The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1883-01-18

tHe Dettef lncHHlIlR vi lIe teFHl. one
il great NJ wealth producer. great in
popular intelligence and morality, and
great in general progress. All hail,
noble Iowa. chicago Erening Jour-
nal.
---------------------------
AN OHIO GIANT.
some Of Ills wonderful Feats Of strength.
From the Cleveland Herald j
Tho lato Abncr G. McIlrath was in
many respects nh extraordinary man,
physically speaking He was giant
in his build, MS he was six feet six aud q
half inches in height. and his average
weight was about 26l pounds. As Nh
athlete he probably did not have SUI
perior in the country, certainly not
since the days Of that great muscular
man Of Northern New York, Joe Call.
In addition to his athletic characteris-
ties he was II great fox hunter. and
many are the stories told Of incidents
connected with his chase after REWARD.
He was gifted with tremendous long
wind. and the story has been told that
he would frequently chase after fox
III foot and run ii down! In spite Of
Of his great weight, large bones, ard APP
parcntly nngainly size, he was remark
ably quick rs we'll as marvelously ath-
letic man. He once lifted with his
han,ls from the ground nm iron shaft
weighing 100 pounds, which would he
equal to lifting double that weight
We're he harnessed with straps to
weights and allowed to lift under the
best advantage. Two men would hold
string two inches above his head and
he would step back two or three steps
and jump over it without touching it,
making the leap about six feet nine
inches in height. He has been known,
rather than to lead his horse around to
the other side Of the barn. to put his
long arms under horse and lift it up
to the floor Of the barn, which happen
cd to DO three or four feet above the
ground. Some forty years ago a gang
Of rowdy sailors, q dozen in number,
went out to "Ab. McIlrath's Tavern" on
purpose to have "muss with him.
Uncle Alb. was most peaceful sort of .
man. and would submit to great deal
Of abuse before resorting to the last ar
gument. but ON this occasion his ire
was exceeding excited at the perposter-
ons idea that q dozen ordinary men
could run over him in his own domicile.
The result was that he went among
them. and.in spite Of their all piling up
on him, he took them one by one by the
coat collar and seat OF the pants and
threw each some distance out OF the
door into the snow! The soilors there
upon retreated, the most Disguised OF
Jack Tars at being whipped by soli-
tary man. He told the writer that dur
ing that "scuffie." rs he called it, he did
not dare to double his fist and strike
for fear of killing. He had very good
opportunity in 1889, when he was "a
years of age. of testing his athletic abil-
ity, which proved very conclusivelv that
at that time he was probable the strong
est man perhaps in the world He
met in Buffalo. Charley Freeman, who
was then sailor, and was known rs
the American giant, he being about
seven feet in height. These two giants
hal wrcstle to find out which was the
"smartest man." The Cnyahoga gian,
was two much for Freeman, for he
threw him at ease. Three wears after
wards Freeman went to England Us tho
champion of America. and engaged in
a prize fight with the champion Of En.
gland. known as the "Tipton Slasher.
and easily defeated him. These facts
will give good idea Of Uncle Abs
great muscular strength and activity.
Like Joe Call, he literally never me,
with his match. and never doubled his
fist ON man for fear Of killing him
Anyone who had ever seen his tremend.
ouslv long. heavy-boned arms. encased
in muscles Of iron, with his sledge'
hammer fists, realized perfectly that 9
blow from him partook of the nature oil
q kick from q horse, and il is not at all
surprising that Mr.. McIlrath never
doubled his fist on human being.
Several years since he gave grand
fox hunt. in which many of his most in.
innate friends participated. He had
captured an extremely large and vigor,
Gus fox in the wild hills of Euclid
township. and held him in captivity 70,
this especial event, When the morning
Of the chase arrived, the hunters, oil
mounted on flect-footed steetls. put in
nm appearance ut the old hotel, eager
for the anticipated sport. Reynard was
brought out and released, and away he
dashed. taking a straight course for the
lake. with pack of hounds baying in
his immediate rear. and the hunters fol
lowing as fast as their horses could
carry them. The time was December
and the winter king held NIL nature
in his frigid embrace. The terrified
fox kept flying over the frozen fields
and through thick woods, while
the clatter of hoofs in his rear onl,
goadcd him on in his dash for life and
liberty. Finally the banks Of old Erie
were reached. REWARD took one com.
prehensive view Of its frozen bosom
and in another was bounding away over
the vast expanse Of ice. When the hun.
tiers reached the bank they all pulled up
with one exception, and that was u sle
Alb. With his eve firmly fixed on tn,
rapidly disappearing fox, he dashed tn,
spurs into the sides of his painting
steed, and to the horror of his compan
ions. started across the treacherous fielt
Of ice toward the Canadian shore. Or
he flew, ut the top Of the reliable old
blacks speed, until he disappeared from
the sight Of his terrified companions
who were satisfied they would never 80,
him again. Several hours elapsed, AM
the party Of horsemen waiting anxious
" on the bank had about given mp al
hope of Abs. return, when blacl
sreck made its appearance away on
over the lake. Nearer and nearer
came, until the manly figure of incl
Ali. filled the anxious watchers on tn
shore with feelings Of unbounded 10,
lie was still in pursuit Of the fox and rid
, ing like a demon, nothing could sto
him: the weary fox took to the wood,
hut Uncle Alb. followed cheering IN til
|: hounds. and in short time he retnrne
with rewards lifeless body hangin
from the horn of his saddle.
Tn.r laSauS r,nrx T., xha ,,f na :