Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1871-11-03
Anecdote nfMr. Eminr.

Mr.. j. Sulliyant, a prominent citizen
of Columbus, furnishes the Journal with
this incident:
was born in the old village of Frank
linton, which was the seat OF Justice for
Franklin county, until 1925 or '2G In
my boyhood was frequent attendant
in the Old Court House during the scs-
sions OF the Court, where was often
gathered the best legal talent of the State
Besides the members of our own bar,
Gus Swan Orris and John Parrish, John
A. Mcdowell, Thomas BaclIus, David
Smith, j. b. Wilcox, James X. Cary and
others, there were from other counties
b. Tappen, Baldwin, Wright, Hammond
and Stanbery from the Eeastern part OF
the State, and Creighton, Scott, Brush
and Dick Douglas from Chillcothe,
John Irwin, Slaughter, Beecher and
Thomas Ewing of Lancaster, and others
from Delaware, GAINESVILLE, London and
Dayton, who attended at the old Court
House in Franklinton.
well recollect the first time | saw
Thomas Ewing, then young lawyer,
not yet having much business, or max
ing much of a mark. was struck with
his large head, and generally massive
and muscular, but rather awkward
build. 1t was summer time, and the
Court had adjourned early in the after
noon. Several OF the lawyers remained,
and the conversation turned upon ath-
letic exercises and feats Of strength.
Among those present was Joe Nc
Dowell, brother oi Abram and John
He declared that he was 50 swift of foot
that he had never been beaten in race
OF one hundred yards, and he believed
he could not be beaten, and offered to
bet ten dollars he could beat any one in
the crowd. Finally Orris Parrish took
him up, and they went out on the
green. 1t was not yet determined who
was to be McDowelPs competitor, but
when the ground was measured off, Mr.
Ewing, who had taken but little part in
! the conversation, and whose demeanol
l had been very modest and retiring
offered himself to run the race, and t
the surprise OF all, for none supposed h
could run.
Judges and shareholders were ap
pointed, and / will never forget tn
+ gleam Of Ewing's eye or his air of rcso
e lntiOn as he stripped off coat, vest am
shoes, and took his place. The wor,
IL go was given, and the Young athlete
| Nl'itllit W. WIN etil tNtll Sltilf ppbi
II however, Ewing began to gain and cam
to the winning post well ahead Of Nc
G Dowell, who was so chagrined at tn
g result that he began to find excuses
II and said he had tripped and stumble
II or otherwise he would have wor
t, Ewing smiled and said; "Well, if 20
q are not satisfied let us try again" The
q did run again, and Mcdowell wa
n beaten worse than before
{ Other sports and trials were mad,
* Standing jumps, running jumps, shou
y der stone, throwing the axe and I'll
Il maui, in all of which Mr.. Ewing prove
;, his superiority, and finally the hig
81 jump over stretched string was trie'
i, but on which Mr. l.. made no atteml
III until Mr.. Mcdowell, who proved Il
l. best at this exercise, challenged him
ar beat that" Ewing replied, "Well, l.
N me see your best, and when Med. WI
te done, +. had the Judges put the stril
lg four inches higher, and stepping back
ne few feet, he came at it with curiol
$ sidelong swing and motion, and over |
n went amid the cheers of the crowd.