Isaac W. Sprague

Isaac W. Sprague (May 21, 1841, in East Bridgewater, Massachusetts [http://www.showhistory.com/humanskeletons.html Human Skeletons] ] - January 5, 1887, in Chicago, Illinois [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9B0CE1DE1639E233A25754C0A9679C94669FD7CF "Death of 'Living Skeleton'"] , "New York Times", January 7, 1887.] ) was a famous "human skeleton".

Although normal for most of his childhood, Sprague began losing weight at age 12. [http://www.stevenbolin.com/freaks/sprague.html I. W. Sprague: Steven Bolin's Vintage Sideshow Photographs] ] In 1865, he joined a circus sideshow, becoming "the Living Skeleton" or "the Original Thin Man". [http://thehumanmarvels.com/blog/?p=52 The Human Marvels: Isaac W. Sprague] verify credibility|date=September 2008] The next year P. T. Barnum hired Sprague to work at his American Museum until it burned down in 1868, continuing off and on to tour him throughout the country. By the age of 44, he was 5 feet and 6 inches tall with a weight of only 43 pounds. He died in poverty due to asphyxia.

He married Minnie Thompson or Tamar Moore, and the couple had three sons.

References

External links

* [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9404E0DF113BE033A25750C2A9649D94629FD7CF "The Living Skeleton; He Agrees to Give His Body to Harvard Medical College"] , "New York Times", December 23, 1883.
* [http://www.sideshowworld.com/blowoffIsaacSprague1.html Isaac Sprague Pitch Flyer]
* [http://www.showhistory.com]