Rensselaer Republican, Volume 27, Number 5, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 September 1894 — A “CORNCOB ARM.” [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

A “CORNCOB ARM.”

A Growing Ear of Corn Takes On a Human Likeness. Cincinnati Enquirer. ■ The likeness of a human arm and hand presented in every detail upon a common corn cob is the freak of nature owned by C. B. Cundiff, of Somerset, Ky. Two years ago it was found growing upon its parent stalkin a field near that city, owned by Win. Anderson. When the ear was pulled it was thought to be one of frequent those bunches found in everyfiel d It was husked and throw n in to the crib until the following autumn. When it came to shelling time curiosity wasdeveloped in all of its fullness. Among the superstitious it created a feeling of alarm, just as did the the alleged “handwriting of the Lord’, some weeks since. That clever fake was exposed through the examination of the sample blades by Professor Lloyd,the noted botanish. The “Corncob Arm,” as this phenomenon of nature is known,is, however, a genuine article. After being shown about the country it was finally presented to the present owner, Mr. Cundiff. He has had it measured and photographed for future reference, and prizes it most highly. The cob weighs 4} ouncesand is 8 8516 inches in length. From the butt to the palm of the hand is 51 inches. Its thickness at the butt is 5 1-16 inches and the wrist 4 inches. The thumb is inches in length, the first finger I}, the second I|, the 1 third 1J and the fourth lj. It will be seen by looking at the accompany ing cut that the arm, so called, is symmetrical, resembling the gloved

forearm of a woman extended as if in the act of reaching for somethings. A curious thing presented by the fingers is the mark, or crease, upon the inner surface usually made by the joint in the human. The owners of this curious thing have cleaned away the empty grain, cells, in order to more fully show the outlines of the hand. In other rcspects it is as it came from the husking bee. While there is nothing supernatural about it, yet it is so far from the ordinary as to excite the deepest interest. Ears of corn have been found that assumed different shapes that were amusing and mystifying, yet this particular specimen is believed to be the queerest product of nature in that line. It is known that the Indians set a great store by some of the gnarled and twisted ears that were discovered in their harvest. This was mentioned by Longfellow in “Hiawatha,” in which the merry huskers found a bent and dried ear and likened it to an old man. Mr. Cundiff keeps the freak at his home, and shows it upon only state occasions. He has received a great many offersd for the peculiar thing, but the prices offered have not been high enough to suit him. The peculiar formation of the ear is due to the production of double celled blossoms, such as occur in almost every form of plant life. Pumpkins and squashes have been known to take on the likeness of r the human* face and the root of the mandrake assumes the form of a man with startling fidelity. This is the first time on record that the useful and nourishing corn plant ever tried anything in that direction. It was the general impression among the ignorant when the freak appeared, that it signified that thfe arm of the Lord had been stretched forth to destroy the world. This, of course, was based upon immature study of the Bible.