The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1909-03-21
10
THE GIANT NEEDHAMS.


that part of the country. Their ire
mendous size, extraordinary muscular
development and herculean strength
mad made them famous among the
country folk, as well as gaining for
them a reputation for perfect fearless
ness which was clearly established and
> proven. Either one of them could pick
up 200-pound man and toss him over
a fence as If he were a bag of buck
wheat. But for all their physical ca
liabilities they were not of a quarrel
some nature. There are men so con-
stituted that they Will put up with any
thing short OF actual, premeditated In
suit rather be drawn into fight, and
the Needhams belonged to this class.
One interesting feature of their APP
pearance was that they looked so much
alike that many people mistOOk them
for one another and could not tell them
apart. In fact, they looked more like
twin brothers than like father and son.
The outdoor life they led and their
constant trudging about the country
kept their muscles hard as steel. Both
were over feet in height, with mas
sive frames, huge heads and shoulders,
copper-colOred skin and jet black hair,
and despite their great weight moved
with the springy, catlike grace of pam
theirs.
over as Doc" Needham. He was not
regular practitioner, but an Indian
herb doctor. A great many people be
heved in his medicines, and there were
tales Of marvellous cures he had
wrought. One legend was that with
three drops of the essence of a certain
root he had restored to life man who
was about to be buried. However that
may have been, the fact remained that
H,al 1.I -,
tabEshing himself in the confidence of
the country folk, and certainly did a
great deal more good than he did
harm.
The son helped the father. He dug
roots and gathered herbs, kept the
medicine pot boiling, and accompanied
his father on trips around the country,
especially to country fairs. They came
TO be feature at these fairs, and their
fame spread far and wide. Sometimes
they drew crowds for their medicine
settings by short exhibitions. in which
father and son both displayed, in small
degree, the great strength they pos
sesSed. They did not exert themselves
to the uttermost, for il was not need
ed. A very slight outfut of their
muscular reserve was quite sufficient
10 keep the spectators talking over the
marvels they had witnessed for days.
At the township fair in Wallace, coun-
ty of Elgin, in 1874, the Needhams were
present with their supply of herbs, and
as usual big crowds gathered to see
their exhibition and buy their medi-
ctnes. Among those at the fair was
Harry FitzsimmOns, a huge fellow, built
like bull, with thick neck deep chest
and heavy head. He claimed 10 be a
fighter and pTided himself on his abil-
ity to whip any man in the county
He had boon companion with him
named George Lipsey. The latter was
something of a fighter himself, but de-
l3eTTed to FitZSimmOns as the king of
the county where a question of physi-
cal superiority was involved That day
Mr.. FitzsimmOns was in trOuble-seek-
Ing mood, having thrashed a couple of
husky country fellows who had dared
20 provoke him. Both of his antago-
nists had gone under quickly, and Fits
faith in his own prowess was greatly
enhanced thereby. Flushed with his
easy victories and stranger to defeat,
he came upon the Needhams, father
and son, busy with their medicines. The
sight of the famous pair caused a scowl
10 deepen on his brow. Fitz had heard
OF the Needhams and their feats of
strength until he was weary of such
stories. He determined that he would
convince the countryside that he was
the sole and undisputed champion.
With this laudable object in view he
made repeated attempts to pick q quar-
rel with the Needhams, but being peace
able, law-abiding men they ignored him
and refused to be tempted into a fight.
Fitz and his companion grew bolster
Gus and the Needhams moved quietly
away, but the two troubie-seekers fol-
lowed them, roaring out numerous in
suits. Young Needham could be seen
speaking earnestly to his father, and
entreating him to grant some request.
but the older man shook his head stern
~. Fftz and Lipsey persisted in their
vocal attacks, and at last Doc Needham
nodded to his son.
Young Needham Immediately threw
of his coat and walked over to with
III few feet of his challengers. Fitz.
rightly defining this movement as an
acceptance of the battle gage, rushed
upon him at once. Lipsey made as
though to join in the attack, but was
gripped by an iron hand which drew
him back. CHANGING up he perceived
that IL was none other than Doc Need
nam, who was guarding his son from
unfair interference. Lipsey's first i'm
pulse was to struggle with his cantor
but on reflection he remained passive
The elder Needham had not spoken a
word 10 him, but that viselike grin of
his arm spoke volumes. Lipsey sud-
denly realized that he would be helm
less as child in this veteran giants
hands should he attempt to ioin issues
IN combat with him. Plainly discre-
ton was the better part of vaIor. and
he made no further move Indicative of
desire to aid the Tedoubtable Fitz.
The latter was hurting himself upon
his foe with reckless abandon. his
sledge-hammer fists flying wildly in
the air as he dealt blow after blow in
rapid succession at his opponent Young
Needham, on the contrary, was taking
matters coOiiy. A mocking sheer dwell
upon his bronze features as he Warded
Off the hailstorm Of blows that heat
around his head Despite his huge buIl,
the younger Needham was as light as
a cat on his feet, and he evaded Fitz's
buil-like rusheS with wonderful ease
slipping aside dexterously while his
opponent came tearing after him. and
planting weil-timed hits or the latter's
face without receiving a single counter
in return Even at an early stage of
the short, furious encounter il was evil
dent that young Needham was mere
~ playing with his enemy as a. cat
plays with a mouse. But a few mo-
ments elapsed ere F'itz began to weak
en- and betrayed symptoms of distress.
Needham's quick eye detected the wa
NerfDZ of his ANTAGONISTS 2 ftaoL- v{-s.L