Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-08-29
A TALE OF A STRONG MAN.
How Salvini Early Showed His Phys
ical Prowess.

@.eD
ical Proves.
From the New York Tribune.
The announcement Of the approachins yisit
to this country Of Signor salvini, tho eele.
brated italian actor. recalls 10 the writer the
many pleasant chats he has had with this great
est Of Othellos on the occasions of his former
professional trips TO this side Of the Atlantic.
One Of the most striking impressions retained
II that Of the enormous power, physical a. we'll
% intellectual, Of the man. From his boyhood
he was noted for his extreme muscular yieor.
which an anecdote no himself once related win
serve TO illustrate.
When he was student at college there was,
as is often the case in other countries besides
Italy, constant warfare waged between the
students and the townspeople. Az 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 we're not
stilettos, 50 they sharpened their whetting
steels at the point until they made Of them
most formidable weapons. Armed with these
they one evening attacked body of students,
among whom was the youthful 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 10 face with
the leader, aud the others paused moment to
watch the result Of what was in reality duel
parties. Salvini, after a few passes, aimed a
tremendous blow with his clenched fst at his
adversary's head; the latter at the same
moment struck upward with the murderous
steel; the weapon, needle-pointed, passed clean
through saivlnls wrist and stuck irremovably
stop the downward sweep Of the youngsters
arm. The mighty fist descended, carving with
it the Steel and struck the butcher so terribly q
blow that he was knocked senselesss and had to
be carried to the hospital. The trace Of the
wound can be seen in Salvini's wrist today
Like most strong men, Salvini IL fond Of re.
counting 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
Of this man, Signor Safvini was asked to tot
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 Ven
ice at an advanced age, but up to the last pre-
served much Of his extraordinary strength.
He was by trade a mason, and though not rich,
was always in comfortable circumstances His
strength was allied to wonderful presence of
mind and GOODNESS under trying circumstances.
Once, for instance, he was carrying out to
villa he was building, some miles from Venice,
a large sum of money with which to pay OF his
workmen. He carried the money, which was
in silver coin, in q bag over his shoulder,
though it would have taken two ordinary men
even to lift it.
"At night he found himself some distance
from his destination and 90 was obliged to put
up at a small inn. He went to bed early, p1ac-
ing the bag OF silver in the bottom drawer of a
small chest Of drawers in the bed room. About
midnight he was awakened by . rough shake
Of the shoulder, and, opening his eyes, saw by
the light OF o small oil lamp two Of his own
workmen, each of whom had in his hand q
stiletto. the uncomfortably sharp points of
which were pressed against either side Of his
throat.
.Luchini grasped the situation instantly and
saw that he was in position where his enor-
nous strength availed him but little 80 he
coolly said, What do you want?' The money
was the answer. Where is it2' "Take it, said
Luchini; it is in that drawer and he pointed
remained to guard the recumbent Luchini
while the other went to the drawer indicated
and tried to open it. It 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.
cat the mans bidding he then pulled out the
bag of money and threw it on the floor One
with loose coin SO - to tighten somewhat the
weight Of the bag. At the sight of the glitter
ing coin the others avarice outstripped his
prudence. Withdrawing his poinard from Luz
chini's throat he bent down and burrowed his
hands in the pile Of money and began to follow
his comrades example.
"The looked-for opportunity had come for
Luchini. He calmly stopped forward, graspcd
one Of the robbers by the hair in either hand,
and then spreading out his arms and bringing
them together again with incredible force, he
crushed in the two mems skulls az il they had
been egg shells. They were dead without
groan. Hearing noise at the window Luchini
then looked out and saw that third scoundrel
was keeping watch outside. Taking up one of
the dead men in one hand he opened the case
ment and calling out, There's something for
your he pitched the dead robber at the living
one with such force that the man below was
not only scared almost to death, but was seri-
ously hurt and limped of as fast as a fractured
leg would aIlc1G him. Luchini went back to
bed and calmly slept till morning."
SUMMER DAYS ARE GRowINa ScAncK.-Seize
the opportunity Of running down to Atlantic
City on Saturday via the Pennsylvania rail-
roads special excursion. Three-dollar tickets
valid until Monday. Train leaves 6th-street
station 4 p.m.-AdUt