Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-01-18
SANDOW AGAINST SAMSON.
Contest for the Title of the Strongest
Man i'm the World.
BENDING RODS OF IRON WITH HANDS AND TEETH
AND BURSTING IRON ROPES BY EXPANDING THE
LUNGs-sAMsoS's TRICKS ALL DONE BY HIS
YOUNG GERMAN OPPONENT
From the London Telegraph.

From the London Telegraph.
| Not until ii 30 O'Clock Saturday night did the
curtain descend upon the stage at the Aquarium,
where for nearly two hours, amid continued
scenes of excitement seldom witnessed in a
place of entertainment, two rival Samsons con.
tended for the title of 1.-THE strongest man in the
world" That distinction was assumed some
weeks ago by Mr.. Samson. He offered $500 to
any one who could do the same tricks" as he
went through.
Inc challenge was accepted by Eugene San
dow, young German from konigsberg.
Capt. Wordsworth, chairman of the Aquarium
company, announced that the judges who had
been selected and VINO had consented to act
were the marquis of Queensberry and Lord
De Clifford.
Then came the contest. Samson had his
choice Of tricks Rushing to the wings he
produced number OF iron rods VARYING in
thlckness from hve-eighths of an inch to an
inch. Throwing them down on the stage with
bang, he IN animated that he intended to bend
one by striking il on his chest stralghten il by
striking 1t on his arm. bend it once more
across ms right leg. strengthen it again on his
arm, ana hnally bend ii with his teeth The
last-named proposal seemed to strike Sandow
as novelty. and he and Attila exchanged
smiles. Samson selected the thinnest rod
bent 1t, striking it six times over his chest and
sralghtened 1t by the same number of blows
on has forearm. He then proceeded to bend il
by striking 1t on his right leg. but after two or
three blows the rod broke in two. There were
cries that this was done on purpose that
Sandow might not be able to do it with the
same piece OF iron, but the rival himself did
not. judging from his demeanor. participste in
this opinion. Calmly he stood IN his corner.
while his friends In the audience were shouting
advice at him, some in his native German
some in English. Taking a rod of the same
size and shape he also bent 1t by blows over his
chest He next proceeded to straighten il on
his arm. but he had much more trouble in this
than had Samson, not on account OF any lack of
strength, but because, unlike his opponent, he
had no gloves Oh and the rod kept continually
slipping In his hand Sometimes the blow fell
exactly where it was not wanted bending il
more instead of celebrating the curve. But
he kept hammerlng on undauntedly. At last a
gentleman on the stage took of his kid glove
and gave it to sandow, who put it on and soon
completed his trick"
1t was easy to see that Samson's Temperature
was rising. Trick" two was of precisely tine
same character, only it was done with a rod
slightly longer and thicker. Samson bent II
over the chest arm and leg and Strengthened
It again. Sandow did exactly the same, although
1t was quite plain that he had not acquired the
knack of holding the rod so adroitly as Samson.
DE Strengthened it, nevertheless When he laid
il down his rival declared that it was not quite
accomplished. Sandow said nothing. but gave
the rod another thwack over his arm and held
II up to the audience to show them that il was
as straight as a ruler.
"Trick" three consisted Of bursting a wire
rope by expanding the lungs. Samson pro-
duced two. which he said consisted of thirty
strands OF wire, lntimating at the same time
that he selected this number because he .did
not want to make it SO hard for thees gentle
men," The judges selected one and ordered |
Samson to begin. He twisted it tightly around |
his chest and after two trials broke it six or /
eight inches from the end. The same rope was |
handed to Sandow. In this feat the whole art /
consists In the twisting. Six inches make a /
great difference In this respect In vain did /
Sandow endeavor to get the proper twist He
time he inflated his chest the twist gave way
Deep silence reigned In the audience. Samson
was jubilant-"He cannot do it; he not do it,"
and made appeal to the judges. Sandow said
nothing, but exerted himself the more to get |
the twist on. The sly look he occasionally gave
at Samson almost tempted one to believe that
be was delaying the operation willfully to make
the denouement the more striking. At any rate,
Just as Samson running across to the
judges shouting He cannot do it; claim the
trick" he heaved his chest, there was a crack
and the iron rope fell broken [Great cheer
ng.l Il
Trick" Eve consisted of breaking link of
a chain by pulling it asunder with the hands |
Here there was an intermnable wrangle. Sam
son insisted upon q particular chain, while
5andow produced one of his own which his |
hackers wished him to use. What the dispute
really was no one OF the stage could exactly
gather. AL the audience could see was Sam