The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1888-12-06
"I will,o he said, 81 will, 1 like Car.
tersviIle, but she is slow, awful slow.
Good by"
I'LL ARP.
THE woRLD,s.sTRoNGEsT MAN.


THE WORLDS. STRONGEST MAN.
Tremendous Feat5 of Mdsttiinf Porer-4
German Athlete WHO sGrpasses all til'
Stories of History.
New York Sui.
When James Wilson, the expansion
ist, was described in these columns fev
weeks ago, it was believed by the medi
cal fraternity and by all who saw Mr.
Wilson in his wonderful performance
that no other man on the face Of the eartf
possessed such strength. But the Even
ing SUMS freak hunter has been prowlinl
about town for fortnight, seeking
parallel for Wilson and yesterday founc
him. The new mans name is Charles
H. SAMPSON. He is 50 years of age, O
medium build and height, not man whc
would be picked out as d giant il
strength, but Quiet, ordinary looking
person.
MIR. Wilson broke great trunk straps
one at time. Mr.. Sampson breaks
three of the same straps at once: MIR
Wilgon broke nine steel nire cables Of
eight strands each, with the poHer ofhis
chest. Mr.. Sampson broke in the pres.
enco of the reporter 125 thickneeses of the
same steel wire cable, or, in all, 1000
strands. He went still further and broke
a steel trace chain such as are In use on
truck harness; fastening 1t shout bis
chest, and bursting its links like so much
glass. The same chain, link by link, be
deliberately pills il two With bis hands
Gas pipe an inch in diameter be bends
into elbows by striking the length ot
Pipe across bis left arm. BE has success
fully pulled 10 tug of war against twelve
strong men.
The reporter obtained IN interview
with Mr.. Sampson in his private room in
an uptown residence yesterday afternoon
The name of the man is at once looked
upon as an assumed one, for. the very
reason that it fits his profession so we'll
Nevertheless his true name il Sampson
Charles q. Sampson was born on the
10th of April, 1859, in Baden, Germany
and is, therefore, so years of age. he
came to America only ahort time since
after having travelled all over Europe ex'
hibiting his strength.
Selecting pipe of steel chain about
three feet long, Mr.. Sampson forced open
one of the links and formed ring Of the
chain just large enough to fit over the
biceps muscle of the arm. A second
chain was formed in The came manner
and carefully fitted. When the arm was
allowed to hang loosely at the side three
chains were found to 6t snugly about the
biceps. Then Mr.. SIMPSONS fingers
began to twitch and close spasmodically
the muscles and tendons ofhis arm slowly
swelled and increased in size, his forearm
vas carefully carried upward and as the
elbow crooked, the strain upon the chains
became tremendous. The arm was fur
ther bent, when there was sharp snap
piece of each chain flew to the ceiling,
and the chains dropped to the floor
broken aquarely in two. There was nc
"fake" about it. 1t was genuine feat
in strength which no other man, so far as
is known, has ever accomplished. The
chain is made from steel, three.six teenths
of an inch thick, and formed in double
links an inch and half long. The ten.
sile strength is estimated at about 1000
pounds. Mr.. Sampson says it does not
Inconvenience him in the least to break
them, and he apparently does it with as
much ease as if bending his arm with
nothing on it at all.
Taking up roll of the small steel wire
cable previously referred to Mr.. Sampson
made belt Of it, containing l25 lengths
of the cable, which be wrapped around
his chest. II don't propose to break this
cable by expansion" he said, "for I have
very little chest expansion. You will
notice, however, that the muscles in my
back and sides are wonderfully developed
By swelling them up1 accomplish the
same result, Mr.. Wilson does with bis
wonderful lungs" A quick twist of his
body, sudden swelling of all the mus
cles Of his chest, back and shoulders, 8
strain on the cable and it parted with 8
metallic snap, in less than three seconds
from the time he began. Next he bent
the gas pipe as before described.
"Haye you ever tried wresting?'
asked the reporter.
"Ob, yes; and here are some testlmo'
mails from high authority to show thai
no man ever yet threw me, unless by 8
trick. do not claim to be catch as
can wrestler; butiif any man can put me
on my back fairly by main strength,
would like to see him do it. In st
Petersburg I had large ring made from
inch iron. The ring was feet in diam
eter. stood in the middle of it ano
fourteen strong men had hold oftbe ring
They tried to push me or move me ou'
ofa certain limit marked on the floor
but could not. I can and will Withstand
the combined strength of any eight mer
you hayein this city, not barring Sulli
van, Mitchell or any one else"
Ia 1873 Mr.. Sampson started on toul
of the continent and was seen by many
royal patrons of manly sport. He hal
received fifty. one decorations and medals
for his prowess, forty-eight of which are
from royal donors. Some of them are
magnificent specimens of fine handiworE
on gold. Among the names ofthe donors
are found the engraved autographs o
King William of ofPrussia, Emperor of tn
German Empire; Francis Joseph, En-
peror of Austri; Alexander, Car, o.
Russia, presented June 10, 1878. Thi
last is superb decoration in the form o
a crown of gold, surrounded by 18jewels
1t bears the inscription: mature pro
duces man with the force of an engine
To the German oak, dedicated by Alex
auder H., Emperor of Russia" Othe
royal gifts are from Prince Alexander 0
Roumania, the King of Wurtemberg ane
Bavaria, the Grand Duke OF Baden, th'
Grand Duke of Hesse and more thar
forty more from lesser dignitaries.
On August 10, 1876, Mr.. Sampson en-
gagged to slay steer with his list. Ibt
feat was performed with q single bloq
in the presence of Emperor William ant
Emperor Francis Joseph. He wears
handsome decoration commemoratlnE
that event.
This feat of skill and strength was re-
peated at Ems, Germany; St. Petersburg
and Paris, Mr.. Sampson striking but
single blow upon each of the OCCASION
except the last. In this case the stee
vas running aud his aim was not true
but the first blow knocked the anima
down and the second crushed its skull
During bis professional experience thi
Hercules has suffered broken arms NJ
less than seventeen times. BE does no
attribute his great strength to any freal