The Nashville globe. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1906-193?, 1912-11-22
A BRIEF STORY OF TIL; LIEF AND DEATH OF The
WORLDS MOST WONDERFUL FREAK
OF NATURE.

In a recent issue we gave a brief
notice Of the death Of MILNE Chris
tine, the world-famous colored twin
sisters, who were united from the
waist down, but with separate legs.
They were undeniably the greatest
human wonder ever known, and have
travelled and exhibited all over this
country and the Old World, and been
seen by the crowned heads Of Europe.
Having two virginas, but only one
rectG n, they were one person formed
in two parts, their minds and sensi-
bilities being nearly aligned. They
would start conversing on different
subjects, but soon their minds would
blend together, and they would drift
into the same topic, showing that
their mental faculties, as we'll as
bodies, were closely aligned. If n
had a dream the other knew it. One
! sister would walk on two legs and
easily carry the other, or they could
use three legs in walking, but they
could not get around by using one
leg from each. But they could walk
around as readily as any one, going
up and down stairs. They were well
educated, speaking five languages.
They were pure Negroes, one being
a little darker than the other. Their
mother was a large fieshy woman,
with arm as large as a mans thigh,
but the father rather small and slen-
der. Both are dead. They leave a
sister and two brothers, one Preston
McKoy, being born on the ocean
when the mother was bringing the
twins back from England. There is
nothing unusual about the formation
Of other members of the family.
One sister was named Mile and the
other Christine, but they signed with
both, connected by a hyphen. They
took the name of their former owner
McKoy, as did most slaves after
Emancipation.
These noted twins were 81 years
of age on the 18th day Of last July
They were born in Welches Greek
township of Columbus county, N. G.
six miles from Whiteville. Their
parents were slaves Of Jabez McKoy
father of Mr.. Lloyd McKoy. It Is
said that their owner was not pleased
with the ACQUISITION of such proper
ty, as he could never make hoe hands
or cotton pickers of them. They
were healthy and vigorous young
sters, and grew rapidly.
Sheriff A. S. Richardson, In search
ing among the archives in our cour+
house, discovered a very interesting
document connected with these twins
It was a combined bill Of sale ant
contract, dated May IS, 1852. II
this paper Jabez McKoy, Of Columbus
county, N. c., transfers to John G
Purvis, of Chesterfield district, s. G.
/, twin Negro girls, ten months old
and whose bodies are united from
the waist down. Said Purvis Is tt
pay said McKoy $1,000, and exhibi
the twins, paying McKoy Is per cen
of the net proceeds received from
their exhibit. McKoy agrees to lie
the mother of these twins go will
them, without any hire being paid
Conditioned: that if said Purvis solC
the twins, or disposed of them other
wise, then he was to pay to Jabe'
McKoy one-fourth Of whatever he re
ceived. Furthermore, that the mothe,
of said twins must be returned Il
McKoy without any expense on hi
part.
But 1t seems that the exhibit dit
not pan out much profit to McKoy, a
there is on record another paper
dated September 30, 1853, In whicl
Jabez McKoy valves any and all In
terest he may have in their exhibit
and for 5000 deeds them to John c
Purvis, his heirs, etc, etc. It is no
stated what was the disposition o
the mother; but she was used after
wards to recover her children whel
they we're carrier to England.
AS is known, ever since enamel
nation. the Millie-C Christine sister
have been exhibited and c%ontrolleI
by J. Pearson Smith, Of Smoak, S
G. We understand that Mr.. Smith
mother married John G. Purvis, thei
original purchaser. He had the er
tire confidence of the twins, and e2
hibited them all over the world, an
they attracted great crowds and al
t~ention everywhere. But Of lat
years they have not been regularl
ON the road, and only OCCASIONAL
exhibiting at fairs. In intervals the
lived on a little farm, with about 2
acres cleared around the house, nea
where they we're born. Their siste
and her husband lived with an
looked after them. They kept