Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1871-12-07
"REMINISCENCES OF THOs. EWING.
His Excellence In Athletic sports.


A correspondent of the Ohio State
Journal writes
81 was born in the old village of
Franklinton, which was the seat of
Justice for Franklin county until 1926
or '26. In my boyhood I was fire.
quent attendant in the old Court House
during the sessions of the Court, where
was often gathered the best legal tai
ent of the state.
81 woll recollect the first time saw
Thomas Ewing, then a young lawyer,
not yet having much business or MAX
ing much of mark. was struck
with his large head, and generally
massive and muscular, but rather awk
ward build. 1t was summertime, and
the court had adjourned early in the
afternoon. Several of the lawyers re.
manned, and the conversation turned
upon athletic exercises and feats of
strength. Among those present was
Joe Mcdowell, brother of Abram and
John.
He declared that he was 80 swift of
foot that he had never been beaten in
race of one hundred yards, and he be-
licved he could not be beaten, and Of
fered to bet ten dollars he could beat
any one in tho crowd. Finally Orris
Parrish took him up, and they went
out on the green. It was not yet de-
tcrmined who was to be McDowells
competitor, but when the ground was
measured off, Mr.. Ewing, who had ia
ken but little part in the conversation,
and whose demeanor had been very
modest and retiring, offered himself to
run the race, and to the surprise of all,
for none supposed he could rum
Judges and shareholders were appoint
ed, and Twill never forget the CLEAN of
Ewing's eye or his air of resolution as
he stripped off coat, vest and shoes,
and took his place. The word go was
given, and the young athletes sprang
OFT with an even start; soon,
however, Ewing began to gain and
came to the winning post we'll ahead Of
Mcdowell, who was 50 chagrined ut the
result that lie began to find excuses,
and said he had tripped and stumbled
or otherwise he would have won.
Ewing smiled and said: well, if you
are not satisfied let us try again. They
did run again, and Mcdowell was
beaten worse than before. Other
sports and trials were made. Standing
jumps, running jumps, shouldering
stones, throwing the axe and the maui,
in all which Mr.. Ewing proved his SUI
periority, and finally the high Jump
over a stretched string was tried. Nj.
Ewing made no attempt at this, until
Mr.. Mcdowell, who proved the best,
challenged him to beat that. Ewing
replied, well, let us see your best. ;
and when Mcdowell was done, Ewing
put the string four inches higher, and,
stepping back q few feet, came at it
with curious sidelong swing and mo-
ton, and over he went amid the cheers
of the crt wd.
''Some twenty years ago, when serv-
ing on the City School Board with Will
linn Long, We were one evening wait
ing for quorum when our conversation
ranged over some of the men and Incl
dents of our early settlement. Said
MIR. Long, 1t was, I think, somewhere
about 1914, when was chunk of q
boy, that my father sent me in search
of some horses that had strayed away.
We we're then living in Ross county,
and l had gone up into the eastern
edge of Pickaway, looking in the rich
range of that region for the missing
horses, when crossing one of the natur-
al grassy prairies and listening for the
sound of the horses bell, which was
familiar to me, found acow-bell in my
path which I fastened to my body and
amused myself with it's chatter as went
along. At some distance I perceived a
man coming in direction that would
soon intercept my path. AS we ap-
preached I noticed he was dressed in q
hunting shirt and buckskin breeches,
and intently reading book. As we
met he stopped suddenly, and thrust
ing the book into the bosom of his
shirt, he said abruptly, "Where did
you get that bell? 2" I found it back
here. "Well, said he, "It il my bell
and I mean to have it," I replied, if
you are stronger than I am you can
get it. He Immediately seized me
with hug like bear and attempted
to crush me down. I was strong, act
i've and wiry far beyond my looks, and
after severe tussle he suddenly let me
go, and breaking into hearty laugh,
said, "You are a better man than took
you for; what is your name?'' I re.
piled, my name is William Long-what
is your Nance "Tom Ewing is my
name, was the reply
"'He inquired the way to the Scioto
salt-works, and after a few minutes
conversation we parted, he pulling out
his book and reading, and I rejoicing
IN the chatter of my cow-bell. Our next
meeting WAS in the Court House in
Franklinton years afterward, where l
had been summoned as a juror
Il mention these incidents now,
trust, without improperly, for I be-
lieve it was the early physical training
which MIR. Ewing received that enabled
him not only to compete successfully
in all athletic sports, but gave him also
that capacity of endurance that his
great brain-poWer required. We all
know what an intellectual giant he be-
came, and that in his death Ohio has
lost her foremost man, one whose men,
DRY she will cherish and delight to
honor hereafter, when the mists and
prejudices OF parties and of politics
shall have cleared away
Tho Snris