The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1889-10-17
SAMSON.
Some Feats Performed by "the Strongest
Man oa Earth

There are many DeIilahs. but onl,
one Samson, SAYS the Pal liaH Budget
and he is performing at the Roya
Aquarium at present, where his feat!
of strength are certainly of an origina
and marvellous character The specta
tor, as he watches, feels that it is bet.
ter to be friendly with such a man
With a blow of his fist he breaks al
iron chain that will bear pressure ot
5000 pounds. With two hands grasp.
ing a short chain of 300 pounds ascer
tanned pressure, he makes a momen-
tary effort and pulls the iron chain tC
bits, and in what seems the most won.
derful feat-namely, fastening two
tight iron chain bracelets or armlets
round his biceps-tha spectator may
view the process from beginning to
end. One hears the strong man take a
long breath. secs the muscles of his
arms growing bigger and bigger, the
cords of his neck swelling with the sus-
tained effort, his face crimsOning, and
then, in the silence, those nearest the
stage can hear a curious little sunder-
ir~ snap; it is the double chain armlet
that has broken. and the next second
falls ringing to the floor. When Sam
sons fist is clinched and he is ready to
strike the measurement of his upper
arm around biceps and triceps is 19 IL
inches. which, we may casually remark,
is considered a tolerable waist for a
young lady.
Among some of the 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 rail
way ticket, held it up to view for a
second, and then deliberately broke it
in half and returned the pieces to the
owner. A very little practice will con-
vince amateurS of the hopelessness OF
breaking pennies with finger and
thumb. The strong man next bent a
four-foot iron gas-pipe around his neck
and cheerfully straighteend it again by
repeated blows on his arm, such arm
being for the nOnce Il species of anvil.
Fourteen men come upon the stage, by
invitation, to pull against him, but
Samson, not deeming them enough, or
sizing up their athletic capabilities
with professional eye, expressed a
wish for more. These men he divided
into nine a side, the two sides nearly a
width of a 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 El00 to them if he failed
to move them, and apparently there
was grateful determination on the
mems faces to win the pour-boire.
Then there was short, sharp strug-
gle; the men held their ground for a
brief space, were pulled together, and
the next moment thrust apart, and
finally, swaying as they went, were
carried away by the intensity of one
straining man in their midst.
Samson is man of 81, of French
origin, 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 cir
Gus RAM as an athlete and ,ulled
against horses and elephants; at -igh-
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.