The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1893-07-22
Feats of workmanship.


From London Globe.
Feats of workmanship, such as cutting
through triangular bars of lead or carcases
of sheep, are performed with special weap-
ons; and ON this subject, and that ofsword-
blows generally, Mr. Henderson, the we'll
known professor of workmanship, and for
many years connected with Angeles School
of Arms, has some interesting facts to re-
late. Though no longer quite so Young as
he was, he is still active and hearty, and
must have been in his prime very power
full man, weighing 1870 pounds. lie has
in his time, at one stroke, cut through two
sheep, one cascase inside the other; and in
similar manner through two and three
quarter inches of solid lead.
A specially made cuirass, much thought
of at the time by the Duke of Cambridge,
when tested by the redoubtabe Henderson
was cut clean through. Steel plates-six
to the inch-and ordinary pOrkers have
been severed at one blow by the same strong
arm. These exploits were all accom-
plished with asword blade made for him by
the old firm of Wilkinson. 1t is called
''Excalibur, and weighs but four pounds.
1t is perfectly plain, slightly curved, has a
hilt something like naval cutlass, and is
tempered to perfection. Mr.. Henderson
was present at the battle of Chillianwallah
in 1849, and can testify to some remarka-
BILE instances of the power Of keen sword.
Towards the termination of the fight, as
the British troops were slowly retiring,
Sikh challenged by his gestures and defiant
attitude an Irish soldier to leave the ranks
and engage in single combat. One thrust
from his bayonet went right through the
Sikh, who, though MORALLY wounded, in
simultaneously with his razor-edged tulwar
cleft his opponents head in two, as far
down as the base of the neck, both fall
ing dead at the same instant. After
his engagement Sikh was found sitting
on the ground apparently unhurt, yet
holding his hands up to his head, and
when the surgeon babe him lower his arms,
he fell dead on the spot, with half his
skull gone, the entire upper part having
been cut clean through.
Elephants are completely disabled by
one blow from the Arabs two-handed
sword, which almost sewers the huge hind
leg, biting deep into the bone. This feat
is varied by MASKING off the trunk, leaving
it dangling only by a piece OF skin. A
Ghoorka has been seen by the late Laur-
ence 0liphant to behead buffalo with
single blow OF his cOokrie, and Sir Samuel
Baker, man powerful enough to WELD
during his African exploration the Baby,
an elephant-rihe weighing twenty-five
pounds, once Glove wild bear with his
big hunting knife almost in halves as it
was making a final rush, catching it just
behind the shoulders where the hide and
brislles are at least span thick. Sir Wal
ter Scott relates how the Earl of Angus,
with his huge sweeping brand, challenged
an opponent to fight, and at blow
chopped asunder his thighbOne, killing
him on the spot, There is a story current
in Australia that Lieut., Anderson, in
1852, during an encounter with bush
rangers, cut clean through the gun-barrel
of his adversary with his sword. And at
Kassassin it is related that one Of Arab
Pashas soldiers was severed in two during
the midnight charge But in the opinion
of experts it is very improbable, even
had the new regulation sabre been then in
use.