Massachusetts spy and Worcester advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1823-1825, 1824-02-18
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From the British Theatre.

ACCOUNT OF ToPHAM THE STRONG MAN.
We learn from private accounts, we'll
attested, that Thomas Topham, man
who kept public house at lslington,
performed surprising feats of strength
as breaking a broomstick of the first
magnitude, by striking it against his
bare arm; lifting two hogsheads of wa
ter; heaving his horse over turnpike
gate carrying the beam of a house as
soldier would his frelock, &c. But
however belief might stagger, she soon
recovered herself when this second
Sampson appeared at Derby, as per-
former in publick for shilling each.
Upon application to Alderman Cooper,
for leave TO exhibit, the magistrate was
surprised at the feats he proposed; and
as his appearance was like that of 9TH
er men, he requested him to strip, that
he might examine whether he was
made like them; but he was found to
be extremely muscular. What were
hollows under the arms and hams of
others, were filled with ligaments in
him.
He appeared near FIVE ten, turned of
thirty, we'll made, but nothing singular;
he walked with small limb. He had
formerly laid wager, the usual deci-
der Of disputes, that three horses could
not draw him from post which he
should clasp with his feet: but the dri-
yer giving them sudden lash turned
them aside, and the unexpected jerk had
broke his thigh.
The performances of this wonderful
man, in whom were united the strength
of twelve, were rolling a pewter dish
Of seven pounds, as a man rolls up a
sheet ofpaper-hoIding pewter quart
at arms length, and squeezing the sides
together like an egg shelI-lift two
hundred weight with his little finger,
and moving it gently over his head.
The bodies which he touched, seemed
to have lost their gravitation. He also
broke a rope fastened to the floor, tina.
would sustain 90 cwt.-Lifting an oak
table six feet long with his teeth, tho
half hundred weight was hung to the
extremity piece of leather was
fixed at one end for his teeth to hold,
two Of the feet stood upon his knees,
and he raised the end with the weight
| higher than his mouth-He took Mr..
Chambers, vicar of all saints, who
weighed 81 stone, and raised him with
one hand, his head being on one chair
and his feet on another: four people
ID stone each, sat upon his body, which
he heaved at pleasure-he struck a
round OF iron, one inch diameter, against
his naked arm, and at one stroke bent
like bow. Weakness and feeling
seemed fled together.
Being master Of musick, he enter
tanned the company with Mad Tom. |
heard him sing solo to the organ in
St. Werberge's Church, then the only
one in Derby; but though he might
perform with judgment, yet the voice
more terrible than sweet, scarcely
seemed human. Though of pacifick
temper, and with the appearance of
gentleman, yet he was liable to the
insults of the rude. The hostler at the
Virgin Inn, where he resided, having
given him disgust, he took one of the
kitchen splits from the mantle-piece,
and bent it round his neck like hand
kerchief; but as he did not choose to
tuck the end in the hostler's bosom, the
cumbrous ornament excited the laugh
OF the company, till he condescended to
unite his iron cravat.-Had he not a.
bounded with good nature, the men
might have been in fear for the safety
OF their persons, and the women for
that oftheir pewter shelves, as he could
constantly roll up both. One blow
with his fist would forever have
'Ilenced those heroes Of the bear
garden, Johnson and Mendoza.
/ THE nor or TIT rnprcr