WORLD'S OLDEST MAN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 229, 27 September 1930, Page 9

WORLD'S OLDEST MAN.

Serious Injury by Motor Car in Busy New York Street.

TURK, ZARO AGHA.

NEW YORK, September 20., An accident happened last evening to Zaro Agha, the Turk whose claim to be 156 years old lias made him famous throughout the world, and who came to the United States in July to lecture and give exhibitions. The ancient man was knocked down by a motor car while he was crossing Broadway at 61st Street, in the "Great White Way" district. He wr.s seriously injured. Tlie car was driven away at a fast speed.

In an interview at Constantinople with a representative of the "Magyarsag,'' Zaro Agha, claimed to have been born in 1774, 6tating that he had papere to prove it. He recollects the reigns of no less than twelve Sultans, to eay nothing of several Caliphs that reigned but a year or two each. He possesses a tall, sinewy frame of phenomenal strength, his head is quite bald, and his gums are innocent of teeth. His third set, which grew after the decaying of his second set, finally vanished about the time of the Emperor Napoleon 111., when Agha was close 011 100 years of age. Being a good Mussulman, Zaro has never tasted alcohol. He does not smoke, and eats very little meat, but consumes many pints of yogourt (sour milk) daily. Doctors, to_ whom he is a never-failing source of declare that he is in perfect physical condition. At one time Zaro Agha set out _to travel round the world, but his digestive organs flatly declined Italian food, and so he had to return to Constantinople, where the Government granted him_ a small house and a pension, enabling him to live comfortably at a cafe that he was known to frequent 100 ySars ago. In 150 years Zaro has learned much of the world, although he has little advice to give 011 the question of marriage. He complains that each of his three wives lived abnormally short lives; his first succumbed after 32 years, the second after 28, and the third after 42 years of connubial bliss. His eldest son died a few years ago at the age of 110, and his only remaining child is a daughter of 64. Zaro feels that his own years are numbered, bub he cherishes a wistful hope that he may live to the ripe old age of 175.