A CHAMPION AXEMAN.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 1 September 1928, Page 13

A CHAMPION AXEMAN.

CHARLIE HUTTON’S RECORD

A WORLD’S TITLE-HOLDER.

(By Phvsical CuLtunist.)

No record 1 of Taranaki athletics would be nearly complete without reference to the deeds of the flying axeman, Charlie Hutton, who, with his pall, Con Casey, did superhuman things 1 with axe and saw. Charles Hutiton was horn at Barrington, Tasmania, some 52 years l ago. When at the tap of Inis form he stood sft 10in., and weighed 13 s to lie 11 lbs. Built proportionately and biassed with great physical strength, grit and determination, whether chopping .sawing or running, lie would not submit to defeat without a desperate struggle, as the following eoisode will show. Charlie was oik of those men who would l run his own race no matter what the odds against him —impulsive rto a degree. A striking contrast to Inis team mate. Con Casey, a 2j stone lighter man, about the same height, with muscles of steel and an active brain. This pair apparently had no equal with the crosscut saw. These were the two men chosen to represent New Zealand at the world’s chopping and sawing eham.pionships at Bovoniport, Tasmania, in 1904, when they won the world’s champion doubleIha nded rawing match in record time from a field of ten pairs. Charlie had been in a big chop prior to this event, and he did not altogether ague© with the judge’s decision, and stated so in no unmistakable language. He boiled with indignation. Caisey, in relating the incident to me, said: “I never saw •Charlie so upset in all the time we moved together. I ultiamtely persuaded him to have a cup of tea, this latter pick-me-up being one of your fatherly taps to me. He was most unsettled, i quietly polluted out there were those competing in the next champion sawing match who reckoned we would have no show, aud we must keep our wits and get to it with a will. I saw him set his jaw and lower his chin. A few minutes later we 'took up our positions ready to start. At the signal Charlie pulled the saw and myself backward and forward at terrific pace. I never had such a time at the end of a saw. It was full-- a dozen outs across before 1. could pick up the time, swish, swish, swish, swish. The cut was through before I could realise it. Charlie stood up, threw down the saw, glanced at tn© rest still sawing, glared ait the judges as though hp would a&k. “Are you satisfied now,’’ turned on his heel and walked off the ground. The crowd cheered again and again. At that moment lie was a superman. He had bracketed me with himself as the champions of ithe world at double hand sawing in record time.”

From an early age Hutton took, to Sawing and chopping as to the manner born, and he soon became known all through the district for his work. After winning a number of minor events', lie was matched for his iirsib big chop, a private contest far £IOO aside against another Tasmanian, a perfect giant of a man and a perfect axeman, no less thaq A. E. Clarke —six foot six inches of whipcord and muscle weighing 15istoni?, with not an ounce of surplus flesh. Game as a pebble, the impetuous Hutton was beaten bv one blow. This was in 1900, the same year that he left for the New South “Wales carnival held at McLean on May 24. In the 18-inch standing block chop he won easily from scratch; E. It. (Mick) Terry was second. Terry will be remembered as the trainer-manager of Jack Donaldson, “The Blue Streak” champion professional sprint runner of tire world. Some few yeans later Hutton then looked rouncr for pastures new and came to New Zealand —as so many “Tassies” have done before and smffi. The 18th December the same year found him on the Main Trunk Line. In a few weeks? hi? chopped.to win his first match in, Now Zealand, accepting a. challenge from E. J. Harris to chop against him an 1 Sin. standing block at Knwa. Kawa for £SO aside. Hutton wen by half a, minute. He then made loir Taranaki, and the Eltham axpmen’s carnival, the first one hold. It was here he first met C. W. Casey, ‘the lightning axeman, who somewhat surprised the Taissie by winning the champion 2ft block chop, in which Hutton was second. After sizing each other up they formed a lasting friencllsluiip. The same day Charlie won the big handicap standing ISin. chop. Teaming with J. Pettit, thev won the double-hand saw from scratch'. At Palimerston North on November 4, 1902, in the 2ft Gin diameter block chop, he won form scratch, his friend Casey hieing second, with' L. Berg third. The next year at the same place, in the 2ft block, Charlie and Con Casey filled second and third! places to Bert Mitchell, who won. In 1903 Hutiton won the 2ft block chop, the genial Con being second. I think it was the same year at Oka.to, on March 17. Hutton won the 18m standing block chop. At any rate two judges and manv spectators declared he won easily, hut a third! judge thought otherwise, so the dispute was referred to the Eltham headquarters for their ruling. The ruling body ordered it- to he chopped off at New Plymouth. Charlie was so disgusted that he did not compete, hut lie bad tine satisfaction of knowing his churn Con Cafpy brought home the bacon.

At the axemen’s carnival, Devon port, Tasmania, 1904, in the inter-State teams match, logs 3ft diameter, two men at one block, the pair, Oharlio and Con, ig,ot (second, j last beaten by ono blow. As I have related, later in the day he won tlie world’s championship at doubledian ded sawing, and put up a world’s record'. I think it was in tlip same year at Tail)ape Charlie won the ISin. standing block chop. On the 17th March ait Waimea, Main Trunk Line, lie won the 18iii. (standing chop; he also won the 18in.- underhand chop. A few weeks later at hillis and Bernard’s mill, Mangapelii, Hutton won the 15in. underhand chop, Henderson being second. Charlie then had a good spell from chops, but in 1917 he could not resist the tcmpatxni to chop things about, so w.e find him! on July 14 at Wanganui essaying the come-back act. Hq warmed up by finishing second,and then won the loin, underhand, chop from scratch, finished second in the Min. standing block championship. These contests took place in Cook’s Gardens. Another spell, until 1922, when lie once more tackled the logs at Levin, winning the loin, standing chop from .scratch. In the Min. block underhand chop lie got second. Charlie was beginning to find tlie older ho got the more seconds he had to take. He had to digest the fact that youth will be served, so that he there and then finished the big game stunt. There were quite a. number of smaller chops he won during his heydey, hut I have recorded onlv of his best. To Kiri residents, tell me that at odd times he still strikes form, and • occasionally makes the chips fly. During his last come-back act he competed at Masterton, when an incident happened which to the public wa s amusing, but to Charlie was most embarrassing and, needless to write, annoying. Charlie to-day laughs when it is mentioned,

but lie failed to. laugh then. In an 18in standing block chop, Hutton’s block was placed fairly in front of the grand stand in full view of the spectators. Charlie was chopping in splendid style, winning easily, when suddenly his belt broke, his strides clipped and in one second lie was on -the ground. Gripping the waistband with one hand and his axe in the other, the axeman was next seen flying aw fast as possible to his tent.

Another little joke which caused somechuckles amongst the -axemen : One day that humorous one. the irrepressible Con Casey, waa entered for the chops at Okato sports on March 17. There was plenty of green ribbon about and the gatekeeper had his share. When tbf' pair got to the gate, Casey said to the irn.au from Ireland. “Choppers go in free.” J “The divil they don’t. Everyone has to pay.’’ Casey then said -.“Look, old man, if Con' Casey and Charlie H nit ton were to come, alone I’ll hot you would let them in free.” He answered: “Well, bedad, .now, I do believe I might do that, too ; thim two nTo great boys—they’re great, entolrely.” “Then stand hack,” said Con, “the bhoys are here.” I have written of Hutton Is axemanship. Next week I will recount some, of Ills athletic feats, for he was also one of the best milers from over the Tasman Sea.