Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1875-09-03


er Of the lower degree, called instinct.
or'of that exalted kind. bestowed on,
man, called reason. ID .asg
A MoDERN SAMPSON. -Thomao, or
Tom Gardner, as he was familliary
called, was born on the river st.. John,
one mile, above the mouth Of the Mact-
aquack stream, in the year 1908,
Viewed casually, Gardner gave.no ev.
idence of unusual power. but when,
stripped his muscular development
was. tremendous, and it is affirmed
that insted of the ordinarpribs he pos
sessed solid bony wall on either side,
and that there was no separation what
ever. He stood five feet ten and a
half inches, erect and full chested, and
never exceeded 100 pounds insweight.
The late Charles Long Informed US;
that at one time he saw Gardner lift
from a towboat a puncheon of corn,
containing at least twelve bushels,
and, swinging around, deposit it on
the sand. In so doing he tore the sole
off his boot. On another occasion a
number Of men were trying tolift
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 80 high that the men jumped off to-
save themselves from the fall. Mr..
McKecn has frequently known'h him in
lifting to break boom poles six inches:
thick. He has known him alse with
one hand to lift, by the rungof a-chair,
the chair itself and q man weighing
nearly 200 weight. Once in attempt
ing to lift a very heavy man he
wrenched the rung entirely from the
chair.
Gardner at one time was possessed
Of a balky horse with which. he excr--
cised great patience; but when pa
thence ceased to be virtue he would.
fell him to the ground with his clench-
ed fist, striking him behind. the ear.
1t is related of Gardner's sister that
on one occasion a famous wrestler
travelled allthc way from .Miramichi
to Toms home in order to "try fall
with him." Tom was absent, but the
sister looking contemptuously upon
the intruder, declared she could throw
him herself, and, suiting the action to-
thesword, in fair trial threw him.
fairly three times in succession. The
strangers experience with the sister
was sufficient; he never sought q fu--
turc interview with the brother. "
The greatest, feat which. Gardner
was ever known, to perform. was on,
one of the wharves in st. John: Mr.
Mexican saw him lift and carry an an
Choir weighing 1900 pounds, numbers
of other witnesses standing by, some:
of whom are yet alive. Frequently
he has seen him carrying a. barrel Of
pork under each arm, and onceshe saw
him shoulder a barrel of pork while
standing in an ordinary brandy box,
When about 40 years Of age Gardner
removed to the United States, and
never returned to his native, province.
1t is commonly reported and be-
lieved that he met with a sad advent
ure. on board q Mississippi steamer.
A heavy bell was OH board as apor--
ton Of the freight, and the captain.
great, powerful fellow, was concern
ed as to how he should remove it from
its place in order to make more ROOM
on deck. While captain and passen--
gers were at dinner, Tom; in presence
of the crew, to their utter amasement,-
lifted the bell and carried it to the OPP
IL