The record-union., 1895-02-23
A GIANTS STRENGTH his
Wonderful Feats Performed by
Canadian Farmer.


TO the feats which made Joseph Berry hill,
farmer. living within ten miles of Lon
don, Ont, famous throughout that part of
the country. Berryhill is an old man
now, but is still able to do things that
make him marvel in the eyes of those
who see him.
He is trif1e over six feet in hight.
weighs more than 800 pounds, and is so
picturesque a figure that he might have
stepped from the page of some tale Of the
Norsemen, so perfect is his blonde
beauty. The New York Sun says he has
always devoted himself to farming, and
is comfortably well off, owning several
hundred acres of land. together with
horses, cattle and everything else in pro-
portion. AS young man, Berryhill was
probably as great an athlete as ever lived,
for, despite his great weight, he was SO
Heet OF foot that few professional sprint
ers could cope with him. while his Prov
ess at jumping earned for him wide
reputation. He weighed perhaps 225
pounds when 20 years OF age, and it was
nothing for him after hard days work
in the nelds to leap twenty feet in single
running jump. or to run hundred yards
In l04 seconds. His bodily strength was
remarkable, and was perhaps his most
distinguishing characteristic.
The neighbors all knew of mis- feats of
strength, but the first glimpse the out
sue WOIlu hdO vi LIS Capabilities was
when the Great Western Railroad, now
leased by the Grand Trunk, was build
ing through Western Ontario. Berryhill,
among others, contracted to furnish the
railroad with timber for ties and other
building purposes, and while hauling
lumber 10 this city he came under the
observation OF the gang constructing that
section OF the road. Many of the men re-
marked his size, and said that he would
ha Il D0GH n avoid nick
with. one day, while unloading the
timber from his sleigh, Berryhill began
laughing al six or eight men who were
striving vainly to place pair of wheels
and axle of an ordinary freight car truck
on the track.
"Why, 1 could lift that on myself" he
said.
Bet you SIS you can't" said the con-
struction boss.
The money was staked, and Berryhill,
picking up the ponderous wheels with
the axle, walked ten or twelve steps with
them and placed them upon the rails
with as much ease as though they were
of PAPER mache. Laughing loudly, the
giant jumped into his sleigh and drove
away, leaving those who had seen the
teat looking after him in open mouthed
establishment.
That was pretty hard winter on some
OF the farmers, as hay had been rather
short crop, and Joe having a number of
horses to feed, drove over into Missouri
and began dickering with farmer for
some OF his timothy The Nissourian
was hard-tiste and drove close bargains,
and Berryhill finally gave up trying to
purchase the quantity he desired at any
thing like fair price. Turning to him,
Berryhill said, finally:
"rll give you IS for what can carry off
your farm myself
The bargain was made, and Berryhill
departed. He came back in a few DAYS
with sort OF rack built on four short
posts, and began piling hay upon it until
tue Nlssourian's eyes were bullying. He
tied IL to the rack with ropes, and then,
climbing beneath the load. carried of
more than ton of the farmers good
timothy. that was worth Sl5 ton that
winter in any market. Leaving it on the
side OF the highway, ne transferred it to a
sleigh and carried il home with many a
cnuckle.
AS young man he was in great de-
mand at all raising bees. A raising bee is
quite function i'll that part OF the couu-
try. When farmer is erecting barn or
other large outbuilding, and after all the
timbers for the framework are in place.
Invitations are sent out to all the farmers
OF the surrounding country. Sides are
chosen, and at given signal the frame
work OF the building is raised into po-
sItlon, and pins are driven to hold it in
place. Rivalry runs high at these gath
erings. and 1t is astonishing how expert
men become at the game. After the bee,
the wives, sisters and sweethearts OF the
farmers meet them at the house of the
farmer giving the bee, and after q SUBJ
stantial supper, to which all contribute in
some fashion, one bringing a roast Lur-
key, another pie or two, and still an
other batch of cookies, dancing is in
dulged in until or o'clock the next
morning.
one OF Berryhilrs star performances
on such occasions was to turn a series OF
hsndsprings on the plate or top beam of
the frame Work after 1t was in position.
The spectacle OF giant performing such
eyolutlons Ierty or fifty feet from the
ground, on surface not more than ten
inches wide, was always an attraction to
visitors, and nobody ever duplicated the
feat In the woods the mans prowess
with the ak was equally remarkable. Il
used an ak twice as big and as heavG
again as the ordinary tool, and so great
was his strength that at every blow it
sank TO the eye in the wood. 1t was an
ordinary thing for him to handle logs of
wood that team OF horses would ordi-
narily be required to place in position
for skidding, and whenever his horses
got into tight place or pitch hole, and
were unable to extricate the load, the
giant would put his shoulder TO the hind
bob, call to his horses, and the trou bic
would be over.
When not in his cups Berryhill was as
mild as woman, and was far from being
quarrelsome, but when under the infin-
ence OF liquor he liked nothing better
than to crack mems heads together or to
toss them about like ninepins He in
Cured tie ennlty of the famous DonnelIy
family, which was all but eXterminated
sixteen miles from this place by Vigil
lantS in the winter OF 1879, and he had a
mum Der of barroom fights with them in
The tayerns which lined the old proof
line road in the days before the London,
Huron and Bruce Railroad relieved the
stage traffic from London TO points north
and north No ordinary dozen men.
unless they resorted TO the use OF fire.
arms, knives, bludgeons or bottle could
mold their own with him, and BerryhilI
usually came out OF ali such trays glori-
Gus victor.
When he got hold of man he threshed
about with him as if his victim was a
mere wisp OF straw, and it is related of
one encounter be held in Ryan's place at
E!gIntleId with Patrick Gilgallin and a
mum Der of friends and followers. that he
twisted the heel rom GiIgalIin's boot
with his fingers and thumb. GIIgaIlin
had fled in terror up the stairs leading 10
the sleepIng-roolns, and BerryhIli, reach
ing for him as he ran, caught MIN by the
heel OF the boot. With one wrench he
tore the stout sole-leather heel from the
boot,
Berryhill is still living in London
Township, aud goes TO the city OCCASION
ally. His chest measurement is over
fifty inches. aud there is little doubt that.
although an old man, he can to-day du-
plicate most OF the feats OF the "strong
men" who are on the road. Taken in
hand by an expert as a young man Ber-
ryhill would have been the greatest OF
them ali.