The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1859-07-05
THE STRONGEST MAN.

DIR. George B. Windship, of Roxbury, has crea.
ted quite stir in Boston, by delivering lecture
on physical Culture" which he illustrated by
feats Of most wonderful and amazing physical
strength, which he has acquired by persistent and
regular course of exercise DIR Windship is q
young man of about 25 years of age, 5 feet in
ches in height, and weighs about l40 pounds, with
an exceedingly fair face and modest and retiring
manner He graduated at Harvard College some
four years ago, since which he has studied medi-
cine and had the advantage of considerable private
practice in some of the most respectable families,
as well as the practical information gained by q
connection with several of the hospitals and public
institutions. His lecture abounded in practical
common sense and philosophical reasoning
ing unmistakably that while the physical educa
ton had been cared for, the intellectual had not
been neglected but that it also had been strength
encd, vitalized and made moro vigorous.
At the conclusion of the lecture, DIR. Windship
Illustrated the force and truth Of his theory by
lifting with his own hands, unaided by any straps
or machinery except such as nature had provided
him. 826 pounds; and then 929 pounds! He then
shoudercl barrel of flour, weighing ZIG pounds.
Afterwards he exercised hundred pound dumb
bell in each hand with the same apparent ease
that man of ordinary strength would handle
those weighing only fifteen or twenty pounds. He
then raised himself up by his little finger some four
feet from the stage, and in this way continued to
sustain his bodily weight three or four minutes.
The lecture, as well as the illustrations, re-
ceived with the widest enthusiasm of applause by
an audience of over 1000 of the most intelligent
men and women of Boston.
A Boston paper gives the following sketch of
portion of DIR Windship's lecture:
"The Doctor gave an account of his own expe-
rience in gymnastics commencing with his 17th
year, at college, where, in two years, hfs health
was greatly improved. Gymnastics, he showed,
had their abuses from persons not properly trained
trying to outdo others. Exhaustion and weariness
should never be allowed to come. Lifting was
neglected branch on account of the tendency OF
people to injure themselves with it. Yet, to a
thorough hardening of the whole body, lifting was
necessary. He had commenced with 500 pounds,
and increased gradually, till on the 18th Of May
last he had lifted 926 pounds.
Galen had calculated that the hips and legs
could support two or three tons There
other ways of lifting by which large amounts could
be lifted. Not long since, with his hands and
back together, he had lifted / 800 pounds. There
was vast difference between lifting and sustain
ing He would not advise any one to train them
selves up to lift more than 500 pounds with the
hands, or 1000 with the straps He had gone
beyond that to ascertain what could be done. Tot
ten and the Belgian giant were the only persons
he had ever learned authentically to have lifted
800 pounds. Totten lived one hundred years ago,
and was thirty years old when he lifted it. Dr.
Wndship said he had FIVE years yet before he
reached that and he hoped to train himself to lift
1000 pounds clear
Next to lifting, dumb bells are useful One of
his own weighed 140 pounds, and others 100 lbs
each. The rings came next lie had never prac-
ticed over half an hour day which sufficient
to exercise all the muscles In reference to prac-
tisng, he would say, try feat twice on the same
day. if it was found to tire or exhaust in the slight
est degree"