Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-12-12
A MODERN SAMSON.
BREAKING STEEL CABLES AS If
THEY WERE COTTON THREADS.

BREAKING STEEL CABLES AS IF
THEY WERE COTTON THREADS.
Though He Spells His Name Differently
His Feats of Strength Are Almost a.
Wonderful Those of the Man of Olden
Times.
When James Wilson, the expansionist, was
described in these columns few weeks ago
1t was believed by the medical fraternity and
by all who saw Mr.. Wilson in his wonderful
performances that no other man on the face of
tia earth possessed such strength. But The
Evening Suns 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. He is 80 years of age, of medium
build and height, not a man who would be
picked out as a giant in strength, but
quiet, ordinary looking person
Mr.. Wilson broke great trunk straps one
at time. Mr. Sampson breaks three of the
same straps at once. Mr. Wilson broke nine
steel wire cables ofhight strands each, with the
power OF his chest. Mr.. Sampson broke in the
presence of the reporter lS5 thicknesses 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 it about his chest and bursting its
| links like so much glass The same chain,
| link by link. he deliberately pulls in two
| with his hands. Gas pine an inch in diameter
| he bends into elbows by striking the length
| Of the pipe across his left arm He has sue
| cessfully pulled in tug Of war against twelve
4 strong men.
! Tee reporter obtained an interview with
/ Mr., Sampson in 3 private room in an uptown
! residence. The name Of the man is at once
| Looked uDon as an assumed one, for the very
reason tina; it fits his profession so well,
/ Nevertheless MS true name is Sampson
Charles q. Sampson was born on the 10th
Of April, 1852 in Baden, Germany, and is,
therefore, almost 80 years OF age. He came
to America only short time since, after
having Travelled all over Europe exhibiting
his strength.
SWAPPING TIE STEEL CHAINS.
Selecting piece OF steel chain about three
feet long, Mr.. Sampson forced open one o.
the links and formed a ring Of the chain, JUS
large enough to fit over the biceps muscle o
the arm. A secord chain was formed in tn,
same manner and carefully fitted. Whei
the arm was allowed to hang loosely at tn
side, these chains were found TO fit snugl,
about the biceps The. Mr.. SIMPSONS finger
began 10 twitch and cluSe systematically, tn
muscles and tendons of his arm SLOWLY
swelled and increased in size, his forearm
was carefully carried upward and as tn
elbow crooked the strain upon the chains be
came tremendous. The arm was furthe
bent, when there was a sharp snap, piec
of each chain few to the ceiling, and tn
chains dropped to the floor, broken SQUARED
in tive. There was no fake about it. |
was genuine feat in strength, which II
J other man, so far as is known, has ever az
complished. The chain is made from stee
three-sixteenths of an inch thick, and forme
in double links an inch and a half long Th
tensile strength is estimated at about 4, 90
pounds Mr.. Sampson says it does not il
, convenience him in the least to break then
and he apparently does it with as much cas-
as if bending his arm with nothing on
at all
, Taking up a roll of the small steel wiz
cable previously referred to, Mr.. Sampso
made belt of it, containing 125 lengths {
the cable, which he wrapped around h
, chest II don't propose to break this cab
by expansion" he said, for l have but yer
> little chest expansion. You will notice, hov
! ever, that the muscles in my back and sid
: are wonderfully developed. By swellin
them up accomplish the same result NJ
Wilson does with his wonderful lungs"
e quick twist of his body, a sudden sweIlir
h. of all the muscles Nof his chest, back al
shoulders, q strain or the cable and it parte
with metallic snap, in less than thrt
z seconds from the time he began.
{ A CONTEST WITH FOURTEEN MEN.
3 In St. Petersburg said Mr. Sampso
81 had a large ring made from inch iro
The ring was feet in diameter. l stood
d the middle of it and fourteen strong men hs
e hold of the ring. They tried to push me
move me out of a certain limit marked {
the floor, but could not l can and VI
re withstand the combined strength of al
!. eight men you have in this city, not barriI
g Sullivan, Mitchell, or any one else"
u In 1878 Mr. Sampson started on a tour
o the continent and was seen by many roy
l. patrons of manly snort. He has receiv
:, ffty-ons decorations and medals for
~ prowess of which forty eight are from roy
is donors Some Of them are magnifce
ID specimens of fine handiwork on gold
a. On Aug 10, 1878, Mr. Sampson engaged
STAY steer with his fist The feat was P.
is formed with single blow in the presence
ic Emperor Wilhelm and Emperor Fran
"a Joseph. He wears a handsome DECORATE
concentrating that event.
z. This feat of skill and strength was
b. pested at Ems, Germany; st. Petersburg a
ot Paris, Mr.. Sampson striking but s:ni
blow upon each of the occasions except I
'ir last. In this case the steer was running a
at his aim was Lot true, but the first bl
n. knocked the animal down and seco
crushed its skull During his profession
OF experience this Hercules has suffered brok
81. arms no less than seventeen times. He d
,is not attribute his great strength TO any fire
of nature, but says it Is the result Of care
iI> training and exercise. He has already b.
In seen in public in this city, and is the won
ao Of all who see hin.-New York Evening s.