Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1900-04-26
SNAKE MAN,
The Human Telescope,
Is Very Well Known In
| This City.
HE Visits His Friends
Periodically.
Travels Extensively and Gives
Exhibitions.
Seems That His Bones Are Made of
| RiIhharp pu1 1lae phuciniano
Travels Extensively and Gives
Exhibitions.
Seems That His Bones Are Made of
Rubber-PuzzIes Physicians.

Seems That His Bones Are Made of
Rubber-PuzzIes Physicians.
William Doss, the subject Of the ap-
pended article, has been in Akron sew
eral times. Only few months ago
he paid a visit to this city. When
ever he does so, he calls at No. | engine
house, where he is q general favofite
with the tiremen.
Doss is a freak of nature and the
antics described below have all been
performed here. During his last visit
the firemen played trick upon one
of the loafers about the engine house.
The fellow was sent for, and was
told that man wanted to see him.
Doss began to question the fellow and
at the same time he Begin to stretch.
Doss kept on going up, until the fell
low thoroughly frightened, turned and
ran out of the building.
Doss has travelled extensively and
the following story is from the Roch.
ester Herald: tt
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 Rattle
snake Petes saloon aud introduced
! himself to the proprietor.
'T heard Of you in Frisco" he said,
"and I thought I would walk in and
look about little"
Pete glanced at the man and then
drummed little tattoo ON the bar and
looked out on the street In mo-
ment he sized Doss up again and near
ly tainted when he saw the fellow was
shooting up toward the ceiling in a
more mystical manner than the Won
derful bean stalk planted 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 strang-
en- Then Pete pinched himself to see
|if he was awake.
The two talked for few moments
and Pete bought drink. The tele-
scope man said he would have a beer.
The liquor was placed on tue bar for
him about foot out of his reach. In
stead Of stepping over for 1t he stood
perfectly still, pointed his hand in the
direction Of the glass and caused his
arm to grow about foot longer, when
he reached the drink with ease.
Pete began to get nervous. He
watched the fellow narrowly and no.
ticed that he had big hump on his
back. Suddenly one of the snakes let
whoop out of him and was about
to run for doctor. The ugly hump,
half as big as barrel, which a mo,
ment before had been on the strang-
er's back, appeared bulging out from
his breast and his back was as smooth
as that of any well formed man.
Pete said he was a peculiar genius.
Doss admitted it and he began to play
! with his left hand. He took the right
hand and twisted the left around on
the wrist several times as though it
We're set on swivel much us a ner-
vous man would twirl his lead pencil,
Doss is just % years old. He has
never had any educational advantages
and is very illiterate. He says he was
born with the big hump on his back,
and as far back as he can remember
he has been able to reverse the hump
and put it on his breast. He does not
remember when he learned to grow
or stretch hiInself ut will. Every bone
in his boGy seems to be made of rub
ber, and he con control his muscles at
will. 4
Doss has not displayed himself and