Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1892-08-09
AN ANCIENT MAN OF STRENGTH.
The Uncquaicd Feats Performed by Ger

AN ANCIENT MAN OF STRENGTH.
The Uncquaicd Feats Performed by Ger
man Snowman In the Last Century.
The first theatre manager Of Berlin
Johann Karl Won Eckenberg, was thu
SO called imam of strength, whf
showed himself nearly 200 years ago
first as juggler, then as athlete. u
| his life little is known except as in bis
career as theatre manager, as he was
the founder of the first Berlin theatre.
He was extensively written of, and an
article under the title OF AN Athlete
of the Eighteenth Century" published
some years ago and recently un-
earthed, gives an interesting account
of his prowess, as follows.
By an athlete of tie Eighteenth CEN
fury we do not mean the Prince Fred
erick August OF Saxony, king of PO-
land, commonly called August the
Strong, who could knock off the head
of an OK with one stroke OF his sword
and besides distinguished himself in
all kinds of respectable performances
of strength. but another Hercules who
would have wrapped the strong August
around his little finger, If such thing
would have been permitted. This man
was the athlete Johann Karl Won Eek
enberg, who in the twenties and thir-
ties OF the last century showed his
productions Of strength IN public. he
was the most stately of all gynnasts
and was born in the town OF HaiZge-
rode, and out of respect to his native
town he called himself for time, on
his bill posters, Sampson Hercules
Hartmann.
Ii borders on the fabulous what his
contemporaries related OF his remark
able exhibitions Of strength. de hroke
all anchor rope as If 1t were OF dnary
thread, iron nails and bolts ls turned
playfully between his fingers into
screws, IA cannon pipe he carried
around an ii it were "A baby. His teeth
were as strong as iron. He bit into IA
piece Of oak wood then strong cart
horse was harnessed up TO it. In spite
of the horse being urged on it was I'M
able To pull the stick out OF the juggler's
mouth or TO pull the athlete from the
place where he stood. A bench made
OF wood, sixteen feet long, he grasped
with his teeth by one end and carried
it around, while trumpeter blowing
his instrument sat on the other end.
His arm was more powerful than
his teeth. lie spread out his hands,
on each one was placed bottle ot
wine, then a rope was attached to eaca
wrist and TO each rope there were
three men from the audience who
pulled with all their might, SO as 10
make il impossible for this Hercules
TO convey the wine 10 his mouth. All
their zeal was without avail, as the
arms Of the. gymnast bent themselves
irresistibly and brought the jug to his
mouth without splitting drop OF
wine
He generally saved his grandest per-
Torrance Of strength until the close
OF the exhibition. He assembled scat
fold OF beams under which was plat
form OF thick planks fastened on
strong chains. A trumpeter mounted
on horse, clad as herald, rode upon
the platform and played his tune. The
Hercules then took a place on the
point of the scaifolding, held glass
OF wine In one hand and with the
other, by means of the chains, lifted
the heavy platform, the horse and the
trumpeter high up from the floor, and
for little while held the whole