Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1903-01-01

VI seven MEN - stronger tnau MA
Father at IL.
Quite the most remarkable feature
1t the recent meeting and exhibition of
The Surfmen's Mutual Benefit Associa-
don, held in Elizabeth City, n. j., was
The appearance of Lewis Lewark, the
('strong boy" from Currituck county.
Six feet two inches tall, weighing 619
pounds and strong in proportion, Lew
b attracted universal attention and
Vied with the lifG-saving drills as an
attraction.
Young Lewark is being exhibited by
his brother st. Clair, or "Buggins,"
as he is locally known throughout the
eastern coast towns of North Caro-.
lima, and his fame has spread from
Norfolk OH the north to Albemarlt
sound on the south. Good natured, as
nearly all large people are, Lewis looks
upon the tour as lot of fun.
The latest thing in human giants was
born in Ourrituck county, North Caro-.
dna, just II years ago His parents
Are rather below the ordinary stature
his father weighing only 100 pounds
md his mother less than 1870. When he
same into the world Lewis weighed
eighteen pounds. At the age of this
had increased until he weighed $50.
When he was II years old he weigh
cd 496 pounds and it was necessary
for his parents to take him to Nor
folk to find scales large enough to
weigh him. AT that time his photo
graph was taken.
La appearance Lewis looks like any
other healthy boy, except that he is
extremely large. Feats of strength
that would stagger half dozen ordi-
nary men are performed by Lewis with
ease. AS a young boy Lewis received
very little schooling, no teacher in
ourrituck country being able to con-
troll him. He can read a little when
the subject is in print and he can write
his name
When he was IL years old his faith
err made an effort to correct him. For
few moments Lewis stood his pun
lShlhNills L lltl llt SldSDtu HIS ldtuGI
by the trousers and lifted him high in
the air. A quick throw and Lewark,
senior, landed thirty feet away. 1t was
the last time that Lewis ever was cor
rected by anything stronger than moral
suRsion.
AS young Lewark grew up he en-
tered heartily into the work of the
sound and bay men. Here he excelled.
Seines that three men had difficulty in
handling Lewis took with one hand.
In the duck shooting season "Buggins"
and Lewis were shooting partners and
while the strong boy was an excellent
shot 1t was found more advisable to
have him sail boat about picking up
the dead ducks than to trust him in the
small battery box where the shooter
lay.
In the shooting of ducks for mar
ket the heavy boxes are taken aboard
battery boats and anchored In desir-
able positions. To launch one or to
haul 1t into the boat takes the united
effort of three men. Lewis was able
to do this with one hand.
AT the surfmen's exhibition at Eliza
beth City Lewis astonished all by haul
lag up a surfbOat from the water-a
task that usually requires the efforts
of the entire crew of seven strong men.
Again he hauled the brooches buoy
ashore without trouble--a task that re-
quires the service of three men.
Despite his enormous bulk Lewis is
as supple as an Indian and as quick
as n cat He is an excellent shot, a
handy sailor of small boats and n good
all-around hunter
He eats in proportion to his size.
Half dozen canvassback ducks are
as nothing to him and a dozen smaller
ducks only make fair meal.
About two years ago 1t became nee
essary for "Buggins" to build special
furniture for his big brothers use. A
bedstead and chair Of heavy oak three
by four inches was made. but in less
than six months the boy had grown so
large that even these huge bits of fur
niture crumbled under his weight.
Then stuff" four by six inches was
used and now even these things are
quite unsafe.
Kindly and true to his family. Lewis
Is equally kind to his friends, saws
the New York Times. When the great
storm of 1896 struck the eastern coun-
ties of Carolina hardly boat could
i've in the terrific seas that swept over
Curritick beach. Alone Lewis put forth
In his boat and rowed against the hur-
ricane that ragged in order to save iso-
lated families that were threatened
with extinction by the waters. In that
memorable storm, thanks to the boys
exertions, not life was lost in Cur
ituck county.
pIInnLn nAn,rH...