Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1900-05-30
TOO MUCH FOR THE CLERK.
Terrified by the India Rubber hoy
and the Man.

person who has had many years
experience i'm hospitals was speaking
the other day TO a number OF men in
terested In medical affairs about hu-
man freaks
DO you know that the greatest hu-
man freaks in the country-in fact. i'm
the world" exclaimed the speaker.
have never been exhibited I'm n mu-
scum or numbered among a circus At
tractionsf Have you ever heard of the
india rubber boy or the negro whose
heart was on his right side or the man
with n voice like n locomotive whistle?
Perhaps You have heard OF at least the
last great parsonage. They were real
~ great persOnages' In their own estI-
nation and seemed TO he glad that
they were freaks"
None OF the listeners had ever seen
or he rd of the freaks
Don't think for n moment that the
india rubber boy was made OF rubber"
continued the speaker. "or that he
could twist himself into n 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 bounceY" was ask
ed.
81 think about six feet. Some people
said that hc sometimes bounced high
er, but doubt it,"
did he have any control over him
self when he had a fit?"
NO. He never knew when or where
he would be stricken. and every time
be simply bounced until he became ex-
hausted or unconscious.
The india rubber boy and the man
with the voice like locomotive whis-
tie one time nearly frightened to death
a night clerk OF a local hospital. 4
young physician made a tour OF the
country some years ago exhibiting to
medical associations the india rubber
boy and the man with the peculiar
voice. Thi- physician took delight in
having fuu ut the expense OF his
friends. He was well acquainted with
the night clerk. and he selected him rs
n victim for one OF his pranks one
night. after hc had exhibited his freaks
before a medical society I'm this city.
the physician called at the hospital TO
~ Wv AAA NA0Ah AlltI ldlkllE WITH
the clerk few minutes he left the
freaks seated near n desk at which the
clerk was at work and went into an adj
Joining room To- await develoDments
The physician had some doubt about
his plan being successful. as the man
with the extraordinary voice would
only make a noise like a locomotive
whistle when under great excitement.
The man. however did what was ex-
pected of him
Several times the clerk stopped
work To glance at his visitors. hut their
action did not arouse his suspicious.
Soon the india rubber boys teeth be
gan To chatter. and the lad assumed 4
crouching attitude. He was preparing
10 spring The clerk saw the crouch
ing form i'm front OF his deSk and
reached for stick on a nail at one end
or 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 rs though he intended 10 hit the
boy with il. aud then the man who
could make sounds resembling n loco
motive whistle became excited and
sounded 4 Shrill blast. His voice would
have terrified any one. The noise made
by the man and the boy bounding up
and down in front OF the desk was 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 time there was great ex-
element in the place The physician
restored order 10y making an eXplana-
tion, but the clerk never spoke to him
again. New York Tribune.