New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-01-21
A MODERN 81 DPS0N.
Let..r u The non 7Ymes.

4
In The Troy Times recently appeared an article CIV
ing short history CT the life aud dolngs OF Abher
Mcllrath, of Euclid, OHIO and IN that article ne
was represer ted as the srOn gest man IN America
while living, with the exception OF TINT famous
strong man Of northern New Ofk. Joseph Call lh"
greatest feat OF strength claimed for MCllGath was
the lifting of an ircn shaft which weighed l,IOO
pounds and il is also stated that he liled II by
erasping IT with his hands. which, 1t Is claimed.
Would be equal TO lifting twice that weight In bar
ness 1t would he useless to deny the fact that ABB
ner McIrath was mighty man. but propose 10
give a short sketch of the life OF a man VINO was
Int little known outside of the village of Granville
Corners in Washington County, where ne was born
and spent the most of a long life. II IL known oil
him, and can be proved that be mas performed '
feats of strength unsurpassed 10y any man that mas
lived in ancient modern times, excepting OF
course the Biblical Sampson. Ills name Is or was
Stearn Carpenter; his occupation was that OF n
farmer. Being naturally OF very quiet p9a'faoie
DISPOSITION aud Il member OF the society oil rlends'
he never did anything for display TO attract atten
ton, bat the feats OF strength that ne performed
were done more to satisfy himself aud 70 see how
much he could lift than for anything else AZ OF
his lifting was done by main strength Without s hai
ness of any kind. One Of his greatest feats was
lifting "a box filled with iron which weighed l,"Oo
hounds which Is equal to Lifting $500 pounds IN
harness. lie lifted it with case with his hands ny
grasping a rope or chain which was louno around
ihe box to secure IT. lie did not know the weight
of the box of iron at the time, ana was aiterWafd
heard TO say that had he known IT weighed 80 near
n ION he would have put on the other hundred
pounds and lifted the whole. AT another time he
lifted n cannon that weighed Law pounds ana
IL.
Champlain Canal near Whitehall, one day while
waiting for q load of merchandise, no Intel barrel
ot white LEAD with ease Tie writer OF THIS article
was an ve-witness to this feat, besides a number
of others His nelglboTs when Killing hogs II
Ste,rn happened to be around, would ask him 10
guess the weight of u hog Just killed ii ~ nap
pened TO be a big one weighing 400 or ooo POUNDS
he wOuld stOOp down and twist his fingers into the
brislcs and IN that way would lift tho carcass clear
from the ground and guess on IFS weight. le ptr-
formed one of the greatest feats OF strength on rec
ord after nc bad reached the age OF seventy i've
years He lifted two twenty for loot iron TaIs ny
prnsninp one in each hand. and walked OIL with
them. The rails were resting on wooden horses so
he did not stoop down to lift them. One day IN nay
ing -tlme he was going from the Held with MS men
IN the house for dinner. They walking along
the road together, when one OF his men, TOT MS
chief came up behind him and ly skilful trip
threw CarpenteI down. lIc gathered himself up
and said nothing about it. He walked TO the house,
and after dinner, when returning to the heu WIN
his men theycame along to the place where the man
gave him tie fall. He suddenly turned upon the
man and graspng him by the shoulder ana the seat
of his trousers lifted him and hurled HIM hlgh In
the air above him and over seven ran renee, by
the side of which they happened TO DO Walking
Tie man came down in the meadow rod or more
from tho fence considerably shaken up but NOT
badly hurt. Mr.. Carpenter was not gigantic man
IN siZe He was about six feet tall, and appeared
much less than that owing to his massive Dulld
There was no superiiuOus flesh upon hin, Dut the
muscles of his arms, shoulders and neck seemed 10
be piled upon him, great was Their size: inns
gave him "a STOPPING appearance. In crown u caS
nal observer would not be likely TO PICK MIN out I0r
one of the strongest men that ever lived. Ills
strength would equal IL not surpass that OF the
great Roman gladiator Milo. Mr.. Carpenter Is n.y.
Ing at the present time at Granville Corners, wash
ineton County n Y, his old home, or was living
the last | heard of him. lie must be over eighty
yparS OF