Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1922-04-07
ORIGINAL SIAMESE Twins
The Story Of Eng and Chang Bunker
Recalled.
REARED FAMILIES In NORTH CAROLINA
Homes of Their Wives Were On Rd-
Joining Farms-They Would Fight
Each other-Many Descendants Still

Joining Farms-They Would Fish
Each other-Many Descendants Still
Survive. .........
Charlotte Observer. ..., -.-.....
Death of the so-called "Siamese
Twins" in Chicago, recently recalls te
the minds of many North Carolinians
that the original Siamese Twins, Eng
and Chang Bunker lived for more than
40 years, married, raised large families
and died in Surry county, North Caro-
lima, near Mount Airy. .....
The Siamese Twins married Yates
sisters in Wilkes county, N. c., an
event that marked the end OF their
show activities. in which they had en-
gagged for several years and as re-
suit of which they had accumulated
fair fortunes, bought adjoining farms
in Surry county and there spent most
Of their lives, one spending week
with the other, then the other spend
ing the next week with the one.
The connection in this instance was
in front, near the lower end Of the
breastbone, consisting Of skin, muscle,
arteries. veins, nerves, probably carti-
leges, but no bone. Because the loca-
tien Of the connection was directly in
front, the twins were required to walk
facing each other, the length OF the
connection allowing them to walk with
their fronts forming an angle Of about
45 degrees.
On one occasion they decided to try
to have themselves cut apart, but ply
sicians decided first to try cording the
connection, so as to stop circulation
between them, before performing the
operation. A few seconds after the cord
was frightened, both tainted, resulting
in loosening the cord and the decision
not to perform the operation.
They lived to be about 80 years old,
dying in the early sos. One Of them
was taken sick, while the other was
apparently unaffected by his brothers
illness. However, Immediately after
one died, an operation was performed,
severing the connection. The other
died almost instantly.
When they died, large coffin was
made to hold both Of them and they
were buried on their farms. A few
days later doctors from Johns Hop
kins university arrived and had their
bodies exhumed and carried them to
Baltimore for examination.
However, one of their sons, the one
who assumed the leadership, who was
Living in California, came home soon
after the bodies had been taken to Bal
timore, followed them there, secured
them and brought them back, renter
ring them in the grave from which
they had been taken. ...
Historically, the Siamese Twins were
born in Siam, about the year 1903,
When they were about three years old,
a DR.. Bunker, professor in oAe Of the
old New England universities, who
was travelling in Siam, found them and
bought them from their mother, bring
ing them back to America with him.
DR.. Bunker adopted them and gave
them his own name, as a reTult OF
which they were known as Eng and
Chang Bunker. The Eng and Chang
are said to be Siamese words meaning
right and left, by which they were al
WAYS designated. DR.. Bunker cducat-
ed them and kept them until they were
about grown, after which they joined
a show troupe and toured the country
for several years, appearing as a
freak.
II was while so appearing that they
accumulated money and while showing
in North Carolina, they decided u
settle down." They are said to nave
visited several of the older towns OF
this state, probably including Char-
lotte, Salisbury, Salem, Jonesville and
Wilkesboro. There they ended their
career on the stage.
Supposedly, the Yates sisters whom
they married and who were daughters
of a farmer in Wilkes county, saw and
were seen at the showing in Wilkes
boro. At any rate, the two couples
were married, the twins buying their
brides father a nice farm on the 1ad-
kin river.
They, in turn, bought land few
miles from Mount Airy and establish
ed homestcads on adjoining farms. AS
stated before. Eng would spend week
with Chang at his home and then
Chang would spend q week with Ems
ut his home The date of thei'
settling down" is not available now
but it is thought to have been while
they were in their early 3Os and prob
-, ho, 1S0E