Although normal for most of his childhood, Sprague began irreversibly losing weight at age 12 after feeling ill after swimming.[1][3] The weight loss continued throughout his life despite having a healthy appetite.[4] His condition has been described by historians as extreme progressive muscular atrophy. This ultimately led to his death.[5]
Sprague bounced around from job to job during early adulthood. He worked as both a cobbler for his father and a grocer. However, his illness kept him from continuing down either of those career paths.[4] His parents died and Sprague could not work enough to support himself, so he was left unemployed.[6] In 1865, he was offered a job at a circussideshow, where he became known as "the Living Skeleton" or "the Original Thin Man".[3]
The next year P. T. Barnum, the director of the circus, hired Sprague to work at his (newly reopened and successful) American Museum Freak show. Barnum paid Sprague $80 a week for his services.[4] Sprague remembered the moment Barnum offered him the job: "Mr. Barnum stood very near me, and I overheard him say to his agent, 'Pretty lean man, where did you scare him up?'"[6]
Barnum's Museum burned down in 1868 and Sprague managed to escape with his life. At this point, Sprague took time off to marry his wife, Tamar Moore.[7]: 103 They had three sons who lived healthy, normal lives.[6]
Sprague made attempts to stay away from the sideshow, but he could not escape financial distress. It is rumored that in addition to being financially responsible for his wife and their three sons, Sprague had a gambling problem.[4] His condition also kept him from finding real work anywhere other than Barnum's, so he continued to tour off and on throughout the country and eventually overseas.[8][unreliable source?]
By the age of 44, he was 5 feet and 6 inches (168 cm) tall with a weight of only 43 pounds (19.5 kg).[3] Sprague's condition required him to be constantly taking in nutrients. His health was in such a poor state that he often carried milk in a flask around his neck. He would sip this from time to time to keep himself up and conscious.[4]
Sprague was the first of many more Living Skeleton acts to come. In a result of forced promotion and work pressure, it was not uncommon for the Living Skeleton act to marry the Fat Lady act.[4]
Personal life
Sprague married Miss Tamar Moore shortly after 1868 and the couple had three strong, healthy, robust sons.[1] Sprague found happiness in his family. He described his new found joy, "Life, that had at times seemed so little worth preserving, now seemed more precious."[6]
^ abcd"Death of 'Living Skeleton'". New York Times. January 7, 1887. Retrieved 2015-03-28. Isaac Sprague, the "living skeleton," died here yesterday. He was born in Bridgeport, Mass., and was quite healthy until his twelfth year, when he caught a cramp while in swimming, fell sick, and lost flesh until he weighed only 46 pounds. Barnum took him all over the United States, Canada, and England. He was married and the father of three robust children.
"The Living Skeleton; He Agrees to Give His Body to Harvard Medical College", New York Times, December 23, 1883.
May 11, 2023
isaac, sprague, 1841, january, 1887, entertainer, sideshow, performer, billed, living, human, skeleton, sprague, 1867, contents, biography, personal, life, also, references, external, linksbiography, edithe, born, 1841, east, bridgewater, massachusetts, althou. Isaac W Sprague May 21 1841 January 5 1887 was an entertainer and sideshow performer billed as the living human skeleton 1 Sprague in 1867 age 26 Contents 1 Biography 2 Personal life 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksBiography EditHe was born on May 21 1841 in East Bridgewater Massachusetts 2 Although normal for most of his childhood Sprague began irreversibly losing weight at age 12 after feeling ill after swimming 1 3 The weight loss continued throughout his life despite having a healthy appetite 4 His condition has been described by historians as extreme progressive muscular atrophy This ultimately led to his death 5 Sprague bounced around from job to job during early adulthood He worked as both a cobbler for his father and a grocer However his illness kept him from continuing down either of those career paths 4 His parents died and Sprague could not work enough to support himself so he was left unemployed 6 In 1865 he was offered a job at a circus sideshow where he became known as the Living Skeleton or the Original Thin Man 3 The next year P T Barnum the director of the circus hired Sprague to work at his newly reopened and successful American Museum Freak show Barnum paid Sprague 80 a week for his services 4 Sprague remembered the moment Barnum offered him the job Mr Barnum stood very near me and I overheard him say to his agent Pretty lean man where did you scare him up 6 Barnum s Museum burned down in 1868 and Sprague managed to escape with his life At this point Sprague took time off to marry his wife Tamar Moore 7 103 They had three sons who lived healthy normal lives 6 Sprague made attempts to stay away from the sideshow but he could not escape financial distress It is rumored that in addition to being financially responsible for his wife and their three sons Sprague had a gambling problem 4 His condition also kept him from finding real work anywhere other than Barnum s so he continued to tour off and on throughout the country and eventually overseas 8 unreliable source By the age of 44 he was 5 feet and 6 inches 168 cm tall with a weight of only 43 pounds 19 5 kg 3 Sprague s condition required him to be constantly taking in nutrients His health was in such a poor state that he often carried milk in a flask around his neck He would sip this from time to time to keep himself up and conscious 4 He died on January 5 1887 in poverty of asphyxia in Chicago Illinois 1 2 8 Sprague was the first of many more Living Skeleton acts to come In a result of forced promotion and work pressure it was not uncommon for the Living Skeleton act to marry the Fat Lady act 4 Personal life EditSprague married Miss Tamar Moore shortly after 1868 and the couple had three strong healthy robust sons 1 Sprague found happiness in his family He described his new found joy Life that had at times seemed so little worth preserving now seemed more precious 6 See also EditArtie Atherton Peter Robinson The Living Skeleton References Edit a b c d Death of Living Skeleton New York Times January 7 1887 Retrieved 2015 03 28 Isaac Sprague the living skeleton died here yesterday He was born in Bridgeport Mass and was quite healthy until his twelfth year when he caught a cramp while in swimming fell sick and lost flesh until he weighed only 46 pounds Barnum took him all over the United States Canada and England He was married and the father of three robust children a b Human Skeletons a b c I W Sprague Steven Bolin s Vintage Sideshow Photographs a b c d e f J Tithonus Pednaud Isaac W Sprague The Original Living Skeleton The Human Marvels June 29 2016 M Asher Cantrell The True Stories Behind 11 Famous Sideshow Performers Mental Floss June 28 2016 a b c d Isaac W Sprague The Original Thin Man June 29 2016 Nickell Joe 2005 Secrets of the sideshows Lexington Ky University Press of Kentucky ISBN 0 8131 7179 2 OCLC 65377460 a b The Human Marvels Isaac W SpragueExternal links Edit The Living Skeleton He Agrees to Give His Body to Harvard Medical College New York Times December 23 1883 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Isaac W Sprague amp oldid 1148729189, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
