The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1881-11-26
Prodigies of Strength.

In 1877 Monsieur Gregorie, y claiming
to be seyenty-one years old, nightly aston
ished the good folks of Herefoot by carry
ing seven hundred weight with the great
est ease, and performing certain other ex-
traordinary feats For all that, he was
one of the quietest men, and simple as a
child, living in constant dread lest he should
be provoked into using his strength unpro-
fessionally, and afraid to nurse his own
baby lest he should give it a fatal squeeze.
Joseph Pospischilli was wont to amuse
the Hungarian public by holding table in
the air by his hands and teeth while a
couble of gypsies danced upon it to a
thirds fiddling. He and one of his broth
ers would bear upon their shoulders sort
of wooden bridge while cart of stones
drawn by two horses was driven over it.
Falling into evil ways, Joseph was impris-
oned in the fortress of Ofen, and one day
volunteered to give the prison inspectors a
specimen of his abilities, and, permission
being accorded, he so arranged the Cover
nor's heavy mahogany table as to hold it
suspended with his teeth for nearly half a
minute Joignery, French professional
acrobat. lately performing at Berlin the
atre. executed the following extraordinary
feat As he swung head downward from
trapeze to which his ankles were fixed, a
horse covered with gay trappings and
begirt with broad leather surcingle
having two strong loops attached to it,
and mounted by full-grown man,
was brought on the central stage, above
which Joignery hung suspended. Selling
the loops with his hands, the Frenchman
by sheer muscular strength, lifted horse and
rider some inches off the stage, sustained
seconds, and then let them down again as
evenly and slowly as he had raised them
Mr.. Stanley tells us that Simba, Chief
Overseer of ANU bin 0sman's Caravan
standing six feet FIVE inches barefooted, and
measuring thirty-two inches from shoulder
to shoulder, could toss an ordinary sized
man ten feet into the air and catch him in
his descent. He would take one of the
large white Moseat donkeys by the ears,
and with sudden movement Of his right
foot lay the surprised ass ON its back; car
rying three-year old bullock ON his back
half way round his masters plantation !;
and once actually bore twelve men on his
back. shoulders and chest, round 0sman's
house, to the intense wonder Of large
crowd Of applaRding spectators A man
of great strength was William JOY, known
in his day as the English Samson He
was native Of Kent, having been born
near Samsgate in 1873. From an early
period Of his life he displayed remarkable
strength and dexteriiy for his years, and
when "A years of age he began publicly to
exhibit his astonishing feats Among other
Z of JOYS performance, he IS said to have
been able to retain and keep in place a
strong horse, urged by whip to escape his
powerful rein, solely BY the cheek of his
pull, without any stay or support whatever.
Z Aided by a strong leathern girdle or belt,
and supporting himself by pressing his arms
on a railing, he could lift from the ground
a stone said to be a ton-weight He also
broke asuRdeF a rope fastened to a wall
which had previously borne more than a
ton and half weight without breaking.
+ Notwithstanding his great strength, he was
possessed of singsilarly agile and flexible
Joints, many wonderful stories being told of
( hiS tests in this respeet--Saeh as placing =
glass Of wine on the sole of his foot, which
he could twist around with his hands aud
convey in this way to his mouth without
splitting.