The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1881-10-22
PRO iGIEs OF STRENGTH.
chambers Journal.l

In 1871 Monsieur Gregorie, claiming
to be seventy-one years old, nightly
astonished the good folks of Hereford by
carrying seven hundred weight with the
greatest ease, and by performing certain
other extraordinary feats. For all that,
he was one of the quietest men, and SIM
pie as child, living in constant dread
lest he should be provoked into using his
strength unprofessionally; and afraid to
nurse his own baby least 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
couple of Gypsies danced upon it to
thirds fiddling. He and one of his
brothers would bear upon their shoulders
sort of wooden bridge, while cart full
of stones, drawn by two horses, was
driven over it. Falling into evil ways,
Joseph was imprisoned in the fortress of
Ofen, and one day volunteered to give
the prison inspectors specimen Of his
abilities; and permission being accorded,
he SO arranged the Governors heavy ma
hagony table SO as to hold it suspended
with his teeth for nearly half minute.
Joignery, French professional acrobat,
lately performing at Berlin theater, ex-
ecuted the following extraordinary feat:
As he swung head downward from a
trapeze to which his ankles were fixed, a
horse covered with gay trappings, and
begirt with a broad leathern surcingle
having two strong loops attached to it,
and mounted by a 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 the horse
and rider some inches off the stage, sus-
tanned their combined weight N the air
for some 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
Osman'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
Muscat donkeys by the ears, and with &
sudden movement Of his right foot, lay
the surprised ass on its back; carry
ing a three-year- bullock on his bael
halt way round his masters plantation
and once actually bore twelve men o,
his back, shoulders and chest, rount
Osman's house, to the intense wonder o
large crowd Of applauding spectators.
A man of great strength was William
Joy, known in his day as the " Englisl
Sampson" He was a native of Kent
having been born near Ramsgate in 1876
From an early period of his life he dis
played remarkable strength and dexterit
for his years, and when twenty-fou
years of age he began publicly to exhibi
his astonishing feats. Among other c
joys performances, he is said to hav
been able to retain and keep in place
strong horse, urged by whip to escap
his powerful rein, solely by the check {
his pull, without any stay or suppo,
whatever. Aided by strong leather
girdle or belt, and supporting himself b
pressing his arms on railing, he coul
lift from the ground stone said to be
ton weight. He also broke asunder
rope fastened to wall which had Or
viously borne more than ton and a hs
weight without breaking. Notwit
standing his great strength he was pc
sessed OF singularly agile and fexit
joints, many wonderful stories being to
OF his feats in this respect--such as pla
ing glass of wine ON the sole of his fot
which he could twist round with
hands, and conveying in this way to
mouth without spilling.