The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1910-06-10
LGtGhGT County Giant Alive
and Prosperous.
Local UecgIlectiOns Of The Worlds
Largest Man, a Product Of Ken
tHCky's Mountains.

Among the freaks of the old days
who have retired with a competence
is Martin Van Buren Bates, the
Kentucky giant now sixty-three
years Of age, who spending the
fag end of a long AID picturesque
career on, a little farm near Seville,
Ohio. Capt. Bates was renowned
throughout Europe and America for
many years for his unusual size His
romantic marriage while entour to
Anna X. Shaw, the Canadian giant
ess, a woman one inch taller than
himself was a nine days wonder at
the time Mrs. Bates dred sever
al years ago, leaving no issue. One
child had been born to her but it
died in infancy Capt, Bates is
still hale and hearty. One of his
principal pleasures now is a discus
sion OF the causes which led up to
the conflict between the States, in
which resort to arms he paricipa-
ed as a lad.
Capt. Bates was born in Letcher
county in 1S47. Unusually large at
his birth, he measured six feet in
height and weighed 10 pounds on
his eleventh birthday. At twenty
one ne measured seven feet and
eleven inches in his stockings, and
weighed 400 pounds. He tipped the
scales at 500 while in his prime.
Unlike the usual giant, Capt. Bates
never suffered from a weak spinal
eolur1n and his muscles are not
atrophied. In fact he was noted for
his agility and strength during and
after the Civil War. His parents
were plain people of ordinary size.
The other children born to the cou-
pie were normal. Capt Bates had
three brothers, the combined weight
of whom did not much exceed his
own.
Bates cast his lot with the young
Confederacy at the outbreak Of
the Civil War, becoming a private
in the Third Kentucky Infantry. He
was at that time only fourteen years
of age, but was more than a man
in stature. At sixteen he was pro
NOTED to be a Captain for bravery
exhibited on the field of battle. Ht
distinguished himself in the sever
al engagements in which he partic
ipated. He was severely wounded
in ore of the battles around Cum
berland Gap.
In 1870 Capt. Bates made a toul
of England and the Continen
where he was exhibited TO enthus
iaStic crowds ...
After his marriage Capt. Bate
purchased the farm, and erected
the house near Seville, Ohio, wher'
he still lives. The measurement
of this house were made commen
surate with the unusual proportion
of the people who we're to live il
it. The bed on which the coupl,
slept measured ten feet in lengtl
with a width in proportion and wa
of height twice that of an aver
age bed. A magnificent dressing
table constructed for the use o
/ Mrs. Bates contained a mirror al
most as large as the side of al
ordinary house.
1t was a novel sight to see tn
giant and his wife out for a drive
The carriage in which they rod
was a huge affair, The wheel
reached almost to the second stor
OF an average house, and six stou
horses we're used TO draw it.
apt. Bates married again som
years after the death of his frs
wife. His second wife, who is still
living. is a woman of ordinary size
who looks like pigmy beside he
giant husband. They reside at tn
Captains old home, where he l
passing the life of gentleman o
leisure.
The reading of the above, take
from. a recent number OF tn
Paintsville Herald, reminds tn
News of a couple of visits mad
TO Louisa by Baby Bates. Tn
first cali was an involuntary one
As the Herald says, Bates cast hi
lot with the Confederacy, but h
was more Aan fourteen years oil
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