Evening journal., 1888-12-03
A MODERN SAMSON.
BREAKING STEEL CABLES AS ll-
THEY WERE COTTON THREADS.

4
Though 10 Spells His Name Differently
His Feats Of strength Arc Almost as
wonderful a. Those of tho Man of 0Ilen
Times.
| When James Wilson, the exPansionist, was
described in these columns few weeks ago
it was believed by the medical fraternity and
4 by all who saw Mr.. Wilson in his wonderful
performances that no other man on the face Of
the earth possessed such strength. But The
! Evening Sun's freak hunter has been prowl-
/ ing about town FOR fortnight, seeking a
parallel for Wilson, and yesterday found
/ him. The new mans name is Charles H.
Sampson. lie is 80 years Of age Of medium
build and height, not a man who would be
1 picked out as giant in strength, but
quiet, ordinary looking person.
Mr.. Wilson broke great trunk straps ono
MT time Mr. Sampson breaks three Of the
same straps at once. Mr.. Wilson broke nine
steel wire cables ofleight strands each, with the
power Of his chest Mr.. Sampson broke in the
presence Of the reporter l25 thiclsnesaeso f the
same steel wiro cable, or, mall, 1909 strands
! He went still further and broke a steel trace
fastening il about his chest and bursting its
links like 50 much glass. The same chain,
link by link he deliberately pulls in two
with his hands. Gas pipe an inch in diameter
he bends into elbows by striking the length
Of the pipe across his left arm. He has sue
cessfuliy pulled IN tue Of war against twelve
strong men.
Tic reporter obtained On interview with
MI Sampson III private room in an uptown
residence The name Of the man is as once
looked upon as an assumed one, for the very
reason that it fits his profession SO well.
Nevertheless his true name is Sampson.
Charles G. Sampson was born on the 10th
Of April 1859, in Baden, Germany, and is,
therefore, almost 20 years Of age. He came
to America only short time since, after
having Travelled all over Europe exhibiting
his strength.
SWAPPING THE. STEEL CHAINS.
Selecting piece OF steel chain about three
feet long, Mr. Sampson forced open one Of
the links and formed a ring Of the chain just
large enough to fit over the biceps muscle Of
the nrln a second chain was formed in the
same manner and carefully fitted. When
the arm was allowed to hang loosely at the
side. these chains were found to fit snuglv
nbout the biceps Then Mr.. SIMPSONS fingers
began TO twitch and close spasmodically, the
muscles and tendons of his arm slowly
sweed and increased in size, his forearm
was carefully carried upward and as the
elbow crooked the strain upon the chains be
came tremendous. The arm was further
bent when there was a sharp snap, a piece
of each chain flow to the ceiling, and the
chains dropped to the floor, broken squareiy
in two. There was no fake about it. 1t
Was u genuine feat in strength, which no
other man, SO far as is known, has ever ac-
complished Tho chain is made from steel,
three-si xtecnths of an inch thick, and formed
in double links an inch and a half long The
tensile strength is estimated at about 1900
pounds MIR. Sampson says it does not in
convenience him in the least to break them,
and he apparently does it with as much ease
as il bending his arm with nothing on it
at all
Taking up a roll Of the small steel wire
cable previously referred to, Mr.. Sampson
made belt Of it, containing 125 lengths Of
the cable, which he wrapped around his
chest. IL don't propose to break this cable
by expansion he said, "for have but very
little chest expansion. You will notice, how
ever, that the muscles in my back and sides
are wonderfully developed BY swelling
them up accomplish the same result Mr.
Wilson does with his wonderful lungs A
quick twist Of his body, sudden swelling
Of all tho muscles Of his chest, back and
shoulders strain on the cable and it parted
with metallic snap, in less than three
seconds from the time he began.
A CONTEST WITH FOURTEEN MEN.
"In st. Petersburg" said Mr. Sampson,
Il had large ring made from inch iron.
The ring was feet in diameter. stood in
the middle Of it and fourteen strong men had
hold Of the ring. They tried to push me or
move me out Of certain limit marked on
the floor, but could not l can and will
withstand tho combined strength Of any
eight men you have in this city, not barring
Sullivan, Mitchell, or any one else
In 1878 Mr.. Sampson started on a tour OF
the continent and was seen by many royal
patrons Of manly sport. He has received
iifty-one decorations and medals for his
proves, Of which forty-eight are from royal
donors. Some Of them are magnificent
specimens Of fine handiworll ON gold.
On Aug. 10, 1873, Mr. Sampson engaged to
slay steer with his fist The feat was per-
formed with n single blow in the presence of
Emperor Wilhelm and Emperor Francis
Joseph. He wears a handsome decoration
concentrating that event
This feat Of skill and strength was re-
neated at Ems Germany; st. Petersburg and
Paris Nr Sampson striking but Jingle
blow upon each of the occasions except the
last IN this ease the steer was running and
his aim was lot true, but the first blow
knocked the animal down and second
crushed its skull During lis professional
experience this Hercules has suffered broken
arms no less than seventeen times. Ho does
moi attribute his great strength to any freak
Of nature, but says it is the result OF careful
training and exercise. He has already been
seen in public in this city, and is the wonder
Of all who see him. New York Evening Sun.
Inrr y. r,na... 49,. 49,,