Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1874-06-17
The Hercules OF New York.

PerioT III puySical stTcnStn 10 tue great
French athlete at Barnum's, who is sai6
10 be the strongest man in the worl1.
This New Yorker is iIr Patrick Kelly, a
liquor dealer in Fort Street.
A few days ago Sun reporter who
had heard Of the extraordinary strength
of Mr.. Kelly, visited his saloon. The
first thing that attracted the attention OF
the reporter, on entering the place, was a
collection of huge dumb-bclls lying on the
floor in corner of the bar.room. The
heaviest of these bells weighed 2O4
pounds. Anxious to see the giant who
amused himself with such toys. the re-.
porter looked around, but saw no giant.
He noticed, however, very fine looking
man, in his shirt sleeves, conversing pleas.
antly with his friends. He turned out to
be the Kelly the reporter was looking for.
He is about Thirty years of age, with reg.
ular features, and well-shapcd head, to
which the great breadth of his shoulders
gives a somewhat small oppcarance-a pe-
culiarity in the figures of all very strong
men, and Que which has been remarkable
in some famous statues. He is about five
feet ten inches in hight, and weighs over
200 pounds. From head to foot there is
not particle Of loose flesh on the mans
body. Ills arm is perhaps more muscular
than that of any living man. In thick
ness it reaches the extraordinary measure
ment Of II 3-4 inches. The biceps and
triccps stand out in immense knots and
folds, and at the slightest movement Of
the small and solid hand, seems actually
to roll in waves under the white skin.
To take hold Of that arm produces q
strange sensation. 1t is so hard that un-
der the sleeve of the shirt it feels like a
block of wood. His legs, too, have the
same extraordinary muscular develop
ment. In fact the man is all muscle.
Kelly was born in Ireland, and came
to this country several years ago with his
parents. His father when young was al
so wonderfully powerful man, and his
mother is, perhaps, the strongest woman
in New York.
1t is not everybody who is able even to
raise from the ground even the large
dumb-bell of 204 pounds. One evening
some follows went into the saloon and
commenced tungiDg at it. One complain
ed that the place for the hand was too
large, and that consequently the weight
slipped through his fingers. Another dis
covered that it would not come up be-
cause his hand was moist, and after put
ting sawdust en- the hand he tried again,
hut that bell was still mean enough to
stop on the floor. Then another gentle
man tried, and could lift it with case only
he had sore wrist; and the last man Of
the party could carry it to the City Hall
If he had no pain in his back. The scene
amused Kelly, and as he is fond Of a joke
he called his mother and told her to take
hold of the bell and show the gentlemen
that an old woman was stronger than any
one of them. She at first refused. but
the son at last coaxed her to take the
dumb.bell. She lifted it to the amaze.
ment of all the men. Then Kelly him
self took hold of the weight, lifted to his
shoulder with case, and, continuing the
motion, raised over his head aud finally
tossed from one hand 10, the other.
A short time since Mr.. Kelly was cross
ing the Hamilton Ferry, and was insulted
and finally attacked by four roughs, who
unde, took the perilous task Of Aogging
him. He good-humoredly backed away
from them al first, and skilfully parried
all the blows that we're aimed at him,
telling his assailaDt's at the same time to
keep off and not bother him. They kept
up the attack, and at last, Kelly, losing pa
tience, knocked them all down by giving
each slap with his open hand. They
picked themselves up as best they could,
and looked puzzled. One of them slipped
his hand into his pocket suspiciously as if
to draw knife. Kelly walked up to him,
shook his fist in his face, daring him to
draw his weapon, and promised to dash his
brains out if he tried it. The fellow did
not try. He brought his hand empty out of
his pocket. Then Kelly, quick as lightning,
seized him BY the wrists, placed one
across the other, and held both in one Of
his iron fists, and before he had time 70
struggle, seized him By the belt with the
other hand and flung him more than half
way to the ladies' cabin. The man was
more heightened than hurt and as he got
up he was greeted with roar Of laugh
ter, in which Kelly heartily joined.
Some Of the sporting fraternity tried to
eret Mr.. Kelly into the ring. but he stout.