The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-08-14
The Heaviest Giant Was an Ameri-
can and the Tallest an Aus
a trian-Other Giants
b ATall Couple.

Aeountry. Miles Darden was born In
lorth Carolina IN 1898, and died in Ten
lessee January %, 1857. He was seven
feet two inches in height, and at the time
yof his death his weight was upward of
1000 pounds. Until 1858 he was active
and lively and able to work, although his
weight was then SIS pounds. He was
finally obliged to remain at home or to be
drawn about in two-horse wagon. In
lS39his coat was buttoned around three
men, each weighing more than 200
pounds, who walked in itacross the pub
lie square at Lexington. His coffin was
eight feet long and three feet deep.
!, Another eld-time Western giant was
Charles Freeman, of Michigan, who some
where in the '40s visited England and
was put into the ring as a prize fighter,
his adversary being William Perry, who
afterward became champion of England.
Freeman was of enormous strength and
MEASURED eight feet in height and three
feet across the shoulders. He became
somewhat noted as circus rider, but died
at a comparatively early age of consump-
ton in London. ....
The recent death of Colonel Ruth
Goshen removed one of the largest and
best proportioned giants ever exhibited
i'm America. At the time of his death,
which occurred at his home in Clyde, N.
j., from dropsy, bis weight was some
lining over 600 pounds, and during his
Cast illness it required the services of four
nen with hosting apparatus to turn him
in bed. Contrary to most giants, Colonel
iGoshen attained the advanced age of
seventy years. He was born in Egypt
and had been one of Barnum's greatest
attractions for many years.
(, Among other giants of modern times
perhaps the most intelligent, and GER
fainly one of the most gentlemanly, was
sColonel Orr, who died some seven years
ago, He will be remembered by many
who witnessed his performance in "Jack,
The Giant Killer" drama which was
presented by Colonel Orr and company
of Lilliputians and attracted much atten-
tion. Colonel Orr was seven feet four
inches in height and weighed $40 pounds.
at the time Of his death he was Royal
Arch Mason and Knight of Pythias.
The Chinese giant, Chang Won Cow,
was doubtless the tallest man ever exhib-
tied in America. He claimed to be eight
feet two inches high, but lacked the fine
proportions of some of his predecessors.
Chang is the son of wealthy silk and
tea merchant of Pekin and is well edu-
Gated, speaking several languages. he
has been exhibited in Europe and Austria
liza, and when in Australia wore a soil
taire diamond ring given him by the En-
peror of Russia, which was valued at
over $1,000. He was also the possessor
of gold medal awarded him by the Ber-
lin exhibition attesting him to be the
tallest living man. p 2.
I According to an English newspaper,
however, the Chinese anomaly cannot
rightly claim this pre- eminence In stature,
since there appeared in London some
three years ago giant, who far surpassed
any other whose heighthas been recorded
in modern times. This giant was an
Austrian by birth named Weinkelmeier,
and his height was eight feet nine inches.
He was born in Friedburg, in 1865, but
showed no development of this extraor-
binary growth up to the age of fourteen,
when he began growing rapidly. At
the time the account from which we
quote was written he was on exhibition at
the London Pavilion, where huge bed
had been constructed for him, and which
was expected to be his home for some
time.
The successor of Chang, with Mr..
Barnum's show in 1885, was Norwegian
named Brustod, who was only few
inches shorter than Chang, but consider
ably below him in intelligence and &C
compishments. He spoke English fair
ly well, however, and was very muscular,
though not more fleshy than his Chinese
contemporary.
4, OF all modern giants, however, Cap
tain Martin Van Buren Bates, of Ken
lucky, and his wonderful wife, are the
most interesting. Captain Bates's weight
has been given at 496 pounds, and his
height at feet III inches. He wears a
26-inch collar and No. Is boot. A
writer, who met him few years ago in pri-
yate life, describes him as dressing neatly
in black and wearing massive gold chain
and watch, presented to him by Queen
Victoria; brilliant diamond in his shirt
bosom, and fashionable collar and scarf.
His face was ruddy and healthy looking,
and his smile pleasant and winning.
When in England, in 1875, Capt.
Bates met the famous English giantess,
Miss Anna Swan, to whom he was soon
married. Mrs. Bates was exactly the
same height as her husband, and, togeth-
er, they made handsome pair. Her
weight at that time was little over 400
pounds and her form was very charm
fnply proportioned. It may interest lady
readers to know that 65 yards of goods
were required to make this lady's we'd
ding gown. :,
A reporter who visited the giant
couple at their residence in Seville, Ohio,
several years ago, gives vivid picture OF
the domicile of these mammoth people:
h!It is difficult matter to convey an ade-
guate idea of the proportions of such
dwelling as the one occupied by the Ohio
giants. A door that is six feet six inches
high is large-sized opening in the side
:. of house-that is, dwelling house,
not cathedral. But the door of the
domicile of the Bates giants are ten feet
high, and the knobs are nearly as high as
the reporters mead. The house was
built by Captain Bates in 1875, and is