The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-02-20
A MODERN SAMSON.
THE CAREER OF 4 HEMARkA-
BILE AMERICAN GIANT.
Eight Feet Tall. With n Body In
Proporrion-ffis Extraordinary
Strcngth-A Victim to Sharp
ers and Dissipation.

Freeman, the subject OF this skctch, IS
that he appeared among other laborers
on q western cam! about the year lS4o,
where his extraordinary strength anu
stature attracted much attention.
Freemen is said to hove been at that
time eight feet tall and to have measured
three feet across the shoulders. His
|arms where they sprang from his chest
were as large as a medium'sized mans
body, and they tapered down to a hand
mot less than three inches in thickness,
while his fist could only be compared to
Ia sledge- hammer in size and strength.
His age was thea seventeen years and
he was still growing in bulk. He re-
|ceived the wages Of an ordinary work
man, but his extraordinary strength
made him most destructive one. Such
a Titan should have had giants tools
made on purpose for him, for when ne
seized an ordinary shovel it went through
the clay like breaking-up plow, and
the handle soon came off if the blade
held. An ordinary ak was but feather
in his hand; it sank to the eye in the
wood and the helve splintered. lie
seemed incapable of measuring the force
he laid out, like ordinary men.
When he stood among gang OF
laborers the contrast made them look
like children. The strolling Indians
would stare at him in amazemert few
moments; and then with deep ''Cg gh, "
would hasten ont of sight as rapidly as
their dignity would permit.
He was put to do the work OF
two pairs of oxen; to remove the trunks
of trees, cut in lengths of ten or twelve
feet, out of the way of the diggers. He
did not drag them aside as oxen would
have done, but, putting his right hand
under the end of the log, raising it from
the ground, then balancing it across his
left forearm, he shot it far out to one
side with all the ease that a sklllful
workman piles split cordwood. And
thus, day after day, the giant worked
until the canal was finished.
Freeman's next appearance was on
the boats that piled along the Huron
River, in Michigan. where he was at once
engine and tackle to handle heavy
freight. What others could not shove
or roll he would pick up and carry, OF
perhaps toss. When the heavily
freighted boat stuck on the ripples he
often stepped out of the stern and pushed
it over. The crew would scarcely have
been surprised if he had taken both boat
and cargo under his arm and marched
across by land when they came to long
bends in the river.
It was not long after this time that
some sporting men unfortunately heard
of this celebrated giant, and concluded
that there was money in him." Free
man was as simple as child. He lacked
ambition, had NO desire to exhibit OF
push himself, and possessed a most ami.
able disposition. Any one could lead
him, and he never appeared to realize
that he was in any way remarkable.
This innocence was taken advantage
of by these sharpers, who determined to
turn his prodigious powers to their per-
sonal advantage. Accordingly he was
persuaded to accompany them to the
Eastern States, under promise of far more
profitable employment.
It is not strange that in such company
the good-natured giant soon fell into
bad habits. Unfortunately giants are
only men, and the gamblers who cap
tured poor Freeman made sport of him
as the philistines made sport of the help
less Samson.
1t is related that at Buffalo they sent
him into dock saloon with 1000
pound anchor under his arm, much as a
chopper carries his ak, to pawn it for
drinks. He got the liquor and the bar
keeper was glad to treat him for carry
ing the anchor out again.
The giants new friends soon travelled
to the sea coast and finally sailed for
England. They intended to get the ad-
vantage of some English champion, but
they fonud that they had an elephant on
their hands.
A friendly sparring match, as an ex-
pertinent, with q professional boxer,
showed that for Freeman a match with
any living pugilist was impossible. The
giants face could not be effectually
reached. Blows on his body might as
we'll have been planted on sandbag,
while his blows were given with the
force of qpile.driver, and no matter
what they met, the obstacle went to the
earth.
By the ruse of representing him as
large and strong, but wholly ignorant OF
the science, his hackers finally succeeded
in making q match with a noted prize.
fighter. The parties came on the
ground, but at the first sight of Free
man, his opponent turned away, saying
81 came to fight with a large man, not
with a mountain" The seconds and
referees thereupon declared the match
fairly ''off."
And now the unlucky giant became
aware of the worthlessress OF his mer.
cenary friends. While there was a
prospect that he could win fortunes for
Them they lad lured him far away from
his home and his few humble friends
but now, finding that no money was to
be made, they tasely left him alone in q
strange land, without friends or re-
sources.
From Michigan to Liverpool the style
of living had been entirely new to the
simple and temperately-reared country.
man. lptemperance, late hours aud
recklessness had undermined his health
and pulmonary trouble was developed.
His enormous strength soon failed him,
and, uncared for and helpless, he shortly
after died of consumption. At this time
probably no human being knows his
resting place.
During Freeman's entire life no rein.
ing influence came near him; no one
tried to enlighteu and beautify the mind
and soul which might have informed and
irradiated his splendid body. So per-
ished in his prime perhaps the most
magnificent speciment of physical man.
hood that the United States has ever