Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1842-01-29
The Yankee and the Briton--Puliing sticks

The Yankee and the BrttOn--puihnS stichs'
At the time Buffalo was burnt, during the
last war between the United States and Great
Britain, small body of Americans were taken
prisoners, and conducted towards Montreal.
1t was in the dopth Of Canadian winter and
they had to lrre their course through pathless
forests, and over frozen streams. Their suffer
ings were intense, but they at length arrived
at post held by Major the British Grena-
diers. lie invited tie American officers to an ,
entertainments The sight of a well bodied Ia |
Bile of delicacies that would tempt the appetite /
Of an cpicure, WIS a particularly pleasing APP |
pearancc to men who Ind for several days tared
upon scanty supply of food, and that not Of the
most palatuble kind; and as they seated them
selves at the board, wars, battles, defeats, were
Tor the present forgottcn-Afer the cloth was
removed, the wine circulated freely. One top
ic of conversation after another vas exhausted,
until .inally they began to speak OF the com
paratiye strength and agility ofthc Yankees
and British. The British officers came 10 the
conclusion that they surpassed the Americans
in almost every thing a powerful built
Yankee inquired,
In what can you exceed us ?
why in treyy thing but III strength in par
ticuar.'
well, in what particular feat of strength =
'Nhy IN pulling sticks
Very well, what wall you bet
Fifty dollars
| The money was stakcd, and one Of the Eng
ishmen Immediately left the room, and soon
AFTER returned, accompanied by man of cuor-
nous statue, who completely filed the door.
way as he entered. Him the English officers
! had selected for their champion. To this ar
rangemcnt the Yankee objected, alleging that
as the bet was made with the officers, some
one who was present when the bet was made,
should make the trial--if not, the bet was void
However, the Britons maintained the contrary,
and that he must pull and pull with the giant.
Althourh he was himselfa man large pro.
' :. y, hing two hundred and thirtyfve
p,u lost some of his confidence at be-
holding The extraordinary bulk of his antago-
| "Is.. - :, ia. -
his experience in the feat, and considering it
disgraceful to finch, he seated himself on the
floor in front of the Brton. A stick was placed
between them. The British officers looked on
with conference.-the Americans with npprc-
hensions At the first trial the hands of the
Briton slipped of, and the Yankee rose and
claimed the wager, according to The rules Of
the play. But It would not do--he must pull
again. They placed themselves again in the
right position, and again the Brtons hand gave
way. The money was now awarded to the
Yankee, but the British insisted that he should
pull the giant up.
Very we'll said the Yankee, TIE nIM TC
THE STICK, THEN
Ilandkerchiefs were procured and wound
round the Eneishmen's wrists, and then round
the stick. All was ready, Slowly and witt
tremulous exerion of muscular strength, tht
; Yankee raised the enormous mass of flesh, IN
til he had made him fairly upon polse, wheI
! his fugers split off, and down came the English
man upon the floor, with weight and moist
that babe fair to make him a tenant of the Gel
lar. The roar of laughter which succeeded
, was almost dcaienng, in the midst otwhcl
, the Brlton-as soon as he had recovered Int
tie from the effects of the concussion-slunI
% away, glad to escape the jeers OF his compan
ions, raised hy the effects Of the YANEER TRtcS
;. Saturday Courier