Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-10-11
TALES OF STRONG MEN.
How Salvini Early Showed His
Physical ProWess-A Venetian
Samson.

The announcement OF the approach
ing visit to this country of Sig. Salvini,
the celebrated Italian actor. recalls to
the writer, says the New York Trib-
une, the many pleasant chats he has
had with this greatest of Othellos or
the occasions of his former prolcssio IL
al trips TO this side of the Atlantic
One OF the most striking impressions
retained is that of the enormous pow
err, physical rs well as intellectual, of
the man. From his boyhood he was
noted for his extreme muscular vigor,
which an anecdote OF himself once re-
lated Will serve To illustrate.
When he was n student at college
there was, as is often the case in other
countries beside Italy, "a constant war
fare waged between the students and
the townspeople. At one time the lads
had arrayed against them, on account
of some real or fancied insult, all the
butchers and butcher lads of the place.
The latter were not allowed by the
authorities to carry knives or stilettos,
SO they sharpened their whetting-steels
at the point until they made the most
formidable weapons. Armed with these
/ lllty OHc cNtUlLS VI
students. among whom was the youth
full Salvini, who did yeoman's work for
his comrades, and bowled over with his
fists one butcher lad after another.
At length he found himself face to
face with the leader and the others
paused moment to watch the result
of what was in reality duel between
the champions of the respective
parties. Salvini, after few passes,
aimed tremendous blow with his
clenched fist at his adversary's head !;
the latter at the same moment struck
upward with the murderous steel; the
weapon, needle-pointed, passed clean
through Salviri's wrist. and stuck ire
movably in the bone and muscle. But
this did not seem to stop the down.
ward sweep OF the youngsters arm.
The mighty fist descended, carrying
with it the steel, and struck the
butcher so terrible a blow that he was
knocked senseless and had TO be carried
TO the hospital The trace of the
wound can be seen in Salvini's wrist
to-day.
Like most strong men, Salvini is
fond OF recouDting the feats OF strength
performed by others and especially he
used to dilate on the extraordinary
nerve and strength of Venetian
mason and builder whom he had
known. Some time ago, so interesting
were the tales he told OF this man,
Sig. Salvini was asked 10 jot down
what he could remember of the stories
he had told and this is in substance
what he wrote:
THE name of the man about whom
you ask was Luchini. He died few
years ago in Venice at an advanced
age, but up to the last preserved much
of his extraordinary strength. He was
by trade mason and though not rich
was always in comfortable circum-
stances. His strength was allied to
wonderful presence of mind and cool
ness under trying circumstances.
Once, for instance, he was carrying out
to villa he was building some miles
from Venice large sum Of money
with which TO pay off his workmen.
He carried the money, which was in
silver coin, in "a bag over his shoulder,
though it would have taken two ordi-
nary men TO lift it.
.'At night he found himself some dis
lance from his destination and so was
obliged 10 put up at "a small inn. He
went TO bed early, placing the bag OF
silver in the bottom drawer OF small
chest OF drawers in the bedroom
A bout midnight he was awakened by IA
rough shake OF the shoulder, and, open
ing his eyes, saw by the light OF asmall
oil-lamp two OF his own workmen, each
of whom had in his hand "A stiletto, the
uncomfortably sharp points of which
were pressed against either side OF his
throat
..Luchini grasped the situation in
stantly and saw that he was in posi-
ton where his enormous strength
availed him but little, so he coolly said:
What do YOU wantY The money
was the answer. Where is III? Take
It, said Luchini. 1T is in that drawer
and he pointed TO the chest OF drawers.
One Of the ruiiians remained to guard
the recumbent Luchini while the other
went to the drawer indicated and tried
to open it. 1t would not bulge. Give
me the key he growled. 1T is not
locked. announced Luchini. open IT,.
them said the robber, and still with
the stiletto at his throat Luchini rose,
and with one hand pulled open the
drawer the other could not even bulge
with all his strength.
AT the men ) bidding he then pulled
out the bag of money and threw it on
the floor One OF the thieves then be-
gan to fiji his pockets with loose coin
so as TO tighten somewhat the weight
of the bag. At the sight of tho gilt
tering coin the others avarice out
stripped his prudence. Withdrawing
his poinard from Luchini's throat he
bent down and buried his hands in the
, pile of money and began to follow hi:
comrades example.
The looked-for opportunity had
, come for Luchini. He calmly stopped
; forward, grasped one of the robbers
I by the hair in either hand, and ther
0 spreading out his arms and bringing
: them together again with incredibl,
, force, he crushed in the two mems
skulls as II they had been egg-shells
They were dead without "A groan
( Hearing "A noise at the window Luchin
d then looked out and saw that
third scoundrel was keeping watch out
side. Taking up one of the dead mel
i'm one hand he opened the casemen