The Benton weekly record. [volume] (Benton, Mont.) 1880-1885, 1880-03-19
at 81 ~. E6,<s.I. Giant.

Col. John RetI1nan is character well
know t. the drorers and stockholders Ill
over the country, and 10 many other people
! as well. He does not visit Buhalo very
cften in these latter years, but few days
ago he strnck the town and made his head
quarters at the American Hotel, where an
Express reporter conAn1nned with him q
little While last evening. Tie had many
callers, and Il very attentive crowd gathered
close about him, for Col. John is 4 famous
siory-teIlci. His experiences have been
varied and interesting, and he may be said
to be tire father Of the eattle-sjfppiag
trade Ut America; bit it Il his
tremendous strength that has made him Il
celebrity, Six feet and two and one-tlalf
inches tall, and proportionately broad, he
has an open, pleasant face, and, like the
majority Of strong men, he is a pattern Of
good nature. Marvellous stories are re-
lated ofhis strength. They may be believed
after seeing him, His muscular arm, as
hard as iroQ, is az thick almost w an ordi-
nary man 'sEwaist, and his leg pretty near
as large around rs barrel Of Hour.
Retnan is a native Of Virginia, but las
for many years resided in Illinois. He
was a mighty hunter in his younger days,
and no siouch Of one now, It il said, but
horned cattle have principally engaged his
business attention from his boy-hood. He
i now 20 years Of age. The first lot &C
cattle ever shipped by rail was shipped by
him from Patterson Creek, Hampshire
county, Va, over the Baltimore and Ohio
railroad. The vast proportions which the
business of transporting cattle by rail
has since tiIcn assumed, are familiar to
everybody. Before there were any rail
roads to ship by between the East and the
West, he drove thirty-two different lots
clear through from Missouri to New York.
The Colonel has a reputation of being an
honest, faithful and capable man. He is
now operating III the interest Of Eastman,
of Christian county, Illinois, the greatest
shipper ofcattlc III the world
"A good many amusing and wonderful
incidents i'll Col. Redman's career have
been related, and about as many Of the re-
markable mare, Turtle Dove, which, next
to bis wife, was his joy and pride for
thirty Years. The agett beast was gathered
to her fathers about seven years ago, and it
is said that quite a considerable fund has
nearly been filled for the erection Of a.
monument over her grave at ChilEicotnc.
A fast trotter or runner, Turtle Dove was
possessed Of almost human intelligence.
She was as handy as man about stock
farm, with bucket i'll mouth at the regular
hours daily, bring from the spring all the
water required for The cattle to drink.
But to get back to the regular subject Of
mere general and principal interest--Col.
Johns personal strength-it will best serve
to relate some examples Of it. These 10
not come from the Colonel himself, for he /
Is nota man to brag of Lis own exploits, /
but they are vouched for by responsible
parties who We're witnesses.
1t should be stated that Colonel Red /
mans procliyitics are peaceful, although |
he wears the military title. He has sell |
dom, if ever, been engaged in personal en-
counters. Still! we are rather inclined to
the belief that lie wouldn't at al dislike q !
trial With McLanghlin Or any other Of the |
gladiatorial athletes. Once he did engage
in wrestling match. 1t WAS III Ohio. |
They had 4 pretty good rflau there, but of
course he was not considered as llayingany
business with the Colonel. To give This
wrestler + reputation, Redman was offered /
II ,00O to allow him to throw him. Ihe
moment came, but unlllekily Colonel John
forgot al about the bargain all about his
as soon as they clinched, ana land /
ed his opponent in the top of a tall tree.
Once the Colonel was passing along !
road, when a horse standing BY the way
side, hitcheG to a fence-stake. la5 fly hoofI
which grazed the strong mats shin Some !
what irritated he threw the horse over tile |
fence. Redman's strength t!as frequently !
been handy il his business. When cattle !
are being loaded 4 jam often occurs III the
gangg-way. In such /; case the Colonel |
climbs over their backs to the car door,
and seizing The offending bullock. ha,lls
him bodily on board. Here III Buffalo he
has been seen by Mr.. (. T.. Bowen, Of theH
American House, To lift 4 horse weighing
one thousand two hundred poundsover the
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