The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1881-04-23
AN IRISH GIANT.
A Pennsylvania Coal Miner Performs
Extraordinary Feats Ofstreugth.

Extraordinary Feats Ofstreugth.
From the Pottsvillc Miners Journal.
The strongest man in Schuylkill county,
il not in the state, is James Ryan, of st.
Clair. He stands six feet one inch in his
socks, tips the beam at 296 pounds, measures
So inches across the Chest is 60 well pro-
portioned tina! his size does not seem re-
msrksble, and is straight IS a rush. Ryan
was born in the county of Cork, ireland, but
has lived in this country since boyhood. He
is of quiet disposition, fortunately, and
possessed of tremendous bodily strength.
His biceps measure 81 inches, and the rest
of his limbs in proportion. He is over go
years of age, but Is still possessed of extraor-
binary strength. He has since
his youth worked ia the mines,
and his companions tell wonderful
stories of fssts ofstrength performed by him.
lie goes TO his work, winter and summer, in
bis shirt-sleeves. Years ago, before be turned
over new leaf and settled down, he drank
five gallons Of whisky and one-half barrel OF
porter every week.
This is vouched for by Gen who have
known him for twenty years. This amount
Of liquor seems large enough to have killed
even a stronger man than Ryan, but he SUR
vived the strain, and to-day in spite of his
years and the ill-treatment his constitution
has received, is the strongest man in this part
of the state. Some years ago Ryan was IL
Pottsville with friend, when their attention
was called to lifting machine in charge of
travelling Snowman, who was inviting the
passers-by to try their lifting capacity. The
capacity Of the machine was 1000 pounds.
Ryan was asked by friend if he could lift
that amount. ~ can break the machine,
man." he replied. The owner of the lif. heard
the remark, and offered to give SIS to tho man
who could lift 1000 pounds or break the
machine. Ryan brsced himself and lifted for
all that was in MIN. lie broke the machine,
and, strange to say he got the So.
Hn works at Pine Forest Colliery. One
day, not very long ago, rs he came out Of
the mine, he noticed piece of cast iron
weighing LOO pounds lying on the ground
A friend jokngly asked him to lift it.
He lifted it, much to the astonishment
of the lookers-oh, all of whom knew
of hs great strength. As stated he
is peacefully inclined. Whenever he sees
trouble brewing he gently takes bellgerent
in each hand, and if they refuse to listen to
reason, bumps one against the other until
they cry enough and agree to peaceful
settlement He was standing on the track
one day with his back against trip ofloaded
cars-iu the mine-when another trip dashed
around curve, and was upon him before he
could jump from tho track. He braced his
back against the stationary trip and received
TIE other with his outstretched hands. He
broke the force of the collision, but feels the
stain he received to this day. An ordinary
man in the situation would have been crushed
to death. He comes from family noted for
great bodily strength. His mother is still
alive. Some years ago she carried barrel
of flour from the store of Fox Brothers, on
Centre street TO her home in ST. Clair.