Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1884-12-17
DID | Kill Him?

jeremiah G. Dayton was the right
flank corporal of my company. No
wonder he was on the right flank, for
he was by long odds the biggest man
in the regiment There were one or
two who slightly overtopped his six
foot three and half in his stockings,
but they were spindling, nervele 8, mar
row-chested fellows, whom "Jcrry"
could twist around his thumb If it came
to muscle.
Where Jerry hailed from originally
I never knew. He enlisted in New
York in tho spring 1862, and fancy,
had at that time been staggering about
among the Bowery boys and living off
the admirers of his ineffable good ma
ture and unparalleled bicepa But I
have never known to what section is
due the credit Of raising 80 glorious q
specimen of physical man.
Take it oil in all, believe Jerry
Dayton was essentially the biggest man
/ ever saw. 1t was l who enlisted him
when was at home in New York dur
ing March. 1862, the bearer of certain
papers to Governor Morgan, and when /
took him to the surgeon for examine
ton noted down all his measurements
as q matter of curiosity. Here they
are:
Round chest, forty eight and three
fourths inches; round shoulders, fifty
nine inches; round forearm, fourteen
inches; around biceps, eighteen and
one-half inches; round thigh, twenty
two inches; round calf, sixteen inches !;
weight 296 pounds.
don't think any prize fighter ever
entered the ring that could beat that.
And yet Jerry was not fat He was
rather the opposite. When he was
stripped his muscles stood out free
from adipose tissue, and showed their
play when he moved like those of .
thoroughbred after training. Adding
to these Q bull neck and good looking
jovial face; hands like the paws OF .
gorilla, but small feet for his size; !;
enormous length of arm, and slow,
easy-going look, which betokened mild
ness and honesty, and Jerry Dayton
gave one the idea Of huge, inoffen-
sive elephant.
have called Jerry's face good-look-
ing. Perhaps it was more the good hu-
NOR which shone through its every
pore from the amiable soul within that
gave one this idea; for Jerry was flush
of face and fearfully and wonderfully
freckled. He wore very small yell
low mustache which seemed to be all
he could grow; for although he never
shaved, his face was destitute of hair
save on his upper lip Nature had ap-
parently exhausted herself in putting
together his frame, and had nothing
left for beard.
Jerry never quarreled with any of
his comrades. Good reason why. To
begin with he was too gentle to tyrata-
nize or bully. and altogether too buHy
for any one willingly to come in hostile
contact with. never knew him to be
at odds with single soul. he moved
about and attended to his own business
with much the same kind Of consciouslS
superior indifference that o Newfound-
land exhibits among . pack Of terrier.
No matter how much the boys teasoa
him; no matter how much the terriers
yelped at his heels, as, owing to his for
bearsnce, they were very apt to do--hs
would for IN instant look as il he were
on the point of retaliating, but then, =
il feeling that he might do them harm
if he allowed himself to get angry, he
would check his rising ire and smooth
down his bristling crest with half-do.
predatory, half-threateninR Now
boys, look ont and quit you toolin'is &
Dayton was good soldier. To u
sure, he had not been in action as ret
and 30 had not had . chance to show
his gallantry: but he was obedisnt md
attentive to duty, intelligent and mp
right. He seemed sometimes 10 L.
like to enforce orders when tie men
made any objection or resistance; M
this was only Of = piece with his ON
lenient impulses, and never callsd aox
more than : passing chriticism. Hke
IL oil In all, be was on tho high Toa4 70
success in the profession Of arlas.
though IL had been taken mp @ ony s
temporary one.
Dayton was one Of my favorites IHe
Was always willing. nay, eager, ~ y "
service 70 me. He would volunteai II
help whsnsyer there wAs any WoEt 81
b done about my quarters; !, ~ ~
sides his enormous GtrcnGth ~ ce-
sesasd steadinsas ard aplifada - eslk
n 10 0r1inSxy d6greA AZ w1e h,
- - littio tlgA = ~ 1ll1 -