The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-08-11

a ,eIRo 90 MAs.-[From the New BRUINS
VICE >eporter.l Thomas, or Tom Gardnes,
IS he was fam,lisrly called, was born on the
r' ,er st, John, one mile above the mouth OF
the Mastaqusck stream, in the year loo.
Viewed casually, Gardner gave no eVldence
Of unusual power, but when stripped DIS
muscular development was tremendous, ana
It is aearmed that instead OF the ORDINARY
ribs, he possessed solid bony wall on eltner
aide, and that there was no separation "na,-
ever. He stood Eve feet ten and nall
inches. erect and fnh-chested, and never ex'
ceefed 1870 pounds IN weight. Ine iate
| Charles Long infordBed us that at one time
1 he saw Gardner lift from toW.ooat a
puucheou Of corn, containing at least Twelve
! bushels, and. swinging around, deposit u on
J the sand. In so doing be tore the sole on nis
boot. On another occ1siop,' a. NUMBER OF
men we're trying to lift STICK OF timoel;
| In all the crowd only one man could
raise il about two inches from the sklds.
Gardner told four men to sit upon II, ana
then lifted it 80 high that the men jumped OH
to save themselves from the fall. Mr.. Nc
Keen has frequently known him in littlug 10
break boom-poles six inches thick. de mas
!: known him also with one hand to lift by the
RING of q chair tie chair itself and man
weighing nearly 200 weight. Once, IN at
tempting to lift a very heavy man, be So"
h;n wrench the rung entirely from the CHAIR.
Gardner at one time was possessed or
balky horse, with which he exercised great
natience but when patience ceased TO DE
yirtue he would fell him TO the ground with
, his clenched fist, striking him behind the
ear. 1t is related Of Gardeners sister that
J. on one occasion famous wrestler ira
yelled all the way from Miramichi 10 TOMS
home 10 order to "try a fall with
him. Tom was absent, but the sister, look
ing contemp'uously upon the Intruder de-
, clared she could throw him herself, and suit.
. inc the action to the word, in fair trial
, threw bin fairly three times in succession.
The strangers experience with the sister
, gas sufficient: he never sought future 10.
:. ieryiew with the broiber. The greatest feat
. which Gardner was ever known to perform
e was on one of the wbaryes in ST. John. Mr.
= McKeep saw him lift and carry an anchor
r weighing 1000 pounds, numbers OF other
e witnesses standing by, some OF whom are
s vet alive. Frequently be has seen him car.
d; ryng barrel OF pork under each arm, and
$ once ne saw him shoulder barrel OF pork
d while standing in an ordinary brandy
!, box. When about forty years of age
: Gardner removed to the United States.
8 and never returned to bis native
S province. 1t is commonly reported
? and believed that he met with a sad adyen.
i, lure on board Mississippi steamer. A heavy
bell was on board as portion Of the freight,
and the captain, great, powerful fellow,
; was concerned as to how be should remove
0 it frem its place in order to make more room
/ on deck. While captain and passengers were
at dinner, Tom, In presence of the crew, TO
their utter amazemeut, lifted the bell, and
S carried it to the opposite side Of the boat.
j When the captain returned be asked how
D that bad been accomplished, and when Gard
; ner aughingly remarked that he carried it
: there, the former gave him the lie, and as
) one word brought on another, e presently
, struck Tom in the face. This was too much.
and for the first time 10 his life the strong
/ man gave blow for blow; but one buffet was
sufficient. The captain never spoke again
killed dead on the instant. Tom made bis
escape. went West, and has never been herd
of since.