Celestine Tate Harrington, an ingenious street entertainer who finessed her deformities and wowed Boardwalk tourists by playing an electric organ with her tongue, died from injuries suffered in a traffic accident. She was 42.
Harrington, who lived, performed and traveled face down on a motorized hospital-style gurney, was injured a week ago Thursday while riding down the middle of a street when a car slammed into the gurney and knocked it into another vehicle, throwing her.She died Wednesday at Atlantic City Medical Center, according to spokeswoman Anna Bauer.
A Philadelphia native, Harrington was born with stunted, useless arms and legs after her teenage mother tried unsuccessfully to abort her with a coat hanger.
The 4-foot-10 inch, 191-pound woman had elbows and knees, but her hands and feet did not have fully formed digits and she couldn't use them to grip.
What she did have was an angelic voice and sweet disposition that belied the cruel hand she was dealt.