Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1914-01-10
COLORED BABY IS SAID
TOHAVE SPOKENAT BIRTH
Strange Story Causes No End Of
Excitement.
FAMILY LIVES IN kCTON LANE.
Mi hbars Take il as 0mas rs End
81 World snd Are Mach
Excited.

cratic domiciles Of Murray Hill and
ripping in ever widening circles TO
Camp Parole in one direction. and the
agricultural section near Arnold's, a
terrifying story has gone forth.
Ii is a story Of a eolored baby born
within the last few days in Acton
Lane. unheard of in the history of
years, unearthly in its manifesto
tions IF knowledge, and science-defy-
ing in its alta inments. On good su-
thirty it is stated that the tiny mite
of black humanity at the moment Of
its-birth spoke, ard objected in no
leertain terms TO the efforts being
made to aid in its first attempt to gain
a foothold on this earth.
While it would work al injustice
to the parents by reason of the num-
bers Of the morbidly curious who
would throng the house, 70 give the
name Of the parents it is, nevertheless,
a fact that the baby, now less than
Eve days of age. was heard to speak
today Ever since the baby was born
rumors have been be ard on all sides
that it spoke at the time of its
birth, and has since continued TO do
so. No one seemed to know the
name of the child's parents, or the
exact location of the house il wss
born in on Acton Lane, but common
report had it that DR.. John Ridout
was present at the birth Of the
child and had heard the words
spoken.
1t was impossible to get in touch
with Dr.. Ridout to-day to learn the
truth OF the story, but as so many
persons were calling up The Capital
Office in re gard &c the story, repre-.
sentative of The Capital today in
vestigated the story. What he
found, what be saw and what his con-
illusions were would hardly be given
as truth in these columns.
In the grim, gray dawn Of
this morning when the city seemed
yet wrapped in its slumber when the
only sound to be heard was the rum
Die of the milk wagons Fastening
through the streets, the far off whis-
tie of trolley car and the mournful
cadence of the Naval Academy clock
as ii boomed the hour, the represen-
tative started on his quest. The
early hour was chosen in order that
no curiosity on the part Of others
might be excited and lead them TO
the Iowly home.
The Upper end Of Acton Lane seem
ed silent aud deserted es The Capital
representative turned IN from West
street. but as he progressed a strange
sound smote his ears. 1t was con-
tinuous rumbling and moaning, now
high. now low, echoing and re-echoing
with subdued and muiIled note that
owed his footsteps, quickened his
pulse and made his spine a glacial
stream. AS he moved onward the
sound grew in strength and volume,
swelling in a disposin of noise, hu-
man in tone. but unearthly in its in
tensity and calling to mind the ramp
ing rawlings of rstavia.
The air seemed alive with SCUM d,
surcharged with doubt, teeming with
promise of mystery or realization,
life or death. Then il was that he
saw from wht nee the sound came. A
throng of colOred men and women
were gathered about . small. wealth
er-beaten house, sagging an TO its
doors broken-backed az to root line,
shutterless and almost windowless,
a very howell of a place for human
habitation. The throng at the door
was worked to a frenzy and many re-
marks were heard as to the omens,
the portents and the prophecies that
awaited fulfilment as result Of the
birth of the strange infant. That IL
was the forerunner of the end of the
world none denied and the lsmenta-
tions were many, for was il not said
in the Bible, according 10 a much
wrought up colored woman, when
the infants speak at their borni az,
then is the world to end"
Entrance TO the house was easily
secured by The Capital represe nta.
tive. In . small room, devoid Of
everything but an old bed, a rocking
chair and bucket Of water, was
found the baby, surrounded by a
group of neighbors, voluble in their
talk, positive in their statements and
vehement in their actions. The baby,
a tiny bit of flesh and blood, lay
naked on the bed, blue from cold,
emaciated for lack Of nutrition, but
with eyes from which flashed sup
ernatursl and CHASTITY light. II rails
ed one claw-like hand and then its
lips moved. AT once the throng was
silenced; all hung on the tip-toe Of
spellbOund, specifies.
struck dumb.
The silence was painful, eardrums
hummed and drank in but the sybil-
liant moaning Of the old black man.
my. who erouched low over the bed.
The baby spoke and every ear was
strained to catch his words. Again
he spoke: this time clearly, distinctly
and with words that could not be mis-
taken. Listen" he said, lin going
e Baltimore, slwRys ride the new
all-stetl cars Of the Annapolis Short
Line, for it is the shortest, quickest
and most direct. F. Z. G.