Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1880-04-09
The Strongest Man in the World.

The strongest man in the world at the
present time, 50 far as we are able to learn,
now lives in Reno, Washoe county, Nevada.
A reporter recently witnessed an astonish-
ing feat OF this remarkable man, and was
fully satisfied by what he saw, that he is
really all that has been claimed for him.
His name is Angelo Cardela, an Italian
aged 80 years. stature i've feet ten inches
weight, one hundred and ninety pounds
occupation, laborer; his habits, temperate
though he has no scruples against the mod
crate use of malt liquors and the light
wines of his country.
In personal appearance he is not remark
able; merely good naturcd looking son of
Italia, with II broad, heavy face IA noble de-
yelopment Of chest and shoulders. and large
ilcshy hands. His strength was born with
him for he has had no athletic training. When
stripped to the buff" however, marked
popularity in his spinal column is at once
apparent. His backbone is, we might say,
double jointed, with the vertebral arlicula-
tons unusually large and prominent.
Though he is not man of unusual size,
his spinal column is double the ordinary
width and his other bones and joints seem
made on a similar large and generous scale
After some solicitation, he finally consented
TO favor the reporter with an exhibition of
strength, which proved to be such an aston
ishing exhibition of lifting power as scarce
ly to be believed The reporter, whose
weight is one hundred and fifty pounds,
stood with one foot on the floor and arms
outstretched, his hands lightly grasped by
two friends, one on each side, to preserve
the balance Of his body.
The light assistance, however, had no
tendency to raise his body, being merely to
keep him from topping over. Cardela then
stopped down and placed the third finger of
his right hand under the hollow of the re-
porter's foot upon which he was balancing,
and with no perceptble effort raised the re-
porter Ia n height Of four feet and deposited
him, standing on table near at hand. This
feat he repeated, and then grasped the report
er's ankles with both hands, raised him above
his head and gently lowered him 10 the table
in sitting posture Cardela had pipe
in his mouth while lifting, and continued
smoking, as much as to say, "Per liaccho, It's
nothing II way we have In our countryp
On former occasion he raised Mr. Law
son, gentleman connected with the editorial
staff Of the Reno Gdzette, in similar way,
with one finger, carried him across n room
and left him standing on a table. He has
also lifted by the same plan, using only his
third finger (which seems 10 be his most re-
liable one) several Reno heavy weights, one
weighing over 200 pounds. He eau strike n
blow with his fist with power of 800
pounds, measured on n register. II is said
that two lrishmcn, near Verdi, started in b.
whip him one night, but concluded 10 give
up the contract, as he grasped one in each
hand and beat them together until the life
was nearly hammered out them.
Many other tales are told Of his cxtraor-
binary strength, and there can bc no doubt
that, in his particular speciality, he Is I'M
ryaled, and, indeed, n lusus natur@, when
the peculiarities Of his physical makeup"
and his almost limitless power are consid-
cred. He states that his father could strike
blow equal in power 10 1000 pounds; so
that his strength seems II direct inheritance.
Cardcla has not much education and an i'm
l. 81 T..
10 show his strength and fails 10 realize his
own value If he were 10 give public cx.
hibitions of his wonderful powers be would
doubtless be recognized and acknowledged
10 b. the most powerful man In the world
in certain lines Of strength.