by |
2 few OF the inmates themselyes, "all love |
her, she is so kind to us
As the correspondent was preparing to |
laave the fat boy came up and said: you |
al hat I Faff
around The scribe was left to guess !
whether he meant around the country or !
around the waist. but told him he would |
surely tell them.