The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1912-10-18
THE SIAMESE TWINS.
Something Concerning the Life OF Two
Men Who We're BOrned, Lived
and Died Together.

ing today who saw them and knew them
in their hoAe life. Strange that the
latest editions of our best cyclopedias
Lave practically nothing to say of them.
1--WE OF six lines covcfs all that we
have been able to see The Siamese
Twins were really Wcrder from every
standpoint. Tive people, distinct in
ft,m and habit y:t e:le the life Of
:i,e ere beirg dependent upon the life
of the other.
They were born in Siam in the year
1911. The exact time of their coming
to this country is not known. 1t is sup
posed to have been shortly after the
close of the Napoleonic wars A Mr..
Bunker is said to have brought them to
America. For many years during the
palmy days of John Lowlow, the ia
nous clown, they travelled with John
Robinson's circus. In this way they
accumulated considerable money, which
they were careful to save A native Of
Surry county happened to be in at
tendance on the circus once upon time
at Salisbury The stranger was so
taken with the monstrosity that he in
vited them to spend time with him
along the Fish and Ararat rivers They
accepted the invitation and we're so
pleased with the country that they de-
cided to make their home in that sec
ton. Eng invested all his money in ne
eroes and Chang invested his in lands.
They were unusually successful in ev-
cry undertaking But the war took
away the slaves, and an equitable divis
ion was made of the lands, They built
a comfortable home on the left bank Of
the Fish river, which they occupied un-
til some time just prior to the Civil
war, when Chang conceived the idea Of
getting married. They were great hun
tiers, and in their wanderings. they had
gone over into Wilkes where Chang
saw the girl for whom he had been
longing, He served notice on Eng Of
his intention and gave the command to
come and let US visit the home of the
Yates There was nothing for Eng to
do but to obey. Chang's story of love
fell upon a listening ear, and in due
time union was formed between him
and Miss Yates. The household was
now made to number three A year
passed and Eng began to think. The
smiles that played upon the face of
Chang were too much for Eng He,
too, must go and tell his story. The
family of three had doubtless attracted
much attention. who is to be the wife
OF Eng" 1t did not take Eng long
to decide Another of the Yates girls
was left The good qualities embodied
in the one must be inherent in the 9TH
er. So Eng said to Chang. Come. let
me go a courting too" How many visits
Eng made before he accomplished his
purpose. we are not told, but a little
thought would suggest that they were
not many For the second time Eng and
Chang stood in the Yates home before
the parson, The family was now made
four. But two women. though they
be sisters, in one house is one too many
mother home must be built" A beau
tiiul site was on the other side of the
stream. Another home was built there
for Eng The question then came,
How shall we divide time between
these two homes?" A knotty question,
but satisfactorily settled. Every Mon
day morning there was a shift from the
one to tie other, rain or shine. Alter
nate weeks there was home on the
banks of the Fish without Eng and
Chang Tie passing years brought
children into those homes. Eng was
the father in one, and Chang was the
latter in tie other How the discipline
of the one accorded with the ideas OF
the other we have not been able to
learn Doubtless each father controlled
his own nome. for it is known that
each had will OF his own Nine chill
dren came into either home These have
all grown up. and are row living in the
bounds Of Surry county Among them
are some of the most substantial men
and women of the county. Thrift and
enterprise characterize every one. Two
sons are among the wealthy men OF
the county The wife of Chang is still
living at the old homestead, in good
health, with promise of many wears.
The matter OF cutting the binding that
held them together received considera-
ton from the best talent of America