Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1845-07-12
A H.reu,.. or IN. Day. or,n. Revolution.


The editor of the Memphis Eagle has been
examining a number of the Columbia Centnel
printed in Boston, July, 1901, being then in its
}5lh volume. Under the obituary head OF the
Cen,inel, says the editor we find the following
account of the exploits ofa second Simpson -
"Mr. William Dowst, who lately died at Sa-
lem. was man of uncommon size and strength
He was nearly feet high, and weighed 800
weight. The following instances will prove
his great degree Of strength. He was ON board
a privateer in the last war, which got among
the breakers off Cape Breton, when 1t became
necessary Immediately to cast anchor ; but there
being none upon deck, as many hands laId hold
as could get at it, but could not start IT;
Dowst pushed them aside, seized it himself
brought it upon deck, carried it forward, and
held it upon the timber heads while cable
WIS bent to it, when he threw it over, and saved
the vessel and lives of the crew, as they we're
then upon the point of dashing upon the rocks
the anchor weighed 700 weight
At another time, or 10 hands were sent to
Beckets ship yard from the well known pri-
vatcer ship Gra,d Turk, to bring up fore yard
tor the ship Dowst was among them, bot ma
turaliy dilatory, he did not at first take hold
the others shoulJered it, but began to stagger
under it, and complained that there was not e.
nough to carry it. Dowst laughed at them. told
thom he Would carry it alone; on which they
threw it down, and he took it up and carried it
to the ship without assistance.
At another time, when he attended the fish
stakes at Windmill Point, he was directed by
his employer to go for lnckass which was in
an adjoining field; when Dowst got him to the
partition fence, being in rather lazy mood. TO
save himself the trouble of letting down the
bars, he took up the beast and lifted him over,
and then got upon his back, and rode him To the
place where he was to he employed. lie once
raised from the ground the anchor of the prize
ship Redemption, which weighed 100, and
which four men had Immediately endeavored
in vain TO lift upon bet.
Bciag at Bbon, in the late war, in pri-
vatecr, an English vessel came in, which had
in its crew a protessed bully, who was chal-
longing every one to combat, and hearing Of
Dowst sent particular challenge to him they
met, and the Englshman, who was superior to
our Samson in the art of boxing, Knocked him
down three times, and the last time twisted his
fingers into his hair to gouge him, when Dowsi
gave him blow on his arm which broke it,
and with another blow he broke in three of the
bully's ribs, who, it is sad died of his wounds
Dowst, with his amazing strength, was re-
markably good natured, and tender in his feel
ings, and rather Of an indolent habit but when
he was aroused TO anger or eXerton his efforts
were irresistible. He enjoyed through lite a
large share ofheallh. For three months pre-
vious to his death he had been afflicted with
the dropsy, but appeared to have considerably
recovered, and the last day of his life he walked
the greater part Of the day, according to hisusu-
al habit-but the next morning his wife found
hlm dead in bed.