San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-02-21
A MODERN SAMSON.
BREAKING STEEL CABLES AS IF
THEY WERE COTTON THREADS.
Though He Spells His Name Differently
His Feats of Strength Arc Almost as
Wonderful as Those Of the Man of olden
Times.

When James Wilson, the expansionist, was
described in these columns few weeks ago
it 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
the earth possessed such strength. But The
Evening Suns freak hunter has been prowl-
ing about town for a fortnight, seeking
parallel for Wilson, and yesterday found
him The new mans name is Charles FL.
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 a time. Mr. Sampson breaks three of the
same straps at once. Mr.. Wilson broke nine
steel wire cables ofeight strands each, with the
power of his chest. Mr.. Sampson broke in the
presence of the reporter l25 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 pipe 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
strong men.
The reporter obtained an interview with
Mr.. Sampson in a private room in an uptown
residence. The name of the man is at 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
pf AYR in &c
therefore, almost 80 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 a piece 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 secord 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
about the biceps. Then Mr.. Simpsons fingers
began to twtch and close spasmodically, the
muscles and tendons of his arm slowly
swelled 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, piece
of each chain few to the ceiling, and the
chains dropped to the floor, broken squarely
in two. There was no flake" about it. Ii
was a genuine feat in strength, which no
other man, so far as is known, has ever &C.
complished. The chain is made from steel,
three-sixteenths of an inch thick, and formed
in double links an inch and half long. The
tensile strength is estimated at about 1000
pounds. Mr. Sampson says it does not in
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 a roll Of the small steel wire
cable previously referred to, Mr. Sampson
made belt of it, containing l25 lengths -.
the cable, which he wrapped around his
chest. II 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.. .