Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1850-05-10
VOLUME Ill. NUMBER 81.
. Big Able vs.. aLlltIe Nanhattan.s


Itwould be difficult to find more quiet and
retired place than tlfe Sulphur Springs at NJ
The hotel is large and commodious, and new
er nnconfortably crowded--at the time write
of, there may have been a. the . Pavilion
an hundred persons, all told, principally Ia
dies: and these ladies, thoagh daughters of
the frozen North, were themselves, fair and
warm as the summer sun.
There was here none Of tue ridiculous for
nlality and etiquette of fashionable watering
places. We formed rather an extensive kind
of . family circle" each and all, feeling it
duty as well as a pleasure to contribute their
mite to the fund of general anusements-
here met young r., a lively and most
/ agreeable person. intelligent, but exceedingly
slight and small Of stature, almost dwarf, a
real little pocket Adonis and most decided
pet of the ladies, as was his antichesis Tom
B, who stood six feet and | don't know
how many inches in his stockings; broad,
heavy, coarse-built fellow, strong as Lion,
proud of his strength which with the eXcep-
tion of his good nature, was all he had to be
proud of. If he had a falling, (more particu-
arly failing,) than any other in his catalogue
it was his sovereign contempt for any one not
possessed of physical strength.
R, of course met no favor in his eyes,
weak, small and delicate as he appeared.
One evening after supper, the conversation
turned on feats Of strength; Tom B-held
chairs ont at arms length, bent pokers over
his arm, took with apparent ease, one after an
other, such heavy whiskey toddies as few or
dinary men could carry, glorided himself and
other SIMPSONS until he reached a pitch Of
general excitement.
"Why Tom," quietly observed R, g a
great frame is not always indicative of great
strength, neither does a slight one indicate the
reverse; [ am very small and very slender,yet
viii bet you supper and champagne for the
party, that can carry you from the Pavilion
to the Spring and back, without putting you
down.
"Carry me-"
81 Yes, carry gou ~
" Nonsense! my weight would crush you
"Well, well. that's my look out; will you
bet the supper -
"SuPper! yes, fifty suPPers why you lit
tie cherub, l weigh nearly 300 pounds; do
you dare 10 think that you can carry me from
the Pavilion to the Spring and back again,
without putting me down 7"
Z" That is what l offer TO do, but you are to
use no unfair means 10 prevent, no dragging
of your legs, or anything of that sort"
"Of course not"
al am to carry yoa to the Spring and back
without putting you down, that's the bet"
'That's it, that's the bet, nice investment
for your surplus capital"
All doubted RS ability to accomplish the
feat, yet from his determined manner, some
were induced 10 back him; still, bets were
freely offered at two to one against him, Tom
B. being among the most extensive operators.
1t was an incident in the quiet routine Of
our household. The young gentlemen told it
to the young ladies; the young ladies thought
it would be capital fun, but they were afraid
that poor little r. would strain himself.
ar. says he viii do it if he breaks blood
vessel"
" Oh, shockingI'
The excitement increases, and many pairs
of gloves, handkerchiefs and boquets were
staked uponthe result. Next morning r. did
not make his appearance at breakfast, and it
was rumored that he had sat up all night max
ing his will, and practising with dumb bells.
At length the clock struck twelve, the hour
appointed for the performance; all is hustle, !
confusion and excitement, ndt only the Piazzas !
and balconies, but the entire road from the !
Pavilion to the Spring was lined with ladies';
their little sun shades glanced in the sunbeams
and their light summer scarfs waved to the
breeze. /
And now amid breathless silence, steps forth
from the hall of the pavilion, the observed Of
all observers, the dwarf and the giant.
Expectation is on tip-toe, the excitement IS
intense, when suddenly the musical voice Of
r., breaking the solemn silence is heard to
exclaim-
"Strip''
"What? says the giant.
Strip! repeated R.
g What the ID do you meant
"Why, exactly what l say-strip, con e
hurry, don't disappoint the ladies'"
a. y ou don't mean undress Z"
g Yes l do, 1 wagered to carry Yot, you are
heavy enough in all conscience, l am not go
ing to burthen myself with an extra fifty pounds
of clothing"
"You don't mean to pretend that you were
to carry me ,oiiAo,st my ciothes2" almost shrek
ed the astouisbed piant
81 bet that would carry y0ti, and nothing
else; will you get ready :"
sold, oh! Jemima and by such little
devil ~ exclaimed Tom, and seizing r. by