Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-02-13
AN EBONY SAMSON.
Fcats Of Strength Of Noted Negro Athlete
ut Madison, Ind

AN EBONY SAMSON.
Fcats Of Strength OF Noted Negro Athlete
ut Madison, Ind.
A Madison, Ind, dispatch to the Chicago
Herald says: The recent death here of Horace
B. Stapp, at the advanced age Of moro than
ninety years. recalls many incidents of his life
that are worthy Of more than passing mention.
Without doubt he was one OF the most remark
able characters Madison has ever claimed as a
citizen and certainly few were better known. as
he was resident of the city for more than fifty
years. His only colored rival for prominence
passed away few years ago in the person of
Rev. Chapman Harris. a noted apostle of free
dom, who like Stapp, passed the greater part
OF his life in Madison. For years houors were
pretty equally divided between them. But their
prominence WAS gained through widely sep
arated channels. Harris won his BY assisting
runaway slaves in their fight to Canada
Stapp's rested Oh his physical powers And
yet, contrasting these two men. ono would at
sight select Harris as the physical giant He
was head and shoulders above Stapp, but the
latter, though smaller. was far superior In
strength. He was not more than five feet three
or four inches in height but his massive
shoulders and muscular arms at once attracted
attention. Toward the close of his life he lost
much OF his Old-time agility and grew rather
corpulent. but his wonderful powers seemed to
decline but slowly, and though well into the
nlneties he was daily seen upon the streets and
was almost constantly employed. He was born
slave In Scott county, KY, and was the
property Of John Branham. whose plantation
was on the Elkhorn at what is known as the
Big Crossing, twelve miles from Frankfort
His slave name was Horace Branham. When
yet very young man Strap scarcely knew
the limits Of his strength. He would catch
young and wild horse In his masters field and
throw it to the ground, feat often witnessed
by guests at the Branham plantation. 1t was
one OF his masters favorite amusements to pit
young Strap against two or more of his slaves
and witness the ease with which he vanquished
them.
At the age Of twenty-five Stapp was su-
perbly developed specimen of manhood, and
was highly priced by his master who on sew
eral occasions refused $4,000 for him. He
would certainly have brought that sum or more
in any Of the markets of the far south. When
the old master died the slaves owned by him
were divided among his children by the casting
ham Stapp, wife Of Gen. Milton Stapp, then a
resident OF Madison. Susan Branham, sister Of
Mrs Stapp, received Horaces sister and her
child as her share of the estate and sold them
to slave traders. The other slaves were dis
posed OF in like manner among the other chill
dren. Horace's mother, on account OF her age,
was refused as gift by all the children, and
Horace's father, also a slave, bought her with
money given him by his master. She was the
mother Of twelve children, Horace being the
tenth child.
After the division Of the property Mrs. stapp
visited the plantation to claim Horace and was
then offered 81 500 for him, but the offer was
refused. Instead of being sold Stapp was hired
out for ten years at 500 year and at the ex-
piration of his time he was given his freedom
and home in this city by Mrs. Siapp with
whom he remained for four years. and was n
member of the household at the time Henry
Clay visited Madison and addressed the many
thousands under and about the big elm tree
that stlli STANDS In front OF the Stapp mansion.
At about this time Madison was one of the
greatest pork packing centers in the west and
in the absence of the labUr-sav wing machinery
and appliances Of the present day there was an
ever-present demand for men of strength and
endurance. Stapp found employment in one
OF the numerous houses and his wonderful
powers were soon manifested. He could ham
die hogs with apparent ease that taxed the
strength OF three men. 1t soon became his sole
duty to carry hogs from the hooks to the chop
ping blocks, and it was while he was thus en-
gagged that he performed perhaps the most re-
markable feat OF his life One day it became
necessary to remove to the block an immense
porker and his fellow-workmen stood by in
eager anticipation Of Stapps first defeat He
prided himself upon the fact that he had never
yet asked for assistance. Without the slightest
hesitation he permitted the great hog to be
lowered from the hooks to his shoulder and he
moved of with his burden, but very slowly,
for, as he himself afterward admitted. the load
bore SO heavily upon him he could scarcely lift
his feet The weight carried on this occasion
was $40 pounds That this feat was actually
accomplished has been attested by many credi-
BILE witnesses. 1t WAS never excelled, even by
Stapp himself, though many hogs of great size
went to the slaughter pens.
His long term of employment about the va
rious houses Of the city was not devoid of per-
sonal encounters, for though good-natured he
was quick to resent an insult and was lion |
when aroused. On more than one occasion he |
was assailed by numbers, but was never van
pushed except when weapons were used He |
would seize an antagonist in his powerful arms
and the crushing embrace which followed, once
felt, was never forgotten. Among those who
knew him best it was considered folly to, up-
armed, attack him, for defeat and perhaps per. |
manent injury was sure to follow.
Stapp continued to be employed about the |
pork houses Of tho city until the decline of the
industry. He then began draying an occupa- |
ton he followed until a few years ago On the |
very day of his death he had been at work. and |
was returning home when he was stricken with |
heart disease and fell dead upon the street. He |
was the father Of several children, among them |
two sons, neither Of whom, has developed uu- |
usual strength. |