Morris tribune., 1883-07-14
PrOdigles or Strength.
From Chambers Journal.

from Chambers journal.
In 1871 Monsieur Gregorie, claiming to
be seventy one years old, nightly aston
ishei the good folks of Hereford by carry
ing 700 weight with the greatest ease, and
by performing certain other extraordinary
feats. For all that, he was one of the
uuietest men, and simple as child, living
in constant dread lest he should be pro-
voked into using his strength unprofes-
sionally; and afraid to nurse his own Daby
lest he should give it fatal squeeze.
Joseph Pospicbilla was wont to amuse
the Hungarian public by helding table in
the air by his hauds and teeth, while q
couple OF Gypsies danced upon it to third
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 way, Joseph was impris-
oned in the fortress of Glen, and one day
he volunteered to give the prison inspec-
tors specimen OF. his abilities; and permits
sion being accorded, he so arranged the
governors nah ogany table as to hold it
suspended with his teeth for nearly half
minute. Joieberrv, French professional
acrobat. lately performing at a Berlin thea
tire, executed the following extraordinary
feat:-As he swung head downward from
trapeze to which his ankles were fixed, q
horse covered with gay trappings, and be-
girt with broad leathern surcingle having
two strong hoops attached to it, and mount
ed by full grown man, was brought on
the central stage, above which Joigbery hung
suspended. Selling the loops with his
hands, the Frenchman, by sheer muscular
strength, lifted the horse and rider some
inches off the stlge. sustained their COM
bined weight in 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 in
to the air and catch him in his descent. He
would take one of the large white Muscat
donkeys by the ears, and with a sudden
movement of his right foot, lay the sur
prised ass on his back; carrying 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 Osman's house.
to the intense wonder of large crowd Of
applauding spectators.
A man of great strength was William
Jay, known in his day as "the English
Samson" He was native of Kent, hav-
ing been born near Ramsgate in 1876.
From an early period of his life he dis
played remarkable strength and dexterity
for his years, and when twenty four years
of age he began publicly to exhibit his as
tonishing feats. Among other of jays
performances, he is said to have been able
to retain and keep in place strong horse,
urged by whip to escape his powerful rein,
solely by the check of his pull, without any
stay or support whatever. AIDED
by strong girdle or belt, and
supporting himself by pressing
his arms on railing, he could lift from the
ground stone said to be a ton weight.
He also broke asunder rope fastened to
wall which had previously borne more than
q ton aud half weight without breaking.
Notwithstanding his great strength he was
of singularly agile and flexible
joints, many wonderful stories being told
of his feats in this respect such as placing
q glass of water on the sole Of his foot,
which he could twist round with his hands,
and conveying it in this way to his mouth
without splitting.