John Fasel

For the football coach, see John Fassel.

John Fasel (c. 1881 – ?) was an American man known for his eating habits. Nicknamed the "Human Ostrich", he was active in New York City and ate metal objects as part of a performance act.

Career

Fasel was born c. 1881.[1] In June 1899, he was hired as a performer in a freak show. He also worked as an independent performer with his John Fasel Association.[2] He lived in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.[1] He was nicknamed the "Human Ostrich" and less popularly the "Chain Swallower"[3] and "The Human Junk Shop". He suffered from epilepsy and was hospitalized due to the condition in October 1908.[4]

In January 1900, Fasel was admitted to St. John's Episcopal Hospital for indigestion.[5] Doctors removed three pocket watch chains, twenty-four nails, three keys, five hairpins, 128 pins, and some pocketknives, among other objects. Following the procedure, doctors suggested he change his career, so he then worked as a tailor,[2] though tailoring did not pay enough, and by February, he returned to performing.[5]

On August 4, 1900, Fasel was admitted to Saint Catherine of Siena Medical Center for indigestion.[2] Doctors removed three or four nails and a piece of bone, and was released from the hospital on August 8.[2][6] He claimed he was coerced by a group of men at a saloon into eating the nails with the threat of violence.[2] Though, Dr. Klein claimed that he had a photograph of Fasel's x-ray, which showed no objects in his stomach.[7] After the surgery, Fasel returned to performing, now keeping a compendium of what he swallowed and working more cautiously.[1]

In 1904, Fasel was admitted to German Hospital for indigestion.[1] Doctors removed thirteen pounds of objects from his stomach,[4] including eighteen nails, six knives, six keys, a pocket watch chain, a keychain, two pins, and a buttonhook.[1][5][8] Doctors claimed that the objects themselves did not harm Fasel, but their combined weight caused his stomach to sag.[1] After the procedure, he stated that he would retire from performing.[5]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f "A Living Junk-Shop". Hartford Courant. 6 May 1904. p. 10. Retrieved 2026-03-14.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Junk Eater Critically Ill". The New York Times. 1900-08-06. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2026-03-14.
  3. ^ "A Human Ostrich". The Marlboro Democrat. 13 May 1904. p. 1. Retrieved 2026-03-14.
  4. ^ a b "Was Human Junk Shop". San Antonio Express. 16 October 1908. p. 4. Retrieved 2026-03-14.
  5. ^ a b c d McClure's Magazine. S.S. McClure Company. 1904. p. 486.
  6. ^ ""Human Ostrich" Relieved". The New York Times. 1900-08-08. p. 7. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2026-03-14.
  7. ^ "Junk Eater Under X-Rays". The New York Times. 1900-08-07. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2026-03-14.
  8. ^ "Human Ostrich Dines Too Fast On Hardware". The New York Times. 1904-04-13. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2026-03-23.
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