Orangeburg news and times. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1875-1877, 1875-10-09
New DrunSswRk-kelSrEr.l
A Modern Samson.

Tlhomas, or LON Gardner, rs lie was
fahiliarly called. was born on the
friYer St. John, one mile above the
mouth of Mactaquack stream, in the
yetr 1898. Viewed casually, Gard
nef gavo no evidence ef unusual pow
er! but when stripped his muscular
development was tremendous, and it
is affirmed ,thqt fnatShd gf the or,lin-
my cribs, ,hey p99ssse}seAk y ca solid bony
WALL ons sithers side,h &pa that there
was no Separation Whatever. He
stood five feet ten and half inches,
erect and full chested, and never ex-
ceedcd one hundred and ninety pounds
i'll weight.
The late Charles Long informed us
that at one time he saw Gardner lift
from q towboat puncheon of corn,
containing at least twelve bushels,
and, swinging around, deposit it OH
The sand. hi So aoSng lie tote. tIs
sole off his boot. oHahothds 6ceasiss !,| 4
mum Der ofmen were trying to lift q
stick of timber. In all the whole
crowd only one man could raise it
about two inches from the skids.
Gardiner told four men to sit on i,and
then lifted it so high that the men
jumped off to cave themselves from the
fall,
Mr. Mexican has frequently known
him in lifting to break boom poles six
inches thick. He has knows Him
also with one hand to lift, by the rung
of a chair, the chair itself and man
weighing nearly two hundred pounds.
Once when attempting to lift a very
heavy man he wrcnched the rung en-
tirely from the chair.
Gardner was at one time possessed
of a bulky horse with which he cxer-
cised great patienee; but'when plti;;
ence ceased 70 bella virtpc Ihe TFould
fell him tothe ground with his >cclench
ed fist, striking him behind the ear.
It is related Of Gardncr's sister that on
one occasion famous wrestler travel
ed all the way from Miranichi to
Toms home in order to "try fall
with him. Tom WAS absent, l5ut"the
sister looking conten,ptuously upon
the intruder, declared she would throw
him herself, and, suiting the action to
the word, i'll fair trial threw him
fairly three times in succession. Ike
strangers experience with the sister
was sufficient; he never sought a tu-
ture interview with the brother.
The greatest feat which Gardner
was ever known to perform was on one
of the wharvcs in St. John. Mr.. Nc
Keap saw him lift and carry an anchor
weighing 1,200 pounds, numbers of
other witnesses standing by, some of
whom are yet alive. Frequently he
has seen him carrying barrcl Of pork
pnder each arm, and oncesAe sew him
shoulder bar.sl sof. hark ahile adnd-ss
ing i'll an ordinary brandy box.
When about forty years of age Gard-
ner removed to the United States; and
never returned to his native province.
tits commonly reported and believ-,,
ed that he met with sad adventure
on board a Mississippi steamer a
heavy bell was OIL board us a rortion Of
the freight, and the captain, great,
powerful fellow, was concerned as to
how he should remove it from its place
in order to make moro room on deck.
While captain and passengers were at
dinner, Tom, in presence Of Che crew..
to their utter aahazemeilt, lifted tie
bell and carried it to the opposite side
Of the boat. When the captain re-
turned he asked how that had been
accomplished when Gardner laugh
ingly remarked thas he carried it
there, the former gave him the lie, and
Us che word brought on another, he
presently struck Tom in the face.
This WIS too much, and for the first
time. in his life the strong man gave
blow for blow; but one buffet was suffi-
cient. The captain never spoke again,
killed dead on the instant Tom made
his escape. wcntsNy est, sfahd hss;ncYsi
bnnn heard nc o;nrno