The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-10-15
A Modern Samson. 1.


Colonel John Redman is a character
well known to the drovers and stock
dealers all over the country, and to many
other people as well. He does not visit
Buffalo very often in these late years,
but few days ago he struck the town
and made his quarters at the American
Hotel, where an Express reporter com
muned with him little while last even
ing. lie had many callers and a very
attentive crowd gathered closely about
him, for Colonel John is famous story
teller. His experiences have been varied
and interesting, and lie may be said to
be the father of the. cattle shipping
trade OF America; but it is his tremen-
dous strength that has made him a
celebrity. Six feet and two and a halt
inches tall, and proportionately broad,
he has an open, pleasant faces and, like
the mejority of strong men, he is y pat
tern of good nature. Marvellous stories
are related of his strength. They may
be believed after seeing him. His mus
cular arm, as hard as iron, is as thick al
most as an ordinary mans waist, and
his leg pretty nearly as large around as a
barrel of -four.
Redman is native of Virginia, but
has for many years resided in Illinois.
He was mighty hunter in his younger
days, and no slouch of one now, it is
said, but horned cattle have principally
engaged his businnss attention from his
boyhood. He is now forty-nine years OF
age. The first lot of cattle ever shipped
by rail were shipped by him from Pat
terson Creek, Hampshire county,. Va:
over the Baltimore and Ohio railroad.
The vast proportions which the business
of transporting cattle by rail has since
then assumed are familiar to everybody.
Before there were any railroads to ship
by between the Fast and West, it is said,
he drove thirty-two different lots clear
through from Mississippi to New York.
The colonel has the reputation of being
an honest, faithful and capable man: He
is now operating in the interest of East
man, of Christian county, ILL.,, the great
est shipper of cattle in the world.
A good many amusing and wonderful
incidents in Colonel Redman's career
have been related, and about as many OF
the remarkable mare, Turtle. Dove,
which, next to his wife, was his Joy and
pride for thirty years. This aged beast
was gathered to her fathers about seven
years ago, and it is stated that quite q
considerable fund has nearly been filled
for the erection of monument over her
grave at Chillicothe. A fast trotter and
runner, Turtle Dove was possessed Of
almost human intelligence. She was as
handy rs a man about the stock farm.
with bucket in her mouth at the regular
hours daily bringing from the spring all
the water required for the cattle to
drink. But to get back to the subject Of
more general and principal interest, COL
onel Johns personal strength, it will
best serve to relate some examples Of it.
These do not come from the Colonel
himself, for he is not n man to brag OF
his own exploits, but they are vouched
for by responsible parties who were wit,
nesses. It should be stated that Colonel
Redman's proclivities are peaceful, al
though he wears the military title. He
has seldom, if ever, been engaged in
personal encounters. Still we are
rather inclined to the belief that
he would not at all dislike q
trial with Mclaughlin or any other
of the gladiatorial athletes. Once he
did engage in u wrestling match. It
was in Ohio. They had pretty good
man there, but of course he was not
considered as having any business with
the colonel. To give this wrestler a
reputation, Redman was offered $1,000
to allow him to throw him. The mo-
ment came, b,lt unluckily Colonel John
forgot all about the bargain, and all
about his strength as soon as they
clinched, and landed his opponent in the
top of a tall tree. Once the colonel was
passing along road. when horse
standing by the wayside, hitcheo to a
fence stake, let fly a hoof, which grazed
the strong mans shin. Somewhat irri-
tated, he threw the horse over the fence.
The owner came along by-and- bye, and
Indignantly wanted to find the party who
had played such a trick rs to lead his
horse to the opposite side Of the fence and
tie it there. Redman's strength has
frequently been handy in his business.
When cattle are being loaded a jam
often occurs in the gangway. In such
case the colonel climbs over their backs
to the car door, and seizing the offend
ing bullock, hauls him bodily on board.
Here in Buffalo he has been seen by Mr..
I. P. Bowen. of the American House, to
lift a horse weighing 1900 pounds over
the partition from one stall to another.
Some years ago the late Mr.. Crocker'
father of Mr.. L. L. Crocker, had a barn
raising on the Tiff farm. The structure
accidentally fell, with one of the car
penters under it, and the unlucky artisan
was in immediate danger of having the
life crushed out of him. 1t is said that
twenty men endeavored to liberate him,
but their divided strength could not
avail. Redman chanccd TO be on the
farm with some cattle. He came down
to the scene of the trouble, calmly took
hold of the corner Uf the barn. and by
sheer strength raised aad held the struc-
cure until the carpenter was rescued
Buffalo Express.