Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-02-03
A Modern Samson.

III Is hardly yet known that the city Of
Louisville has for resident "A gentle
man who for long time has enjoyed
the reputation of being the strongest
man living, and certainlyiif not the
strongest, he is one OF the very few
called 30. lie has for number OF years
past been showing some extraordinary
ieats OF strength, particularly in dumb
bells and lifting heavy weights, both in
this country and in Europe, and has
numerous medals as trophies Of his
ieats. In 1873, at the Academy of
Music in New YORK city, at her
herculean tournament in which there
were competitors OF all nations,
he won six out oftwenty medals offered
or competition. At tournament in
1874 at Barnum's hippodrome he won
the whole ofthc five medals which were
offered for the best ieats in dumb-bell
lifting. Also later, at Shook & Palmer's
hippodrome in New York, in a tourna-
ment which lasted four days, he won
the championship of the world. On the
2lst Of July, 1874, he startled the spec
tators at an exhibition given at Woods
gymnasium, in New York, by holding
with a single hand monster dumb-bell
| OF 2Ol pounds weight. In Boston in 1875,
Mt performance in the Howard Athe-
ngum, he gave a performance, using
kegs OF mai Ia, bars of railroad iron
shafting, and also with the greatest OF
ease manipulated the famous IS0-pound
dumb-bell made for the celebrated DIR
Winship. but never used by him. He is
also great weight litter, having lifted
dead weight with his hands Of 500
pounds. lie has defeated the famous
strong men Of this country, including
7. Kelly, w. Miller. II. Joyrieny (Bar-
NUNS famous strong mani. Christol, Reg
liner and others, and also the famous ath-
lete and Hercules of Germany. Martens
Arps, and many others throughout
Great Britain, including the famous
Donald Duntill, who backed out from
competing with him, after viewing his
material, for "A grand test Of strength.
lie lifts horses. holds nalf-ton cannons
while they are loaded and fired of. pulls
against teams OF draft-horses consisting
Of two, four, and even Fix horses; hold
fiity-six-pound weights al arms length
horizontally from his body with his lit
tie fingers. These and other indcscrib.
able ieats of strength mus, place him in
the foremost rank Of strong men. To
.ook at this gentlemen when dressed one
would not think him 10 be the
powerful man he is but when
stripped he shows MAGNIFICENT
physical development. This gen
t!emcn Is Mr. Richard A. Pennell
superintendent and instructor Of the
gymnastic and athletic department of
the Young Mems Christian Association
of this city. Mr.. Pcnnell first Joined a
gymnasium when young man to see If
a benefit could be gained in his health,
he having pAlpitaiion Of tho heart at
the time. His experiment was a COM
pleie success, an extraordinary robust
ness OF body and grca; health being
attained in n short time, together with
a great development Of physical power,
which he has retained TO this day, and,
although for days at a time hc has
followed sedentary employment, be
never has had the slightest recurrence
OF his old trouble, but, on the contrary,
enjoys almost immunity from sickness
Of all sorts L0iaSUtlle Commercial.