The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-04-08
THE HUMAN TELESCOPE.
So Called Because of His Peculiar Gift OF
Personal ~ClonGntion.
From The Rochester Heaid

From the Rochester Herald,
william Doss Is frequently called the Human
Telescope" and others refer to him as the Snake
Man" Either title is quite appropriate. Doss
struck Rochester the other day from California.
He walked into Rattlesnake Pete's saloon
and introduced himself to the proprietor.
81 heard OF you out in Frisco" he said. and I
thought | would walk in and look about a little. -
Pete glanced at the man and then drummed
a little tattoo on the bar and looked out on the
street. In a moment he sized Doss UP again
and nearly tainted when h saw the fellow was
shooting up toward the ceiling In a more mys-
teal manner than the wonderful bean stalk plant
ed by one Jack In Mother Goose lore.
When Pete recovered and looked again he saw
that the mans neck had extended itself eight
inches more than when he first observed The stTan-
ger, Then Pete rinehed himself to see II he was
The two talked for a few moments and Pete
bought a drink. The telescope man said he
bar for him about a foot out Of his reach. Instead
Of stepping over for 1t he stood perfectly still.
pointed his hand In the direction Of the glass
S "a Sin 'f ba ,s,e E5s Pr" IRa do S2i grow Win dpS Ssss q 1901 longer
Pete began to get nervous. He watched the
fellow narrowly and noticed, that he had a big
hump on his backi suddenly .n a ne h o, 'n ne riS ;es
n doctor. That ugly hump, half as big as n
barrel, which a moment before had been on NE
strangers back, appeared bullying OUT rom ms
l'n nhi hi' c''N 49,
any well formed man.
Pete said he was a peculiar genius, Doss
admitted 1t and he began to play WITH his i, ht
left around on tho wrist several times as though
II were set on a swivel, much as a nervous man
would twirl his lead pencil.
Doss Is lust % years old. lie has never had
any educational advantages and Is very iHiterate,
lie says he was born with the big hump on MS
back, and as far back ms he can remember he has
been able 10 reverse the hump and put I, on his
breast. He does not romamber when he learned
10 grow or stretch himself at will. Every bone
In his body seems to b. made q rubber and he
can control his muscles AZ will,
boss has not displayed himself and his wonder
full powers professionally, but has frequently
given private exhibitions Of his almost snper-
human ability. lie cannot explain his power,
and he says that he has never found a physician
who could explain II.
MANY persons believe that when he stretches
himself from his normal height Of 9 feet TO Z feet
q inches il l. due TO the STRENGTHENING out OF
the hnmp on his back, This is not true. When
he towers 10 : feet q inches the hump l. a9 biz ~
ever, but it falls lower IN his back OF, rather, rls
back stretches away from i, leaving tie hump
resting almost on his hips Mos' 3 81 the 6 SSie,fslnYs
iS in the upper rqIt Of BODY. WIEN ne ne, na
lie stands perfectly still. and his neck lust grows
toward the ceiling without any apparent NOR
The Human Telescope" extends his arm toward
a wall with the finger lips about Q loot from We
wall. Without so much as the slightest movement
Of his body the arm shoots out until II touches
boss saws the most remarkable thing about his
strange physique Is bis ability 10 transfer the
hump from his back 10 his chest lie says that
many doctors have examined him 10 Try To- dis
| cover the manner Of the change, but that tLey
remain az much In the dark a. Doss himself does;
In fact, the man IL an enigma 70 The medlchi
| profe. ion ss well as TO himself. lie knows mat
he can stretch himself out like An, lndia rubber
man, and that Is the extent Of h!I knowledge oi
| himself. II Is a iavoritc trick OF his q stand TAX,
| ING With a man who Is as tall as himself. nnd
wien the man looks away for a moment 70 stfotch
| himself 10 such a height that his companion can
walk under his extended arm.
In addition 10 being able " stretch himself a.
| will Does claims 70 be the anpi standing hieh
a kick is S ieet . inches, hut Doss has no difficulty
in going eight inches higher; He SAYS he does
i by s're,ching ms ieg , Gn, s sbe manner ST' Of il il cam
| not be determined.