Adams County news. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1898-1906, 1905-10-18
A HUMAN CURIOSITY
BUD R0GAN OF GALLATIN, TENN,
had LINGERING DEATH.
Was Known as the Living Skeleton
He Was Feet Inches High and
Weighed Only 1o5 Pounds-He Did
Not Have a MuscIe-In 1885 He
Felt His Flesh Going.

Ganatin, Tenn, Oct. 16.-Bud Ro-
gan, the colored monstrosity Of this
city, is dead, and with his passing
away the greatest curiosity in the
world in the form of a human has
ceased to exist.
Although he was never out Of Gal
latin for more than a short time only,
he was known far and near as the
Living Skeleton, and thousands Of peo-
pie have viewed him with amazement.
Bud was known to every one in this
section, he having been born and rear
ed here. Hence he was not any
show" to them, but he never failed
to attract the attention Of strangers,
especially travellers on the Louisville
& Nashville railroad, which passes
through here. as he had for many
years met all passenger trains-rain
or shine, hot or cold-in an endeavor
to pick up a few pennies, and in this
he was very successful; in fact. he
made his living in this manner, as
nearly every one who saw him pur-
chased one Of his photographs. he &C.
cepting whatever was offered him.
Bud was certainly paradox, in
that he was a giant yet a skeleton.
His correct measurements were as
follows:
Height, feet 9 inches (by far the
tallest human Of which medical men
have record).
Weight, only los pounds.
Reach (arms outstretched), 10 in
ches-dve inches greater than his
height.
From crotch to knee, 81 inches.
From knee to heel, % inches.
From knuckles to tip of middle
finger, inches.
Finger nails, size of rs cent piece.
Length Of feet, 16 inches.
The most peculiar thing about this
human wonder was the fact that he
did not have a muscle in his entire an
atomy. And he had very little flesh,
his entire frame being, figuratively
speaking, only skin and bones.
Buds case was a remarkable one
and it baffled the skill of the most
eminent physicians, there being only
one or two similar to it on record. He
had what is technically termed
acromegaly, "a gradual 'pining' away
or wasting Of flesh, and for which
there is no known remedy.
Bud began losing flesh about 20
short period was reduced to skin and
bones, in which condition he remain.
ed until his death few days ago
his demise being from an unknown
cause. Up to the age of IL years he
was q day laborer, and SO Herculean
was his strength he could perform
the work of two. able bodied men, but
in every other respect he was not un
like any ordinary negro. He was
never sick a day and never suffered
any pain or unpleasantness when this
strange malady overlook him-nor
even afterward. At first the emacia.
ton came SO slowly that he paid little
attention to it, although frequently re.
minded of it by his associates.
One night in the spring Of 1885, af'
ter hard days work, he retired, feel.
ing as well as usual, but about mid
night he awoke, screaming with fright
and saying he "felt his flesh crawling"
From that time to the day of his death
he never walked step nor stood alone,
having lost all use of himself with the
exception of his arms.
A Ravenous Eeater.
One stronge thing about Bud is that
while he was ravenous eater he new
er gained an ounce Of flesh. He was
Of happy disposition, courteous to all
and possessed a great deal of intelli.
gence. But, like the majority Of his
race, he never had business sense.