The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1889-09-12
A Modern Samson,

There sre many Delilahs, but only one
Samson, and be is performing at the
Royal aquarium at present, where his
feats of strength are certainly of an orig.
inal and marvellous character. The spec.
tator as he watches feels that it is better
to be friendly With such a man with
blow of his Est he breaks an iron chain
that will bear pressure OF 5000 pounds.
Will, his two hands grasping short chain
Of 800 pounds ascertained pressure, he
makes momentary effort and pulls the
iron chain to bits, and in Hhat seems the
most wonderful feat-namely, fastening
two tight iron chain bracelets or armlets
around his biceps-the spectator may
view the process from beginning to end.
One hears the strong man take long
breath, sees the muscles of his arm grow.
ing bigger aud bigger, the cords of his
neck swelling with the sustained effurt,
his face crimsoning, aad then, in the 81
lence, those neares, the stage hear a
curious little sundtriDg snap; it is the
double chain armlet chat has broken and
that the next second falls ringing to the
floor. When Samson's fist is clenchsd
and he is ready to strike, the measurement
of his upper arm round biceps and triceps
is 62 inches, which, We may casually
remark, is considered tolerable waist for
a young lady.
Among some of his minor feats, if such
displays can be called minor, Samson took
a penny piece from one of the audience
and at one trial bent it with his fingers
as one may bend a railroad ticket, held it
up to view for second and then deliber-
ately broke it in pieces, and returned it
TO the owner. A very little practice will
convince amateurs of the hopefulness of
breaking pennies with finger and thumb.
The strong man next took four foot iron
gas pipe and bent it round his neck and
cheerfully Strengthened it again by
repeated blows on his left arm, such arm
being for the nonce species of anvil.
Fourteen men came upon the stage, by
invitation, to pull against him, but Sam
son not deeming them enough, or sizing
up their athletic capabilities with q
professional eye, expressed wish for
four more. These men he divided into
nine side, the two sides nearly the
width of mans stretch apart, and each
side being provided with and grasping a
strong and lengthy iron rod. Before
placing himself between them, Samson
stimulated their ardor by promising s1OO
to them if he failed to move them, and
apparently there was q grateful determi.
nation in the mems faces to win the
pourboire. Then there was short, sharp
struggle the men held their ground for
brief space, were pulled together and
the next moment thrust apart, and finally,
swayiDg as they went, were carried away
by the intensity OF one straining man in
their midst.
Samson is man Of thirty .one, of French
origin, q native of Alsace Lorraine. He
comes to US from America, and this is his
first appearance in England. At fifteen
years Of age he entered the circus ranz as
an athlete and pulled against horses and
elephants; at eighteen he commenced to
wressle and from that time to the present
he has left untried no means whereby he
can maintain, train and develop his
extraordinary strength.-PaH Mall
Gazette.