Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1875-09-02
a Modern Samson.
What an Old Missouri Boatman
Can Do.
New Brunswick Reporter.


New Brunswick Reporter.
Thomas, or Tom Gardner. as
he was Familiarity called, was born
on the river st. John, one mile a.
bove the mouth of Mactaquack
stream, in the year 1898. View
ed casually, Gardner gave no evi.
dence of unusual power, but when
stripped his muscular develop
lnent was tremendous, and it is
affirmed that, instead OF the ordi-
nary ribs, he possessed a solid bo-.
ny wall on either side, and that
there was no separation whatever.
He stood five feet ten and a half
inches, erect and tull-chested,
and never exceeded one hundred
and ninety pounds in weight.
The late Charles Long informed
US that at one time he saw Gard
ner lift from a tow boat a pun
cheon of corn containing at least
twelve bushels, and, swinging it a.
round, deposit it on the sand. In
so doing be tore the sole off his
left loot. On another occasion a
number of men were trying to
lift stick of timber. In all the
crowd only one man could raise it
about two inches from the skids.
Gardner told four men to sit upon
it, and then lifted it SO high that
the men jumped off to save them
selves from the fall. Nj. McKeen
has frequently known him in lift
ing to break boom poles six inches
thick. He has known him also
with one hand to lift, by the ruug
of a chair, the chair itself and a
man weighing nearly two hun
dred weight. Once, in attempt
ing to lift very heavy man, he
wrenched the rung entirely from
the chair.
Gardner at one time was pos
sessed of a balky horse, with
which he exercised great patience,
but when patience ceased to be a
virtue he would fall him to the
ground with his clenched fist,
him behind the ear.
1t is related of Gardner's sister
that on one occasion a famous
travelled all the way from
to Toms home in Or
Ter to ''try a fall with him." Tom
was absent, but the sister, looking
upon the intrud-
er declared she could throw him
herself, and suiting the action to
be word, iu a fair trial, threw
lim fairly three times in success
on. The strangers experience
With the sister was sufficient; he
never sought a future interview
with the brother.
The greatest feat which Card
Ter was ever known to perform
vas on one Of the wharves in S..
John. Mr. McKeen saw him lift
md carry IN anchor weighing
200 pounds, Numbers of other
witnesses standing by, some of
whom are yet alive. Frequently
le has been seen carrying bar
el of pork under each arm, and
nee he saw MIN shoulder n bar
el Of pork while standing in an
rdinary brandy box. When a
'out forty years of age Gardner
emoved to the United States, and
ever returned to his native prov
nee.
1t is commonly reported and
e,ieved that be met with a sad
dventure on board a Mississippi
teamer A heavy bell was on
card as a portion of the freight,
nd the captain, a great, powerful
ellOw, was concerned as to how
e should remove it from its place
I order to make room on deck
While Captain and passengers
-ere at dinner, Tom, in the pres.
nee Of the crew, to their utter a.
lazement, lifted the bell and car
ed it to the opposite side of the
Oat. When the Captain returned he
5ked how it had been accom-
lished, and, when Gardner laugh
lgly remarked that be carried it
lere, the former gave him the
g, and as one word brought on
mother, he presently strucH Tom
/ the face. This was too much,
nd for the first time in his life,
le strong man gave blow for
ow; but one buffet was sufficient.
he Captain never spoke again
He'd dead on the Instant. Tom
ade his escape, went West, and
az never been heard Of since.
"Well, Uncle Billy, don't vou