A WOMAN TURNED INTO CHARCOAL.

New Zealander, Volume XVIII, Issue 1741, 12 November 1862, Page 5

A WOMAN TURNED INTO CHARCOAL.

(Kiorn the “Sew Vork lleralJ.”)

The medical gentlemen of this city have been in a limit feverish state of consultation, for some days past, over a very extraordinary lusn.i natures, in the shape and form of a woman, whom Dr. E. Perkins, of Oneida, has been introducing to the faculty hero, and to an astonished and an astounded “ world.” A Miss Perry, of Oneida, not yet madame, aged now about 37 years, has been, it seems, for 1-t years past, turning into charcoal!

A Doctor of the village of Oneida, of English origin, but a savan, was struck, of coarse by this living woman dailv turning into carbon, and being called in four j'cars ago* ever since he lias made Miss Perry the subject of profound investigation and study. His books never showed him a parallel case of a human being thus being carbonised, living—and hence he explored and exploited this ease, as one not only to give him an exalted medical and physiological reputation, but to add to his moans and measure of living, as none, in this non-appreciating world and age of ours. Hence, for four years past, he has journalised this woman,— all the extraordinary metamorphoses going on, inside and outside of her, and his reports not only make a big book, but the most extraordinary medical book ever written. Miss Perry’s left side, not her right, was not paralysed, and thence it was not a case of paralysis, but clmrcoal-isod, if we may coin a word. Her left arm and her left leg were covered with a charcoal skin, and her face was charcoal; while for fourteen years nothing lias passed through her charcoalised system, certainly not for four years, during which she has been under Dr. Perkins’ study and examination. During these four years, “ certainly,” she has eating and drunk, with appetite ; but what she ate and drank all exuded from her skin in dark bloody drops. The whole neighbourhood, the doctors, the clergy in and about Oneida, were horrified at last—and the fame of such a case at once passed from the obscurity of the rural district to the grandeur and glory of the great city. A broker in Wall-street heard of this extraordinary lesus nafurtc, and fearful that Barnum, ever in persuit of mermaids, giraffes, giantesses, &c., would be a-hcad of him in introducing to mankind and the faculty of New York this wonderful Miss Perry (the El Dorado of this Wall-street imagination) he hurried at once to Oneida. Dr. Perkins and he at once comprehended the illimitable depth of coming wealth from this more than Chang and Eng of monstrosities, and they together formed, if°not a copartnership, an understanding. Rooms elegant rooms, in an elegent mansion in Fourth-street, among the Upper Ten of new York, were rented ; for Miss Perry was to be introduced to the Upper Ten, before the Under Ten were to hear of her. Dr. Perkins seated himself there, with his big book of records—four years full of the charcoal marvels. Dr. Mott the scientific, the world renowned, the venerable not the young Dr. Mott, but the mentor, the sage, was brought to sec what he had never read of, heard of, or saw before in any hospital, American, European, or Asiatic. The Doctor came, saw and if not conquered was dumb-stricken, and pronounced it “ a wonderful case, a very wonderful case, a very wonderful incomprehensible case.” Dr. Perkins rubbed his hands in ecstaey. The Wall-street broker was electrified with coming visions of shinning golden glory. But Dr. Mott, cool, cautious, clever, critical, demanded a cansultation of doctors —and “ the faculty” met in the Fourth-street rooms to consult over the “ wonderful” Miss Perry. Doctors Parker, Caronochan, Barker, Jacobi, Wood, Flint, and others—among them Dr, Sayre—gathered about the wonder, and heard Dr. Perkins read his book, in part, and instituted personal examinations. Miss Perkins was only an animated, breathing living mass of charcoal, inside and out, and so full of charcoal that every process of natural human action was suspended, except the eating and breathing. Div. Perkins’ estacy was aggrandised into sublimity. Tin; Wall-street broker would not have taken 50,000 dollars fo the speculation. But, Dr. Sayre—that saucy Dr. Sayre, that roguish Dr. Sayre—slyly went to work upon Miss Perry’s charcoal skin. There was a crack in the skin of the dear creature’s ankle, whereupon the ruthless, reckless doctor slipped out his scissors, cut into Miss Perry’s charcoal skin, and peeled off inch alter inch of it. Miss Perry winced, screamed, but the savage doctor kept on skinning and skinning —as it a savage, alter tomahawking, taking of the scalp—and anon he had m his hand whole sections of the dear Miss Perry s precious skin. Monstrum, horrendum! Mirahilc dictn ! Her skin peeled oft'as pods nn oningc or an tipple, but with this difference though, that Miss Perry’s skin turned out to

be a woven cotton cloth skin, woven doubtless in the York Mills Factory, and cotton cloth gummed on to her legs, in layers—white underneath, but all charcoalblackened, on the epidcunis of the artificial skin. When Miss Perry was now being thus peeled, she sharply whided over, and shrieked over the horrible wicked Doctor, —but the Doctor nevertheless, would peel off the cotton cloth gummed on skin—to the horror ot Dr. Perkins, and to the amazement of the astounded “ faculty.” But Dr. Sayre, did not, work! not stop here, lie added largely to the numerous pieces of charcor’, and, what is more, with an instrument well known to the faculty, he demonstrated that Miss Pen/ lived, moved, acted, performed, just as “ the rest of mankind.” Dr. Perkius ranted and roared—and Miss Pen/ left her palatial Fourth-street, quarters to go to Bellevue to in hospital there among the so-called poor of the city, where Dr. Sayre has her under his eye.

bour Master or any Justice of the Peace, within such reasonable time ns may be mentioned for the purpose in such noiice, shall for every such offence be liable to a penalty not exceeding ten pounds, and any Justice upon the complaint of the Harbour Master, or any other person, may issue his warrant for the clearing of the Harbour or removing of such vessel, boat, baulk of timber, or other bulky article, in such manner as such Justice shall direct, and for causing such vessel or boat, baulk of timber, or other bulky article to be sold, and out of the money arising from such sale, may pay the charges of such clearing or removal, as the case may he, paying the surplus to the Harbour Master to be accounted for as fees collected by him. 15. Any person wilfully removing, wilfully injuring or destroying any buoy, beacon, or sea-mark, is guilty of felony. (Marine Board Act, Sec. 71.) IC. Any person drowning any animal in or throwing a dead animal into the Harbour, or placing any dead animal below high water mark, shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding five pounds, and to an additional penalty of one pound per day during which any such animal remains in the Harbour, or below high water mark, or unburied on the beach above high water mark ; provided that no such penalty shall together exceed the sum of twenty pounds. 17. To the Master of every vessel, or in the absence of the Master, to the principal officer on board, a copy of the Harbour Regulations shall be delivered by the Harbour Master or other officer, provided hoVever, that it shall not he necessary in any case to issue a second copy of the Regulations to the Master or officer in charge of the same vessel, unless on demand of such Master or officer, and in such case only on the payment of a fee of two shillings and sixpence, to be accounted for by the Harbour Master.

18. Every Master or other officer of a ship or vessel 10 whom a copy of the Harbour Regulations shall have been delivered, shall give on demand an acknowledgment thereof To the Pilot or other officer delivering the said copy, and any Pilot failing to demand, and any Master of a ship or vessel refusing on demand to give sucli acknowledgment, shall forfeit and pay a fine of not more than five pounds. 19. It shall be competent at any time for the Harbour Master, or a person deputed by him, to order any ship, lighter, boat, or timber to be removed from any berth alongside any wharf or anchorage, from or to any part of the harbour, whenever such removal shall, in his opinion, tor the general accommodation of the shipping, he proper. And any person, who shall fail to obey such order or otherwise offend against this legulation, shall be liable to a penally not exceeding ten pounds. 20. No vessel, not being a mail steamer, shall be unmoored on Sunday from her anchorage, or from her berth alongside any wharf or jetty, and no work is to be done on board any' vessel in Harbour on Sundays (except such as may be necessary for the cleanliness and safety of the vessel) without the express permission in writing ol the Harbour Master, under a penalty not exceeding ten pounds. 21. Any person without clue authority resisting, impeding, or obstructing the Harbour Master, Pilot, or person deputed by either of them, in the execution of his duty, or using threatening or abusive language„to them, or any of them, is liable to a penalty of £SO. (Marine Board Act, Sec. CG.) Wharves and Jetties. 22. The time allowed vessels to occupy berths at quays, for the purpose of discharging car-ro, shall be (exclusive of Sundays and holidays, and the day or removal):— For ships under 100 tons 2 days. “ from 100 to 150 tons...! “ “ 150 ■ 200 “ ...5 “ « “ 200 “ 250 “ ...G “ « “ 250 “ 300 " ...7 “ And so on at the rate of two days for every additional hundred tons register. 23. Ships discharging cargo at outside berths to be allowed two days for one of the foregoing scale. 24. Cargo may be discharged from any ship lying outside, over and across the deck of any ship° lying alongside of any quay. Vessels taking'in cargo to have an unoccupied berth, which is to be given up when required for other purposes by the Harbour Master. 25. All goods landed on any wharf or jetty are to be so placed as to keep the mooring posts or rings free, and allow a clear passage of at least eight feet from the edge of the wharf nearest the vessel, upon which space no goods are allowed to remain, under a penalty not exceeding five pounds. 20, Any vessel whose time at a discharging berth has expired, or which the officer or Harbour Master considers it necessary to remove, and on board of which there shall not be sufficient men or ballast, or the requisite tackle, to enable her to be removed therefrom, may be removed by the Pori Officer or Harbour Master at the expense of the owner. 27 No timber or any other article shall be left on any public jetty, wharf or landing-place, or the approach thereto, for a longer period than six hours, and any person offending against this regulation shall incur a penalty not exceeding ten pounds ; and it shall be lawful for the Harbour Master, when in his opinion the public convenience requires it, at any time, during or after the expiry of such period, to cause such timber or other article immediately to be removed from any such jetty, wharf, or landingplace, or approach thereto, to any place he may think proper, at the expense and risk of the owner, or his agent, or the person in charge of such timber or other article. Ballast. i JSTo rubbish or filth is to bo landed on belonging to the Crown, except in ' the Harbour Master may point "/■ - A Venorson offending against this re- / a penalty not exceeding ju most reasUtfS oe; WeUcsley-fcTVhish, gravel, earth, stone, uurch ‘ overboard from any j- A landed at any place the , r t? PAWCo\' etjlrect ' and an y P ersou r. E. v lalion shall incur a First Gold MedpV g x^^ o V e n ty pounds. of King’s Co., jg slu . f teving shingle, stone, or late sDiiQEOir Movements ovv high water mark, n the Harbour Master, NEAR THE WL the Harbour Master a - in hall forfeit a sum not [A HENRY E . ins arc to be used in MANCIIE ST? 115 n ballast, coals, rubbish, hj, so. as effectually to Commit ereo( - f a ui n g overboard, IT 1 vessel after dusk, mulct a ng five pounds.

32. All vessels carrying ballast for shipping shall be decked, and not less than twelve tons burthen, and shall have the stem and stern post of such vessel marked with a plate of iron in inches, shewing its tonnage, according to the draught of water when laden, such marks and corresponding draughts of water to be endorsed upon their license, which is to be produced when asked for, under a penalty not exceeding ten pounds. Lighters and Boats. 33. No lighter or boat whc.i detained shall anchor in the channel between Acheron Head and the Quarantine Island, nor in the middle of any fair-way, but shall anchor within the Bays, abreast of the aforesaid channel, and close over on either side of any Fair-way, under a penalty not exceeding five pounds. 31. No boats whatever are to he made fast to any steps or landing place, or to lay longer than required for landing their passengers, under a penalty not exceeding five pounds. 35. The Harbour Master or other competent authority is empowered to take such means, and to give such orders and direction, as he may deem necessary, for the purpose of preventing risk, or accident, contusion or over crowding of boats alongside of vessels or landO 0 ing places, and any person wilfully disobeying any orders so given as aforesaid, shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding five pounds. Rules to he observed by vessels passing each other. 30. Whenever any vessel ptoceeding in one direction meets a vessel proceeding in another direction, and the Master or other person having charge of either such vessel, perceives that if both vessels continue their respective courses they will pass so near as to involve a risk of collision, he shall put up lire helm of his vessel to port so as to pass on the port side of 1 he other vessel, due regard being had to the tide, and to the position of each vessel with respect to the dangers of the channel, and as regards sailing vessels to the keeping of each vessel under command ; and the Master of any steam vessel navigating any river or narrow channel shall keep, as far as is practicable, to that side of the fairway nr mid channel thereof which lies on the starboard side of such vessel. And if the Master or any other person having charge of any steam vessel neglects to observe these regulations, or either of them, he shall for every such offence he liable to a penalty not exceeding twenty pounds. 37. Steamers, when steering the same course in the river, or harbour, either with or without vessels in tow, and one overtaking the other, the vessel gained upon shall slack her speed if practicable until the other has passed her. 38. When steamers have vessels in tow and are steering opposite courses, the steamer bound up the river shall, before meeting the vessel coming down the river, slack her speed, when practicable, until the other has passed her. 39. Bream vessels when passing or near to sailing-vessels, are always to be considered in the light of vessels navigating with a fair wind. 40. Steamers shall, on nearing any vessel aground, slack their speed until safely passed. 41. Steamers at all limes when under weigh, must have a responsible person on the budge to look out. 42. No lower square-sails shall he set on board 01 any steamer whilst navigating amongst the shipping. 43. Bailing vessels and ships having the wind fair shall give way to ships on a wind. 44. When two ships are going by the wind, the ship on the starboard lack shall keep her wind, and the one on the port tack bear up, thereby passing each other on the port hand. 45. When two ships have the wind large, or a beam, and meet, they shall pass each other in the same way on the port hand, the helm ol each being put a port. Gunpowder, 40. The Master of every vessel arriving with Gunpowder on board, exceeding fifty pounds in weight, shall give immediate notice thereof to the Pilot on Iris boarding the vessel, and shall land the same at the Powder Magazine before anchoring at the usual anchorage ground, or forfeit a sum not exceeding twenty pounds. 47. No Gunpowder is to be either received or issued by the Keeper of the Magazine, except between the hours of seven in the morning and five in the afternoon. 48. The Master of every vessel shall cause all Gunpowder to be conveyed to the Magazine immediately after its being landed, or forfeit a sum not exceeding ten pounds. 49. All Gunpowder so landed shall be packed in barrels containing not more than one hundred-weight each, closely joined and hooped without any iron about the packages, and so secure that no portion of the Gunpowder be in danger of being scattered in the passage, and any person offending against this regulation shall incur a penalty of any sum not cxceding ten pounds. 50. Nothing contained in these Regulations shall be deemed to apply to any Ship, Boat, or Gunpowder, the property of I ler Majesty, nor to any Bhip of War of any Foreign Nation, nor to any Gunpowder in charge of the Government of the Colony. Power to Resident Magistrate in certain cases. 51. The Resident Magistrate at any Port for which no Harbour Master is appointed shall have all such powers as aie hereinbefore given to Harbour Masters. All penalties hereby imposed shall be recoverable in a summary way. Noth. — Provision has been made for the application to this Colony of the Passengers’ Act, 1855 (18 and 19 Victoria, cap. 119), by Proclamation dated the 19th day of March, 185 G. SIGNALS AT THE FLAGSTAFF, OTAGO HEADS. Blue Peter.—Keep to sea, the Bar is not fit to take. Rod Flag —Take the Bar, there is no danger. Blue, with a white St. Andrew’s cross—Ebb tide, and Bar fit to take. White Flag—First quarter flood. The following Signals arc in use at the Port. Pilot —The Union Jack at the fore. Customs Boat—The Union Jack at the Peak. Gunpowder on board —The Union Jack at the main. Medical Assistance—The Union Jack over the Ensign at the peak. Government Emigrants on board—Ensign at the mizen masthead. Mails on hoard —-White flag at the fore. Boarding Officer —Blue Hag at the main. Clearing Officer—White flag at the main. Police—The Ensign at the main. Do. at night—Two lights vertical at the peak, having five feet between the two,