Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1889-09-27
MODERN GIANTS.
VERY TALLPEoPnE ARE SAID TO
BE BECOMING SCARCE.
The Heaviest Giant Was an Ameri.
can and the Tallest an Aus
trian-Other Giants
ATall Couple.

aitnouSh 1t Is true that dwarfs are more
numerous, as understood men are more
frequently met with than men above the
average height. Living in cities is apt
to stunt the growth, and us larger por-
ton OF the population is constantly
coming to live in that way the average
stature is apt to be steadily diminished
1t is perhaps not generally known that
the heaviest giant of whom we have any
authentic record was native of this
country. Miles Darden was born in
North Carolina III 179S, and died in Ten
nessee january %, 1867. He was seven
feet two inches i'll height, and ut the time
OF his death his weight was upward of
l000 pounds. Until 1858 he was active
and lively and able to work, although his
weight was then 975 pounds. He was
finally obliged to remain ut home or to be
drawn about in n two-horsc wagon. In
1859 his 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 old-time Western ginht WAS
Charles Freeman, of Michigan, who some
where in the '40s visited England and
was put into the ring Us 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 rs Il circus rider, but died
ut comparatively early age of consump-
ton i'll London.
The recent death of Colonel Ruth
Goshen removed one of the largest and
best proportional giants ever exhibited
Ill America. at the time of his death,
which occurred Mt his home in Clyde, n.
j., from dropsy,. his weight was some
thing over 600 pounds, and during his
last illness it required the services OF four
men with hosting apparatus to turn him
i'll bed. Contrary to most giants, Colonel
Goshen attained the advanced aec of
seventy years. He was bonn 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
tainly one of the most gcntlemanlv, was
Colonel Orr, who died some seven years
ago. He will be remembered by many
who witnessed his performance in "Jack
the Ginnt Killer" drama which was
presented by Colonel Orr and IL company
of Lilliputians and attracted much attcn-
ton. Colonel Orr was seven feet four
inches i'll height and weighed $50 pounds.
At the time of his death he was Il ROYAL
Arch Mason and Il Knight of Pythias.
the Chinese giant, Chang Won Cow,
WAS doubtless the tallcst man ever cyhib-
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 Pc!lin and is well cdu-
Gated, speaking several languages He
has been exhibited in Europe and Austria
la, and when i'll Australia wore soil
tairc diamond ring given him by the En-
peror of Russia, which was valued nj
over $1,000. lie was also the possessor
OF gold medal awarded him by the Ber-
lin exhibition attesting him to be the
ta!lest living man.
According TO m English newspaper,
| however, the Chinese anomaly cannot
rightly claim this pre- emincnce in stature.
since there appeared in London some
threc years ago Il giant, who far surpassed
any other whose height has been recorded
III modern times. This giant was an
Austrian by birth named Weiukelmcicr.
and his height was eight feet nine inches.
lie was born in Friedburg, in 1865, but
showed no development of this cxtraor-
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
tic 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 Il Norwegian
named Brustod, who was only few
inches shorter than Chang, but consider
ably below him in intelligence and ac-
complishments. He spoke English fair
" well, however, and was very muscular,
though not more ilcshy than his Chinese
contemporary.
OF ali modern giants, however, Cap
tain Martin Van Buren, Bates, of Ken
lucky, and his wonderful wife, are the
mos! interesting. Captain Bates's weight
has been given at 400 pounds, and his
height at Z feet H. inches. He wears a
26-inch collar and No. Is boot. A
writer, who met him few years ago in pri-
vase lie, 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 giantcss,
Hiss 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
ingly proportioneG. 1t may interest lady
readers to know that IS 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,