Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-03-04
THE STORY OF A GIANT.
A TRULY WONDERFUL SPECIMEN OF
PHYSICAL MANHOOD.

He Could Do the Work Of -Four Oxen.
Fist. That Were Like siedge Hammers
He Didn't Seem to Understsnd His Pc
euiIar Gift.
The following history Of a remarkable man,
which we compile from a sketch published In
a Michigan journal many years ago tends 10
show that notwithstanding the almost uni
versal desire for unusual gifts, it is, after all,
the dead level which is safest, since even
physical strength and noble proportions,
when in excess, may SO ostracize and set
apart a man as to make his pre-eminence
positive drawback 10 him.
The first record we have Of Charles Free
man, the subject Of this sketch, is that he ap-
peared among other laborers on a western
canal about the year 1910, where bis extraor-
binary strength and stature attracted much
attention
Freeman is said TO have been at that time
$ feet tall and to have measured feet across
the shoulders. His arms where they sprang
from his chest were as large as medium
sized man body, and they tapered down to
hand not less than 3 inches in thickness,
while the fists could only be compared to
siedge hammer in size and strength
His age was then II years, and he was still
growing in bulk. He received the wages of
an ordinary workman, but his enormous
strength made him a most destructive one
Such Titan should have had giant tools
made on purpose for him. for when he seized
an ordinary shovel it went through the clay
ike a breaking up pillow, and the handle soon
came of If the blade held. An ordinary ak
was but a feather in his hand, it sunk to the
a. a . br.t,-. Il.
seemed quite incapable of measuring the
force he laid out, like ordinary men.
SHOWING BOATS OVER SHOALS.
When he stood among a gang Of laborers
the contrast made them look like children.
The strolling Indians would stare at him in
amazement few moments, and then with q
deep Ugh" would hasten out of sight as
rapidly as their dignity would permit.
He was put to do the work of two pairs Of
oxen, 10 remove the trunks of trees, cut in
lengths OF ten or twelve feet out of tho way
of tho diggers. He did not drag it 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, be shot it far out to one side with
all the case that a skilled workman piles split
cordwood And thus, day after day the
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, or perhaps toss. When the heavily
freightcd boat stuck on the rippes he often
stepped out Of the stern and pushed it over.
The crew would have scarcely been surprised
10 ba loI In ter, bpth b,nt and % ro,p un1ar
his arm and marched across by land when
they came to long bends in the river.
1t was not long after this time that some
sporting men unfortunately heard of this I'M
celebrated giant and concluded that there
was money in him. Freeman was as sim
Pile as a child. He lacked ambition, had no
desire to exhibit or push himself and pos
sess,d most amiable 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 personal advan-
tage Accordingly, he was persuaded to ac-
company them to the eastern states under
promise Of far more profitable employment
1t 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 captured poor Freeman made
sport Of him as the Philistines made sport of
the helpless Samson.
1t is related that at Buffalo they sent him
into dock saloon with |, 600 pound anchor
under his arm, much as a chopper carries his
ak, to pawn it for drinks He got the liquor,
and tho barkeeper was glad to treat him for
carrying the anchor out again.
HE DIED OF CONSUMPTION
The giants new friends soon Travelled to
the sea coast and finally sailed for England
They intended to get the advantage OF some
English champion, but they found that they
had an elephant on their hands.
\ friendly sparring match as an expert
ment, with 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 well have been planted on sand
bag, while his blows were given with the
force OF pile 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 a match with noted prize fighter
Tho parties came on the ground, but at the
first sight Of Freeman his opponent turned
AWAY. saying; 81 came to fight with large
man, not with a mountain" The seconds
and referees thereupon declared the match
fairly on
And now the unlucky giant became aware
Of the worthlessness of his mercenary friends.
While there was a prospect that he could win
fortunes for them they had lured him far
away from his home and his few humble
friends; but now, finding that no money was
to be made, they basely left him alone in a
strange land without friends or resources.
From Michigan to Liverpool the style of
living had been entirely new to the simple
and temperately reared countrymen. Intern
perauce, late hours and recklessness had I'M
dermined his health, and pulmonary trou-
BILE developed His enormous strength
soon failed him, and, uncared for and help
less, he shortly after died Of consumption.
At this time probably no human being
knows his resting place.
During Freeman entire life no refining in
huence came near him no one tried to en-
tighten and beautify the mind and soul which
might have informed and irradiated his splen-
did body. So persisted in his prime perhaps
the most magnificent specimen of physical
manhood that the United States has ever
produced. Detroit Free Press