Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1889-10-05
SAMSON.
Come Feats Performed by "the Strongest
Nan on Earth"

There are many Delilahs, but only
one Samson, says the PgH VqN BHdgei.
and he is performing rs the Royal
Aquarium at present, whore his fcats
81 strength are certainly of an original
and marvellous character. The spccta-
tor, rs he watches, feels that it is bet
ter TN be friendly with such n man.
With a blow of his fist he breaks an
fron chain that will bear n pressure of
5000 pounds. With two hands grasp
ing a short chain of , 100 pounds aScer-
tanned pressure, he makes a momen-
Sary caort and pulls the iron chain to
hits, and in what seems the most Won
derfui ~feat-namcly, fastening two
tight iron chain bracelets or armlcts
round his b~iccps-the spectator may
view the process from beginning TO
end. One hears the strong man take q
long breath, sees the muscles of MS
arms growing bigger and bigger, the
CORDS oS his neck swelling with the sus.
Gained effort, his face crimsoning, and
1hcn, in the silence, those nearest the
stage can hear Il curious little sundcr-
ing snap; il is the double chain armlet
shat has broken. and the next second
falls ringing to the floor. When Sam
sons fist is ciinchcd and he is ready to
strike the measurement of his upper
arm around biccps and triceps is 10 1-2
inches. which, We ma, casually remark,
IS considered u toleraa!e waist for a
young lady.
Among some OF the minor feats-if
such displays can be called minor
samson took q penny piece from one
of The audience and at one trial bent il
with his fingers as may bend a rail-
way ticket, held it up 10 view for a
second, and then deliberately broke il
IN half and returned the pieces TO the
owner. \ very little practice will con-
vince amateurs of the hopcicssncss Of
breaking pennies with finger and
Ihumb. The strong man next bent a
four-fCot iron gas-pipe around his neck
and chccrfuily straightecnd il again by
repeated blows on his arm, such arm
being for the nonce a species Of anvil.
Fourteen men come upon the stage. by
Invitation, TO pull against him, but
Samson, not dceming them enough, or
sizing up their athletic capabilities
with a professional eye, expressed a
wish for more. These men he divided
EniO nine a side, the two sides nearly Il
width of a mans stretch apart, and
each side being provided with and
grlsping a strong and lengthy iron
rod. Before placing himself between
chem, Samson stimulated their ardor
by promising 600 to them if he failed
20 move them, and apparently there
Was 4 grateful determination on the
mems faces 10 win the pour-boire.
Then there was a short, sharp strug-
gle; the men held their ground for a
Brief space, were pulled together, and
Ghc next moment thrust apart, and
finally, swaying rs they went, were
carried away by the intensity of one
strainiug man in their midst.
Samson is a man Of 81, Of French
origin, q native Of Alsace-Lorraine.
lie comes to us from America and this
Is his first appearance in England. AT
tiftcen wears Of age he entered the cir
Gus RAM as an athlete and pulled
against horses and elephants; ut eigh-
teen he commenced to wrestle, and
from that till the present he has left
untried no means whereby he can
maintain, train, and develop his extra
ordinary strength.