The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-09-18

snorC Dut extremely Wasting disease, ne was
weighed and accurately measured by five Of
his fellow townsmen, whose record OF that
performance appears to this day in the follow
ing quaint chronicle inscribed on the fy-leaf
OF one of the musty record books in the coun-
tyclerk's office:
Louis Cornelius, died September 81, ISL
dimensions are as follows;
Height, feet.
circumference below the waist......... .........8
Circumference at the waist 2%
Circumference arm below elbow. 9
Circumference arm at elbow ..............-..I
Circumference wrist.... ....................1 3
circumference thigh :; ......................4
Clrculnterence cali OF leg.,..................2
circumference ankle ..........1
Weight, 6i5A pounds without clothing.
In weighing Louis Cornelius after his death and
that the statement above IS true and correct,
Horace l., West John Schimmel, NJ. Dimmick, e.
While Winnie johnson weighed nearly two
hundred pounds more than Cornelius did after
his death, she was practically incapaoitated
for anything but her profession of museum
freak. Cornelius, on the other hand, was an
active man for his size and possessed the
strength of an OK. He was tho proprietor Of
the Sawkill house, which Is still standing aud
is being run MS a hotel by his daughters. He
was only forty-four years old Mt the time Of his
death, and until few days before that event
always enjoyed robust health. Numerous sto-
res are told of his many eccentricities In
spite of his great strength he was an arrant
coward and peaceable to the last degree.
One day according to the local legend, some
workmen were digging sewer i'll Main street.
Among them was strapping big freshman
from Port Jervis-a quarrelsome bully--who
had more than local reputation as puglist
He had heard of the Pike county giant and
made up his mind that before he left town he
would measure strength with him. He did
not have long to wait. One afternoon Cor
nelius happened to be in the neigh borhood of
the sewer when he was espied by the Port Jer-
Wis bruiser, who hurried out OF the ditch and
confronted him on the sidewalk.
STOP" he shouted, Us he faced him ; l want
to spake wild ye."
Cornelius halted as he was babe.
$50 ye're the Pike county giant, are YEP"
Cornelius was too much astonished to reply
"Well, m the Orange county bully, and
I'm goin' TO lay ye out afore go back TO me
work"
81 DIDN'T want to fight" stammered Corne
Illus, his teeth chattering with fright.
Eight he must, and quick, too" continued
the bully, feeling easy as to the result OF tho
scrimmage, as no advanced forcibly upon his
unwieldy antagonist
Cornelius was to big to run and too cowardy
to fight, but he had to defend himself, SO doub-
ling up his huge fist he struck ono blow at his
opponent and He'd from the scene rs rapidly as
his size would allow, without even looking
back
The bystanders heard q crunch, such as
battering ram might make as il strikes 6 board
wall. Then they saw Il tall and angular Irish
man spring back ward half q dozen feet into
the air and fall to the ground like dog. They
went to him and found that his face had been
crushed almost into a pulp. His nose was
hattened and his jaw shiyered. The bully
had been altogether unprepared for the blow,
and tho entire weight Of the two giants met at
the end of Cornelius arm. That established
the prowess of the Pike county men, even if it
did not do 50 much for his courage, and from
that time on no was never coaxed into another
fight
While he was extremely cowardly, Cornelius
would never allow any disturbance in his
hotel. One day when he was sitting in his big
armchair by the open window drunken guest
became unduly boisterous and refused to 20
out when Cornelius requested him to. Where
upon the host caught the man by the nape Of
his neck and seat Of his trousers and without
stirring from his chair tossed him through the
window, over the porch and into the gutter on
the other side OF the pavement.
1t was always matter curiosity among
his acquaintance to learn his exact weight,
and many were the tricks resorted to TO ascer-
tain the figures But none was ever Success
full Cornelius was in tho habit Of visiting
this city once or twice year to buy goods. On
one occasion some clerks placed n big armchair
OH a pair Of scales and invited him TO sit down,
but before the weights could be adjusted he
discovered their purpose and hastily left the
store never TO return.
Cornelius suffered greatly from the heat.
In summer time his favorite resting place was
In the hotel cellar, and in the severest winter
weather he was accustomed to walk around
the streets in his shirt sleeves. In character
he was extremely modest and retiring. lie
disliked, above all things, to be regarded as a
curiosity, and the greatest anger he ever felt
was caused by the receipt OF tlattering offer
from Barnum TO exhibit himself in the Broad
way museum.
He had three sons and FIVE daughters, one
Of whom weighed over 400 pounds at her
death. Ono Of his sons was afterward sheriff
Of Pike county, and, while he was giant in
height and strength, was not abnormally
stout.
The funeral Of the elder Cornelius was an
event in the history Of the town. The coffin
was bound with bands Of iron. IT was taken
TO the churchyard in a lumber wagon and
lowered into the grave by derrick.