The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1878-10-17
A Scotch Giant.

gives the following interesting par
ticulars of the death of Mr.. William
Campbell, landlord of the Duke of
Wellington public house, High
Bridge, Newcastle, aud widely known
as the Scottish giant. He had been
i'll about ten days, the cause of death,
it is supposed, being congestion of the
lungs, the result of cod caught
dur.ng his absence from home. The
deceased was a little more than %
years of age, having been born in
Glasgow on the I'd of April, 1856.
He came to this town only in No
vember last, and his extraordinary
Dimensions, which soon found pub
licity, attracted crowds of visitors to
the levees, which he regularly held in
his newly acquired house. Campbell
was one of a family of seven children,
none of whom beside himself are of
more than ordinary proportions. His
father, who, for many yoars was
manager of Tenants chemical works
in the city of his birth, was of aver
age weight, although he stood six feet
two inches high. while his mother
was rather under the usual weight of
women. From hir birth Willis N
Campbell showed remarkable dis
position toward stoutness. At nine
months old, according to his own
statement published in the form of an
photographed pamphlet, he weigh
ed So pounds, which at 10 years of
age had increased to 252 pounds, and
his bodily size continued to develop
until Immediately before his indispo-
sition it had attained the following
marvellous measurements: Ninety-six
inches round the shoulders, 70 inches
round the chest, At inches round the
thigh, and 35 inches round the calf of
the leg. He weighed 728 pounds; and
stood in his stockings feet J inches
high; none of these startling dimen-
sions haee been appreciably dimin-
ished during the illness which has
ended in his death. Campbell, we
learn, was brought up as a printer,
but was compelled from his huge size
to give up that occupation, to which
he had become much attached.
The mortal remains of William
Campbell, the biggest man in her
Majesty's realms, were inferred May
27 in desmond Cemetery, Newcastle,
in presence of vast concourse OF
spectators. Deceased, from the levees
whsch he held in the Duke of Wei.
lington inn, High Bridge, of which
he was landlord, was well known in
tide district. 1t had not been gener
ally known that he was ill, and the
news OF his disease came with consid
: cradle suddedness. Campbell, while
confined to his bed, occupied room
8 on the third story, and overlooking al
open square at the end of his premises
d 1t was there he expired; and it a
;. once became problem how to conve,
his huge body to the ground floor
Il Mr.. Joseph Howe, undertaken, West
gate, was called in to perform tn
!. difficult task. To carry the corps
down stairs was, he discovered, en-
tirely out Of the question. but he ha,
NJ 0LbOthIbiNC DuI w COlllD IL Ill Til
room and take other means to get
out of the apartment. Notwithstanc
ing the brief time at his disposal, Nh
E. Howe had an immense coffin ready O
% the Monday. 1t had become know
,. that he was employed in making tn
h the gloomy receptacle, and from tim
n to time groups of persons gathere
,s around his workshop in Pitt Street, III
:, :, til he was obliged to call in the aid {
!. : the police to maintain orner. In put
'. ting together the coffin Mr.. How
: could pay no regard to convention,
- - modes Of construction. He was con
~ PEELED, by reason of tho enormor
u bulk of deceaseds limbs, merely I
make it in the form of an oblong bo,
- Elm, two inches thick, was the WOO
IL of which he made it. Tne inside h
G. lined with thick sheet lead, and til
{ outside he covered with black clotl