(
The Video above by Andrew Conway is of a performance Spider Man
gave at the Grand Bahama Regatta at Taino Beach on June 19th, 2008)
Freeport, Bahamas - On a blessed day of March 12, 1951, a handsome precious baby boy was
born to Albertha Fernander and Anthony Omen Higgs. They named
him Anthony Rudulph Higgs. At the age of one the disease Polio affected
his body, but despite that he grew up to be a very creative young man.
Entertainment was his passion, and he worked as a performer who ate
glass and danced on broken bottles and developed the name, "The Amazing
Spider Man".
This world renown Bahamian performing artist passed away just before Christmas of 2010. Anthony "Spider Man" Higgs performed not only throughout the islands of The
Bahamas, but also in Baltimore and Chicago in the United States of
America. Over the past few years, through old age and other reasons unknown, he had
stopped performing, but Higgs will long be remembered for his cutlass bending, glass eating,
fire spitting, and crawling on his hands, which earned him the name
"Spider Man".
"The Amazing Spiderman and Tony Smith" at the Yellow Bird Show Club in Grand Bahama Island
The Bahamas Weekly spoke with his daughter Omece who recalled her father with tears in her eyes as she said she had not yet really grieved his passing as she has trouble believing he was actually gone.
Mr. Higgs was born and grew up in Nassau, Bahamas but later moved to Grand Bahama Island. Having started in the entertainment business before Freeport, he continued in that profession accepting a job with the Princess Casino and later worked at the Yellow Bird Show Club.
Omece is the second eldest daughter, but the first with his wife Icelyn. Anthony and Icelyn had two more children, a younger daughter Sarah and
son Anthony Jr. Spider Man's oldest daughter is Mitzi.
Omece said that although she was not his oldest child she felt she may have been his favourite, as she had the distinct honour of going to his shows with him and helping with his stage performances, She handed him his his props as he asked for them. This brought a lot of joy to her as a young girl.
According to Omece, over the years, and with his plunge into drugs, the marriage dissolved. Omece said despite that she still loved her father very much and he never neglected his children. She described her father as a very nice and personable man who was not only an entertainer, but also a mechanic.
She recalled his driving lessons which began with sessions on what goes on under the hood of the car as well as how to operate it. She said he was always laughing and always telling jokes, and loved to help people.
Anthony 'Tony' Higgs, aka The Amazing Spider Man
December 2010, the month her father died, Omece said he was living on and taking care of a friend's boat in Port Lucaya, and she feels he may have missed his footing when he was getting off the boat, noting that he had a bad leg, and may have fallen into the water. He was found drowned in the Port Lucaya waterway.
Her father had been accustomed to going to church with Omece and her children and the Sunday before the incident, while driving she felt compelled to stop the car suddenly and look at him. She then asked him if he was scared. He replied that only people who didn't know the Lord were afraid of dying.
She said that the pastor of her church told her that on that same Sunday he had asked "Spider" about doing a performance for a benefit concert to help the church and the reply he received was, "If I am still around, I would love to help." Omece said she felt that her father may have had a feeling his time was coming to an end.
Family Man: From left to right top, Spider Man, grandson Anthony Jr, daughter Omece; middle: grandson Oneil and bottom: grand daughter Aleshia
Spider Man's memorial service, "Going Home Celebration" was held on December 18th at the Church of God in Freeport, Grand Bahama and his internment is at the Grand Bahama Memorial Park.
The following was written by his sister Beb, My Big Brother:
Anthony 'Tony' Spider Man, my mother's precious handsome first born. Against the odds you grew into a fine lovely gentleman. At the tender age of one, the disease Polio affected you. Despite that you rose, developed and grew in show business and became number one.
In the early 70s, I remember you climbing up and down on your hands the sixty-six steps of the Queen's Staircase, attracting scores of attention from locals and visitors too. You had stamina, courage, and believed in God and yourself that you could make it.
Polio affected your lower limbs, it did not destroy your ingenuity, creativity, intelligence, innovation, ideas, thoughts morally and spiritually.
Entertaining was your first love, but you were an excellent mechanic. You moved like a spider, you twisted, sprawled out, crawled, slid and glided as if you had no bones or a waist. Your acts of eating glass and dancing on broken bottles were indeed amazing!
You will be remembered as the incredible, world famous and amazing "Spider Man".
Take your rest, we love you but Jesus loves you best. May your soul rest in Peace.
Love your sister Beb & Siblings
Spider Man with wife Icelyn (Omece's mom), and granddaughter Aleshia
Left to cherish his fond memories are:
(3) Daughters: Mitzi, Omece, and Sarah Higgs.
His Son: Anthony Higgs Jr.
(12) Grand Children: Malinda, Denoviya, Dennis, Ricardo, Ladeya, Laquell, Eltedra, Micah, Aleshia, Oneal, Leroy, and Anthony III
(3) Great Grand Children: Devontea, Carlisha, and Lavon
(6) Sisters: Sharon Creary, Patricia Roach, Elizabeth Knowles, Sarah Nadia, Devonia, Henricka and Julia.
(1) Brother: John Newis
Pall Bearers: John Lewis, Oneal Poitier, Don Knowles, Dennis White, Anthony Higgs Jr, Leroy Poitier, Ricardo Mitchell
Honorary Pall Bearers: Cliff Aleverares, Cruz Aleverares, Devon Creary, Joshua Rolle, Samuel Romer, and Desmond Durram.
Spider Man curves a cutlass(machete) into his chest and neck area.
Performing at Ocean Reef in Grand Bahama.
Known for his upper body strength developed after dealing with Polio as a child. Performing here at the Yellow Bird Show Club
Spider Man Eating Glass
Spider Man was printed up in The Sun from Boca Raton, Florida on May 27, 1986. It reads, "He calls himself Spiderman, but he doesn't weave webs, prey on criminals or have his own cartoon show on Saturday mornings. A star attraction in Nassau, The Bahamas, Spiderman fascinates his audiences by performing feats that would frighten even the stout-hearted. Spectators gasp when Spiderman swallows broken glass, or presses a machete to his jugular vein, and shake their heads in wonder at this amazing man's incredible contortions."
Spider Man with and a friend from Baltimore named Tema
Performing at the Yellow Bird Show Club
Spider Man performing at Ocean Reef in Grand Bahama Island.
A tourist lights her cigarette from Spider Man's flaming mouth at the Yellow Bird Show Club in Grand Bahama
