The evening times., 1900-01-06
TWO HUMAN FREAKS.
The Indin Rubber Boy aud the Man
With n Locomotive Voice.


4 person who has had many years eX
periCnCc in hospitals was speaking the
other day 10 a number of men interested
in medical affairs about human museum
freaks.
DO YOU know that the greatest human
freaks in the country, in fact in the world,
exclaimed the speaker, have never been
exhibited in a museum or numbered
among a circus attractions? Have you
ever heard Of the india rubber boy. or the
negro whose heart was on his right side
or the man with a voice like locOmo-
tive whistle? Perhaps you have heard Of
at least the last great parsonage. They
were really great persOnages in their own
estimation and seemed TO be glad that
they were freaks"
None of the listeners had ever seen or
heard of the freaks.
Don't think for a moment that the
india rubber boy was made of rubber, "
continued the speaker, ''or that he could
twist himself into knot. He looked like
a schoolboy He suffered from some form
of epilepsy, and when he had fit he
would bounce up and down. That's why
they called him the india rubber boy.
How high did he bOunce?" was asked.
Il think about six feet. Some people
said he sometimes bounced higher, but l
doubt it,
did he have any control over himself
wnen he had a fit?''
NO. He never knew when or where he
would be stricken. and every time he
simply bounced until he became exhausted
or unconscious.
The india rubber boy and the man with
the voice like a locomotive whistle one
time nearly frightened TO death a night
clerk Of a local hospital. A young physi-
sian made a tour of the country some
years ago exhibiting to medical associa-
tions the india rubber boy and the man
with the peculiar voice. This physician
took delight in having fun at the expense
Of his friends. He was well acquainted
with the night clerk, and he selected him
as a victim for one of his pranks. One
night. after he had exhibited his freaks
before a medical society in this city, the
physician called at the hospital to see the
night clerk. After talking with the clerk
for few minutes, he left the freaks seat
ed near desk at which the clerk was at
work, and went into an adjoining room to
await developments. The physician had
some doubt about his plan being success
full, as the man with the extraordinary
voice would only make a noise like a loco
motive whistle when under great excite
ment. The man, however, did what was
expected of him.
Several times the clerk stopped work to
glance at his visitors, but their action did
not arouse his suspicious. Soon the india
rubber boys teeth began to chatter, and
the lad assumed crouching attitude. He
was preparing to spring. The clerk saw
the crouching fo,su in front of his desk
and reached for a stick on nail at one end
of his desk. AS the clerk grasped the stick
the boy bounded upward and came down on
his feet, only to shoot upward again. The
clerk raised the stick as though he intended
to hit the boy with it, and then the man
who could make sounds resembling a To-
comotive whistle became y excited and
sounded a shrill blast. His voice would
have terrified anyone. The noise made by
the man and the boy bounding up and
down in front of the desk were too much
for the clerk. He rushed from the room
and sounded call for help. All the male
orderlies responded to the call, and for q
time there was great excitement In the
place The physician restored order by
making an explanation, but the clerk never
spoke to him again"