The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1859-12-23
THE STRONGEST NAN IN AMERICA.

Some months ago we copied from the
Boston Medical and .Surgicl Journal an
account Of the great strength of DR.. Wind
ship Of Roxbury, Mass. This gentleman
after graduating at Harvard University
studied medicine but we believe that lie is
destined to effect greater revolution by
his lectures on physical culture and by his
practical exemplifcation of the same, than
by pills and powders. In many towns and
cities, at the East, gymnasia spring up from
the new impulse which he has given to the
subject of bodily training. 1t tappears that
from youth Of sixteen years, it has been
his dream-his ideal-which he is now en-
deavoring to realize-to stir up the com
munity to the importance of this subject.
And he seems in a fair way to succeed by
the moderation Of his views, the common
sense lone aud argument used in urging
them, and by the example which he him
self gives. When We see the phrase "feats
of strength" coupled with any mans name
our minds involuntarily revert to massive
bnllnecked statue of Her:u'es. CT to some bru
tai b'uiser who has more muscles than brains
DR.. Windship is neither one nor the other
lie is a gentleman in his appearance, tone of
conversation and general bearing. While
he is not overgrown, (he is only 25 years
old and weighs but l43 pounds.) be has the
glow Of health which we admire so much
in the English gentleman. Harper's Week
ly recently had caricature of the effects
ofthe present mania for gymnas,ic exer-
cses, in gymast whose arms and chest
were finely enlarged and expanded, while
the legs and feet were inconveniently and
ridiculously small. DR.. W's system de-
velopes the whole body and leaves no part
without its due proportion of exercise.
lie shows that there is not a merchant of
New York or Boston who need spend more
than thirty minutes each day to attain
degree of strength and health which will
enable him to perform all his duties with
more alacrity, and consequently enjoy more
fully the blessings of tdis brief existence.
The medical journal to which we have
already alluded stated that in June of this
year, DR.. Windsbip lifted without apparent
effort 1927 lbs more than foot from the
floor, and afterwards iron plates amounting
929 lbs. We see, however, by recent New
England journals that, after one of his late
lectures, he lifted several nail.kegs, filled
with their heavy contents, whose combined
weight was 1882 lbs. Topham, the old
Englished Athleter, and Benin the Belgian
giant, each lifted 800 lbs. We believe
that it might now be said with safety that
DR.. W. is the strongest man in the world
Four years ago he could lift but 500 lbs.
He shoulders barrel Of -four with the
ease that ordinary men place in the same
position a bushel of potatoes. This he
considers more difflcul. than the dead lift
of the enormous weight mentioned above.
Perhaps our New York frequenters of the
gymnasia will haze more ready appre-
ciation of DR.. Windship's po~era, when
We state that he holds up with one hand
dumb bell which weighs one hundred ard
sirty four pounds. The strongest man
that our city has produced, SO far as we
know, was one who thus held up a dumb
bell weighing one hundred and thirty pounds
We are glad that Dr.. w. has excited so
much interest in this subject, and hope that
he will come this way.-N. Y. Journal
of Commerce.