The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1904-04-14
WON MANY FOOT RACES.
Death In Montville of Gilbert Mclaughlin
Famous Athlete Years Ago.

Death In Montville of Gilbert McLauphlin
Famous Athlete Years Ago.
The death of Gilbert Knowlton Nc
Laughlin of Montville revives some
memories of the great strength anC
tleetness of foot of this wonderful ath
lete, says Zone Who Knew Him" i1
the Rockland Courier Gazette. He was
born about IS years ago in the interior
of Maine and from his Scotch-Irish anC
American parentage inherited the rug
ged physique of two races. He was
about 81 feet in height, and his weight
was 1876 pounds in early and middle life
He had double teeth, his Joints and
muscles were of ponderous proportions
and he was as fat-footed as an Indian
His feats of strength and his ability in
winning foot races caused much excite.
ment about 40 years ago in the New
England and Southern States
AT one time he took hold of a set of
wheels by the middle of the axel and
lifted $50 pounds with apparent ease
About 20 years ago he and c.. Wesley
Taylor of Winslow lugged backlog
about four rods out of the woods
through three feet of snow and with.
out resting. An able 1200-pound horse
could not start the log, which weighed
as near as could be told, about 22OC
pounds. He was very strong with his
teeth, at one time lifting load with
them that 20 different men failed to lift
with their hands. He was also able to
throw pork barrel, soaked through
with pickle, over his head by means of
his teeth.
1t was another marvel to find a man
of such size and strength so fleet of
foot. | will undertake to give an ac-
count of some OF his performances on
various race-tracks.
On the Belfast track in 1860 he won a
race against two fleet Indians and a
horse. During the first half mile and
up to the third quarter Mclaughlin
was behind all his competitors. An old
friend from California made his way
into the judges stand, and with a roar
like lion shouted words of encourage
ment. This acted like magic. The man
IN the rear was seen to gather himself,
and closing up the intervening gap, go
by his rivals and come home good
winner. Every spectator said the speed
OF that last quarter was phenomenal.
Next year on the same track he wit
messed foot race between two men,
one of whom had but one arm. The
two armed man won and it was loudly
asserted that he was without a rival.
Mclaughlin tried to arrange a match
with them then and there, but when
the stranger heard of McLaughlin's
feat the previous year he backed down.
Mclaughlin then pinned a ten-dollar
bin onto his clothes and offered it to
any man on the grounds who could
take it from him in any distance from
100 yards to five miles, No one accepted
the challenge
In 1864 Mclaughlin enlisted in the
army and won foot races with every
soldier who would compete with him,
being adjudged the fastest runner in
the northern army. He also ran with
man who claimed 10 be champion of
England, winning a 1oo-yard dash by
one yard, and purse of 500. Mr.. Nc
Laughlin in 1864 also made an exhibit
ton mile in minutes, Is seconds,
which is only 81 seconds behind the
worlds record, made by G. w. George
of England 20 years later. McIaugh-
Inns speed seemed to increase with
every yard he ran. He never used TO-
bacco i'll any form, was strictly temper
ate, and never played a game of cards
in his life.