MODERN GIANTS.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 238, 29 December 1916, Page 5 (Supplement)

MODERN GIANTS.

A RECRUIT WHO IS 8 FEET 2*IN

An unusual problem has to be faced by the military authorities in Wiltshire in the shape of a young man named Mr. Frederick Hempster, who is said to be Bft. 2£in. in height and still growing. Mr. Hempster, who not long ago passed his majority, turns the scale at 27st. His boots are marked "size 22*" and a penny can be dropped through his ring. When he travels he goes in the guard's van, the available space in an ordinary coach being too restricted for comfort. Three ordinary beds have to be placed side by side for him to sleep in; he can span two octaves on a piano and light a cigarette comfortably at a street lamp. As the military authorities do not know what they could possibly do with him if they had him in the Army, he remains for the time being peacefully at home. At one time the distinction of being the tallest man in the British Army belonged to Pte. H. Barter, who joined the Grenadier Guards fivfe years ago. Eighteen years of age at that time, he stood 6tt. BJinches in his stockings, and was still growing rapidly.

In Pte. Barter joining the Army the record of Major Oswald Ames, of the 2nd Life Guards, who reached the height of 6ft. 7-Sin. ,was beaten. Major Ames' had previously held the record for the British Army by jin. These records, howeylw, ore easily surpassed by that of Maehnow, who created a sensation at the London Hippodrome some years ago, and who weighed over 325t., and was 9ft. 3in. in height. The cloth used for one suit of clothes for him was sufficient to hare made suits for six ordinary individuals. Mention of Machnow recalls Miss Mariedl, the Tyiroflese giantess, who stood Bft. 3in. high. Twenty-three years of age, her physical attractions were such that' while appearing at the London Hippodrome she received a proposal of marriage from a Mr. Darral, tne son of a wealthy Australian farmer, who stood no less than Bft. Bin. high in his boots. Mr. Darral, was reported to have two sisters in Australia, each of whom was 7ft 6in. in height, while his father stood Bft. 3in. in bis socks. Another giant whom Londoners had an opportunity of seeing a few years ago was Constantin the Great, a giant standing Bft. lin. in his stockings, with a chest girth of 53in. To satisfy the needs of the inner man h'e partook of five or six meals a day. Chang, the Chinese giant, who ended his days at Bournemouth some years ago, was a man of enormous size, standing over Bft. in his socks and turning the scale at 26st. He used' to declare, however, that he ha 3 a sister in China who could easily look over his head. This remarkable lady was Bft. 4in. in height, weighed 235t., and had a hand with a span of 2ft.