Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1943-04-25
When This
Country Raised
Real Giants

~ UR formidable enemies, the Japs little men,
1 small in stature If large in evil. American service
~ men, returning from battle action marvel that
divduals so tiny can be pestiferous What would
bunch Of these understood Nps averaging
feet tall do, despite their mechanical equipment If
of the underbrush charged regiment of giants each
around seven feet tall and weighing from 400 to 900
pounds?
Sounds like smash hit for the Allies doesn't it, but
pipe-dream SoNt would be today but as Alvin F
Harlow relates in his latest book Weep No More, Ny
Lady during the last century in the Of Kentucky
giants were almost dime dozen
The famous blue grass locale, that in day pro-
duces racehorses second TO formerly
astounding product humans super prodgious in size
to put it mildly Whether il the soil water
the sunshine that turned the trick and why the miracle
no longer comes TO pass, the cautious author won't
ture opinion He does however regale is with a list
IF the Tans who staked the terrain of the blue grass
state in the early days
jim Porter the Kentucky Giant was an outstanding
example Seven feet inches tall weighing 800 pounds
he left great impression the mind of the famous
English novelist Charles Dickens who carried back home
with him the memory of Porter bobbng down the cabin
among men of six feet and upward, like lighthouse
walking among lampposs"
What bear-cat of a fighter Jim Porter would make
If he were living today Leaping out of fox hole onto
goggle-eyed little laps, he'd probably drive them wacliy
Another pioneer Kentuckian that the Japs would have
qualed before Samuel Esti reported by
weighed 4l2 pounds AS Harlow describes him in his
book, no sluggish fat-belly was he big though he
He belonged TO famous family Of Indian fighters and
crack shot in land of riflemen He i'm.
that when got religion and joined Baptist
Church. the had to enlist help
to dip the Kentuckian in the baptismal fount.
The of John Bright a worthy entry in the
list of heayweghts of Kentucky who the prize
ring but waged great battles with enemies OF
try in the days when handto-hand fighting tested the
mettle Of Bright a captain in the Mexican
War He tipped the scales at 345 pounds. Although he
died at advanced he rode horseback right up
the end
Even more remarkable was Martin Bates seven feet
tall reputedly weighing 525 pounds describes
how Bates Confederate captain in the Civil War
his best to the Of the South When his turned
to be lost cause he joined sdeshow and toured the
world giving command performances before the
heads OF Europe He probably the only army captain
IN the history OF this counryor other country for
that matter 10 retire not anonymity, but become
the featured curiosity a sideshow
In Kentucky whole families fourished in which it
uneard OF for TO reach IS years age
ping six feet in height One young KentucItian Noah
spears born 1892 tall by the time ne years
old that he took up voting and fiery fighter
no that none dared challenge him when he entered the polls
proud and hefty family the Howard clan. The
husband and father six feet four inches in height
mighty fighter Wounded in battle five times three
seriously that authorities called each
injury fatal Howard refused take the count and in
almost no time would be up and around again
A big man. he chose mate Of his own calibre. Mrs.
Howard feet tall and weighing 2S5 pounds lad
twelve brothers and over six feet Her union
with Howard produced all way tall
except one the family midget and he was just six feet
The three daughters moreover all over six
feet weighing from $50 pounds
Gong back 20 the zoos there was another Howard
John by name six feet inches n height weighing
800 pounds lie fought against King George If his
size was any criterion Of his prowess. he must have
whipped more than his weight Hcssans At age
OF l03 nv reluctantly PASSED from this life when he
thrown from An orucry colt hc was breaking
Today the Kentucky giants OF pioneer days almost
extinct some processes Of civilization or hcredty have
Whitfield their descendants doHu Co nornh SIZE Perhaps
ts just well. for the standard armed forces
today specifies that man is over six feet and four
inches tall it's thumbs down for him He requires too
much cloth for his trousers Zoo much length
and has head looms mp Zoo conspcuousy fodder
during battle action.