Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1883-03-23
A STRONG COUPLE.

Some philosophical individual ha:
declared that the reason why a few
persons are gifted with extraordinary
mental or physical power is, that We
may be able to see, by contrast. how
puny the rest of mankind really are
Whether this is true or not, We may
not say, but certain it is that once in
a century or SO there appears upon
the stage of life man with powers
of mind or body SO vastly superior tC
the majority Of the race that, to us
he seems almost superhuman.
1t is not often that two such per
sons live at the same time, and in the
same community - surely not that
they bear to each other such relations
as husband and wife. And yet have
now to relate some exploits OF two
such people.
In that part of the State of Maine,
close bordering on the province of
New Brunswick, there lived. century
ago, man named C, who was
noted for his prodigious physical
strength, and whose wife was scarce
ly less powerful than himself.
Neither of the twain was above the
average in stature, nor was there any
thing very marked in the general
build Of either one
There is no record that any of the
ancestors of either the man or the
woman had been known to possess
unusual physical power, nor among
all their defendants (from ono OF
whom l have learned what relate)
have there been any Of such strength
as to make them famous.
But this man and woman were
famous throughout that section of
the State in which they lived, as well
as in the adjoining province, and had
the facilities for extending the knowl-
edge of any fact been such as they now
are. doubtless their fame would have
been co-extensive with the continent.
Of course, the stories of their ex-
ploits would have become somewhat
exaggerated with the passage of years,
as is always the case where there is
no written account of them, and yet,
after all due allowance has been
made, there remains sufficient basis
for believing that they were indeed a
brace of giants.
will give only few of the stories
still current regarding them-stories
which are recited in the travellers ear
by the present inhabitants of the
little village where they once lived.
And the first concerning the husband.
He was one afternoon returning
homeward from some journey. when
he saw farmer in trouble near the
highway. With a couple of boys to
assist him, the man had been getting
in hay from field so newly cleaned
of trees that some of the stumps
were yet remaining. There were in
indications of rain. and in their haste
to reach the barn, heavily laden
cart had been driven against an un-
Seen stump which struck the axle
close up to one of the wheels.
The situation was such that it was
impossible to move the load, either
forward or backward, and the angry
farmer stood, goad in hand, swearing
at his luck.
Mr.. c. saw the condition OF
things, and springing over the fence,
he told the farmer to start up his
team when he should give the word.
Then, dropping on all fours, he crept
under the laden cart. placed his
shoulder beneath the axle. and actu-
ally raised the load so that it was
drawn over the stump. He then
walked quietly away, leaving the
farmer so dumb with amazement that
he forgot to thank him for his as
sistance.
On one occasion he attended a
cattle show in a distant part of the
State. Among the prizes offered was
one for the yoke of oxen that should
draw the heaviest load of stone on a
fat-bottomed drag.
One after another the farmers had
brought their teams, but after much
"geeing and having" and a most
inerciless application of the goad
stick, they had all given up the at
tempt, and declared that no single
pair of cattle could move it.
Thereupon, C. who had been
looking on quietly. affirmed that he
could draw it without any oxen, and
stepping forward he threw the chain
across his shoulder, and, with one
gigantic effort, drew the load several
feet, to the infinite amazement of q
large number of spectators, who rent
the air with their cheers.
He was as daring as he was strong
and at one time found use for both
of these qualities. He had been en-
gagged by one of the travelling cattle
merchants of that period to accom-
pany him on a business trip through
New Brunswick.
After several days, spent in collect
ing a drove" they turned their steps
back along the route they had come
and stopped one night at a rough
looking tavern.
During the evening large Grove
assembled in the yard and about the
building, and declared that the
Yankees had cheated one OF theil
number, and must now make it right
by paying over a certain sum Of
money and treating the whole com
pany to liquor.
The drover very properly refused
to yield to their demands, and, will
Mr.. c., retired to his room. leav
ing them to themselves. But they
were not SO easily to be turned aside
from their purpose, and. after placing
some of their number to guart
against his escape from the tavern
they began throwing stones through
thr drover's window.
In an instant the strong mans
blood was up, and he prepared fol
war. He was totally unarmed, but