People's Pilot, Volume 6, Number 22, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 November 1896 — A REMARKABLE MAN. [ARTICLE]

A REMARKABLE MAN.

WONDERFUL FEATS WITH LEGS MADE OF ALUMINIUM. With Their Aid He Can Do Many Things Which m Kan With Inga of Flesh Would Find DUS colt—ptade Them Himself and * Says He Prefers Them to His Old Ones. James T. Farrier is probably the most remarkable pedestrian that ever walked on a pair of artificial legs. He is willing to walk against any man who wears artificial legs for any distance from one mile to five miles for the championship of the world. And he is confident of his ability to win. His dexterity in using bis artificial limbs is wonderful. He never thinks of using a cane, a crutch or a staff for assistance, as do so many who move about on old fashioned wooden legs. In fact, any stranger seeing him pass through the street would never suspeot that he was not walking on the legs that nature gave him. He is a tall man, his gait is natural, and he walks with a swinging stride. Farmer Farrier 1b now a resident of Chicago, but until recently he lived on what he calls "a little farm of 1,500 acres” in the Bed River valley, in northwestern Minnesota. It was near the town of Crookston, in Polk county. There he was engaged in farming, and he raised wheat, oats and barley on an extensive scale, until misfortune overtook him. One winter’s day he got caught in a blizzard. This tells the whole story to any one who has ever encountered a genuine blizzard, whether in Kansas, in the Dakotas or in Minnesota. But those who have never had the experience know very little about the nature of a real blizzard. Early in February, 1898, when the mercury was ranging low and there was an ominous look in the sky, business took Farrier away from bis home on a trip to Minneapolis and St Paul. He transacted his business in those cities, and, after an absence of 17 days, started back with as little delay as possible. He knew that his wife and children would be waiting in great anxiety until his safe return. He had several miles to walk across the bleak prairies after he left the railway station nearest to his farm, but he thought nothing of this at the time, for he was muscular and fearless and could walk at a gait that would keep an ordinary pedestrian trotting beside him.

"•“I had come within sight of my boose, ” he says, in telling his awful experience, “before I began to feel that there was anything dangerons in the air. Then I knew a terrible storm Was coming, and I poshed forward with renewed energy. The color of the sky was like lead. No wind had been blowing for some time, bnt now I began to feel particles of sand and ice catting my faoe. Then I noticed for the first time a pale brownish yellow haze, or clond, extending many hundred feet above the earth. The air seemed charged with electricity, though it was bitterly cold. Deep snow lay over the whole country, and it began to swirl in blinding eddies. Still, I didn’t think I was in any danger. I felt sure I would be able to reach borne before the storm became violent, but it was not to be. “I was about 70 rods from my house when the blizzard struck me with all its fury. It seemed to come out of the northern sky like a flash. I have not been fearful about many things in r.y life, but you may well 'believe that uie first grip which that Minnesota biiza*rd laid upon me struck terror 10 my hearc. I one longing farewell look at my house the moment before every object in the heavens or on the earth was shut out from my sight and then made a herculean dash to reach it before the fury of the storm should overcome me. I could not see a foot before my face and was quickly carried out of my course. I missed the house, as I afterward learned, by about seven rods. Night oame on, darkness fell, and I was still standing buffet against the raging madness of that blizzard. At times it would lift me from my feet as though I was a leaf or a twig and then drop me to the ground. It was a night of despair. Again and again I would struggle to my feet and grope my way in blind confusion against the blast. At length, exhausted, I fell upon a drift, face downward and folded my arms under my head for a pillow, so that I could breathe. Then and there I gave up the struggle. I had a smothering sensation, but did not suffer any pain from the oold, although I knew I was slowly freezing to death. My last thoughts before I lost consciousness were of my wife and children awaiting my return at home, which I felt must be very near by. “The next morning at daybreak they oame out upon the search, and after ' much weary trailing found me two miles from home in the snowdrift where I had fallen. I was carried home as stiff as a petrified man. Both my feet were found to be frozen through and through as solid as chunks of ioe. The temperature was 42 degrees below zero. Three dayß later they, brought the doctors and had both my legs amputated a short distance below the knees. That is how I lost my legs.” It will probably be hard for him to keep out of the clutches of the dime museum men after obtaining the notoriety which this publication will give him. Although he has reduced his height in the manner described, he is still away above the average in tallness and as a high kicker has few equals. It is no trick for him to stand and kick an ordinary chandelier as it depends from the ceiling. In fact, he oan easily kick a foot or two higher than most chandeliers. He has often won wagers from men who were told that he wore artificial legs by kiobing a hat held seven to eight feet above the ground. In like manner he has won wagers by his natural style of walking from those who would not believe he was wholly dependent on artificial legs. Since his limbs were oat off and he adapted himself to his new pedals, he has made a

reoord of 15 feet in three standing Jumps, or five feet at a jump. As a dancer he is vigorous, enthusiastic and graceful. He danoes the schottish, waltz and cotillon with equal skill and grace. This remarkable man continued to do his own plowing and general farm work up in Minnesota for some time after he had adjusted his artificial limbs to his person. This made him the wonder of the entire neighborhood. People for miles around came to see him perform these seemingly impossible feats. Before sustaining the loss of his legs he was known over the entire countryside as ode of the greatest athletes and lover of outdoor sports in that section of the state. As a sprinter he was never beaten. Not only was be a champion runner, but as a long distance and high jumper he never met with one who could defeat him. He also rode one of the old fashioned high wheel bicycles with astonishing success. In a short time he expects to make his debut on a safety. He will also show to the world what he oan do in the way of fancy ice skating as soon as the winter rinks are thrown open. The artificial legs which he wears, and with whioh he is enabled to do bo many wonderful feats, were evolved out of his own brains and made by himself. They are made of sole leather and aluminium. The main body is stiff sole leather and the joints are aluminium set upon rubber bearings. The feet are made of rubber and wood, with toe and ankle joints and shoes are worn just as upon the natural feet. Farrier’s artificial legs are distinguished by their light weight and by the natural manner in whioh the joints work. They weigh only 2% pounds eaoh. Some of the old fashioned wooden legs, he says, weigh more than fonr times, as mnoh as his invention. His legs are held in place by means of a supporting strap which passes up over the breast and shoulders and about the neck. He sits down and rises from a ohair without the help of his hands, and crosses his legs and assumes all natural and easy positions with apparently as little effort as any man on earth.—Chicago Times-Herald.