The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-03-26
TON GARDNER, STRONG NlN
xEw BRUNSWICK GIANT or ONE
HUNDRED YEARS AGO.
Heats - Iaftfng. WRESTLING $40 Me-
ysssn ssrpsssing There - the
NoAeTm Vaudeville Exhisstien

n II certain that the famous athletes Of
The present day. who seek applause %
breaking records are. after ali. superior 10
the ogd-ssne performers whose deeds were
seldom efsrorscled? Are modern club and
college gysnnastams sending forth man able
TO discount the brawn and bone Of their
1asnerss The modern professional strong
man hss his scientific methods Of trimming.
bis apparatus, ard his sIecsaittss which hs
has psacsieed for years, but could ne van
qaish the Shadows and Simpsons OF Maine
ard New brunswick In the early logging
daya at their own game, such AZ lifting
with tie haaaspsks. shouidefsng barrel OK
pork, or scugtfng q raft OF logs OK a lee
ehore9 There are men s:ilI living on the
st. John and Penchscot who say that there
were giants IN those days whose fsats o.
strength have never been equaled. They
refer especially. to one Tom Gardner. the
lion OF the Macnaasae. says the New YORK
Bun correspondent, who was born on the
banks Of the 81. john In the year f7ss, and
who had such strength thai 1t was real
affiictson to him hs reason Of The crowds
who followed him. The mere rurnor that
Tom was expected on bis raft, or that ne
was waking up the road with bis scuii oar
ard warp OVER HE shoulder. would line the
fences or the river bank with people who
wished 10 zee 50 great prodigy.
one would suppose that Gardner possessed
more muscle than an ordinary man of his
inches. He was a mild-mannered. orsas-
surfing faxeuha.red young man. rather
ssoucbing In his gait. feet 10 Inches In
height, and usually weighing from lis 10
$50 pounds. When stripped, however, his
power could in part be accounted for. his
chest being finely developed and the mus
Giles Of mis- arms legs and thighs standing
out Ike The sinews OF a bear. II was the
popular belief that. instead OF ordinary
ribs Gardner possessed solid walls Of bone
on either side OF his chest
Toms brother John was in no way noted
for his physical prowess. but his sister,
Matilda. was 90 strong that no man was
ever able TO kiss her in fair, honest play.
She decia.ed mat she would marry the
first man who accomplished this feat. 1t 10
aaid that one OF her suitors. Isaac Fuller.
was more crafty than the others He stu
diousiy RETAINED from seeking TO capture
Matthias lips until he had won her heart.
He courted her at long range and praised
her beauty. Then Matilda surrendered.
Ore OF the few surviving river men Of
that period Is John Gambler. who now lives
al Arihurette. on the TociQue river. He
was we'll acquainted with Gardner, and saw
him perform many of his amazing feats.
There were no two men In my time" said
Mr.. Gambler. who could lift Tom Gard
ners load or handle him in a scrimmage.
In the year 1875. which was right after the
great Miramichi fire, saw him al Grafton.
opposite Woodstoch. LIT a fno,asses punch
con fun OF corn tEaid 10 be fourteen bnsh-
els} from the bottom Of towboAt 10 fhs
gunwals. and then set i: doMn on the beach
stones I saw Gardner do one thing which
] am satisfied no man In the province could
now begin 10 do. This occurred at Grafton
also. He took hold Of a rum punchcon con-
tanning at the time seven gallons OF rum.
lifted II from the ground without the least
effort and drank from the buughose The
puncheon was heavy. iron-bound affair