Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-04-16
ABE THE BUNTER.
A Negro Whose Head Was Hard
 or Than @ Grindstone.
Utilize His Sturdy Skull as a Batter ing Ram-A Review of Ills
 Life.

Life.
 It may be an open question, writes a Williamstown correspondent of the Bos- ton Globe, who is the best-znown man in the vicinity, President Franklin Car ter of Williams college or Abram Par sons, better known as ''Abe the Bunter."
 Certain it is that Abe is known to thousands and that his fame is fully earned. It was no scratch hit or lucky bunt that gave Abe a place in the niches of fame. The Lord was kind to Abe in giving him an unusually thick skull and a horn about an inch long on the frontal bone, but he has developed the talent given him and has made the most of his opportunities.
 Abe the Bunter is an exceedingly jolly old negro, who lives in the part of this town known as White Oaks, and claims that he was 1O4 years old last 4th of July.
 The story of the old negro runs like this: His first recollections were those of a pickaninny on a plantation in South Carolina. His masters name was McInster. There Abe lived until he was If years old, as he thinks.
 Up to the time of his sale as a slave from the auction block, together with his mother and three sisters, his most vivid recollections are of trials of bunt- ing with a young ram. The ram would take a position, lower his head, and with burst of speed start for Abe, who always met the ram half way, the two heads coming together with great force, but the ram, as Abe tells it, was always beaten.
 By the sale Abe was separated from his relatives, and sold, as he thinks, to Stephen Miller, of Claverack, N. Y. Here he staid for five years, and then ran away and went to Sheffield, Conn.,, where he worked for James Curtis as a house servant. In running away from Miller he was pursued by dogs, and es- capped only after killing one.
 From Sheffield Abe went to Old Stock bridge, where he lived for number of years, working for Gen. Williams, the Carters, Bradleys, Brewers, -Crosbys, Cashier Adams and Maj. Durrill, all of whom arc now dead. Long before the war he located in Williamstown, where he has worked for many people. Boys, since he came here, have become gray haired men.
 All the past years he had continued bunting, until he was confident that nothing less than blow from trip hammer or pile-driver would break his skull.
 The first act, however, that brought him fame occurred many years ago. Abe was then living over a blacksmith shop on Water street. In the night he was awakened by an alarm of fire, and getting out on the street found that Harvey Coles store was on fire. The door was locked, the key was missing, and. at the suggestion of a MT. Powers, Abe went at it head first, and after re- peatcd attacks it yielded.
 This gave Abe great prcstige-a stock in trade, so to speak; but with the con. fidence thus acquired he passed on tc greater victories.
 It came about in this way: Abe and his wife's brother were at South Will liamstown one day and they found Farmer Blake having trouble with q two-year old bull that he wanted tC kill. The bull was in an inclosure and paving the turf in great shape, and, by his almost human believing, asking fo1 some one to swing a red cloth in front of him.
 Abe offered to make the bull lower his colors, but took big drink of cider brandy before he began the act. He then entered the inclosurc against the earnest protestations of Farmer Blake who asked Abe among other things Are you dashed fool enough to go ir there with that wild bull throwing dirt with nothing to kill him with?' It was another case of David and Goliath. The big bull and Abe both bunted, and while Abe was shaken bad | ly the bull was stunned so that his | throat was cut forthwith. Abe does not say so, but doubtless the cider l brandy was called upon to assist in the celebration that followed.
 Then the students tempted Abe tc | show his prowess to them. He wa: blindfolded and something placed in { bag. Then the bandage was removed and he was told that if he could break the contents of the bag by bunting hi: head against it valuable present would be given him. The contents O. l the bag proved to be a big cheese, ant Abe had no difficulty in smashing it. 1 He was then blindfolded again, and il was assumed that another cheese haC been placed in the bag, but instead ; big grindstone, an inch and q half il thickness, was substituted.
 The first bunt failed to shatter it, bu Abe, realizing that his reputation wa at stake, went at it again and broke i into four pieces ''wid my niggcr-head.
 For this act he was given five dollar in money, two big cheeses, two pound of tobacco and assurances from tn college boys that if he was sick as re suit of the grindstone act he should b well cared for, but he was able to worl as usual the following day and expert enced no trouble whatever from tn bunting.
 And so for many years Abe has beer a feature-a bunting star, so to speal with many of the college boys in tn Williamstown Armament. He has give1 E T Al l.