Men of Muscle, and the Highland Games of Scotland, etc.

JAMES PATON OF :MURTHLY. 19 M'Dermott, Haggart, Stewart, and M'Duff, were all famous athletes, Stewart* being perhaps the most notable as a putter. He was a small, light man, yet, quite contrary to what should naturally be the case, he excelled only in putting a very heavy missile. On one occasion, at the games at Forfar, Stewart was first in putting the 28lb. weight, George Bell second, Donald Dinnie and James Paton four feet behind. Bell was a soldier, standing· 6 feet 4 inches, and weighing I 9st. 7lb. He was a good putter and hammer-thrower (pendulum style), and could also toss the caber and wrestle with the best men of his day. Paton was an exceptionally good athlete, and Donald Dinnie was without an equal all round, yet little Willie Stewart could defeat them all putting a heavy weight. John George was Paton's great opponent, and many were the tussles they had at wrestling. When the Marquis of Lorne came of age big games were held at Inveraray, and large prizes were offered, which induced all the ch~pions to attend. Here Paton and George met in the Scots wrest– ling, and such a bout ensued as was seldom or never seen at games. There was no arranging between these two champions– such as unfortunately often occurs at games now-but each set his teeth, determined to win. The struggle at Inveraray lasted almost half-an-hour, and half-an-hour's wrestling in Scots style between two determined men is hard work. On another occasion, after carrying off the pick of the prizes at Dundee, Paton went north to Deeside to the games at Banchory, but arrived when the putting was over. Charles M'Hardy had defeated all comers in this department, which fact had caused much satisfaction, M'Hardy being an Aber– deen man. Paton was much chagrined to hear M'Hardy's praises on every side, and made answer that if he had been * See Appendix, Note 12.