The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-04-29
STRONGEST POLICEMAN.
"Ajax" and His Gigantic Strength.
Some of His Great FeatS.


un the New York police force. You wouldn't
think IL 10 look &C him. for there is nothing
extraordinary in his appearance. but he is
the strongest man that over wore blue clothes
and carried a club. He has done SO many
notable things since be was appointed TO the
force two years ago that there would not be
room enough TO tell of them all on this page.
just a few of them Will be recounted here,
and the rest can be easily imagined by any.
body with the least hit of brain power.
Please remember that this man has lifted 1000
pounds with his hands, and think OF how
many ways in which such policeman can
have fun with prisoners when be wants 10.
HIS jaw muscles stronger than those OF
the ordinary mans back. He is no. only able
TO lift $50 pounds of dead weight with bis
teeth. hut be can hold up the weight long
enough to have his photograph taken. This
is the greatest dead weight ever lifted with
the teeth 20 far as records show. ana Whit.
man has large and beautiful GOLD medal for
doing IL. He has also lifted a horse with his
teeth.
Soon after being made policeman whitman
was put post along that pleasant part of
Tenth avenue commonly called "Hells
Kitchen" While he was there be reformed
the culinary and other arrangements OF that
kitchen. He tanned the proud spirits Of the
indigenous youth. so that they ceased to way
lay and panhandle innocent passers- Like
all rsformers. Whitman found bis path hard
one. He drove.the busiest marauder ,f the
"HeiPs Kitchen gang. the worthy chef, up
or the roof OF tenement house.
'Tf yer come mp here. yer pio faced mug
wit de blue coat. I'll push in yer face wit
brick" remarked the chef as he loaned over
hao ~
humor. Breaking cobblestones with bis fist
used to be one of bis daily tricks when he
rssd- TO exhibit his- -ssraneth In theaters. ana
he knew he could easily catch a little thing
like brick. He grinned as he marched up
the dark tenement stairway.
The Heu's Kitchen young man. with skill
born OF long practice, "trun'' tho brick at
Within ans head the moment the police helmet
showed through the scuttie. Imagine his
consternation when fist about ms big as the
brick seized the missile and hurled Il back at
him. moment later that big hand closed
on the back Of the tough young mans neck.
and the first, thing that young man knew he
was shaking like the prongs OF tuning fork.
"wili you come on quiet, nowf' asked
whitman.
"Leggo me neck or I'll disi'' moaned the
tough. So the two marched peacefully to the
West Forty seventh street police station.
When the prisoner was at liberty again he
fastened back 60 the Kitchen and told his
friends that he had been "up against cop
wit Electricity in his arms. an, b'chee. he
don't do q Sing t'yer but shake yer teet'
outi"
Life In that neie ehborhood became dull after
that. 80 they sent Whitman down to the Bow
cry TO see IL he could enliven that highly
respectable thorouehfare. he was assigned
20 the EldridGe street station, where he still
is. On his way TO the Bowery one morning
whitman found Grand street blooksded. A
heavy two-borse truck belonging TO ex.
press company was broken down across the
tracks, and Grand street cars were strung
out in long rows waiting for the obstruction
TO BE- removed. One Of the trucks front
wheels had come of. and the crowd was
waiting patiently for n derrick wagon. Whit
man got grip on the axle. raised IL. and
held 10 whils the lost wheel was replaced.
When the driver gapingly asked him how he
did IT, Whitman replied: "Don't get cay.
Move on"
whitman's most amusing experience was in
the famous "white House. restaurant, in the
Bowery. two months ago. He and his partner
policeman Hoffman. were in the place after
of tine Excise law, but they found none.
Shortly after they left the restaurant the
pantryman made familiar remarks 10 Miss
Moliie W.. the ladifrien' OF Mr.. John Ryan.
an ex-convict, who was entertaining a small
party at superior was 8. breakfast Mr.
Ryan and q Mr.. Welsh rushed at the pantry.
man TO reprovs bis insolence by good advice.
emphasized with knifs-thrusts. Mr.. Ryan's
FIRST sweeping gesture cut cash from the
psntrymans left eyebrow. half way TO his
oocipital process. Here Is whitman's account
of what followed:
az saw the knife flashing, so Just ran in
and got Ryan by the neck and threw him
over q couple Of tables 70 quiet him. He lost
bis knife somehow. got his friend by the
neck, and gave him q couple o. shakes 20 take
tho fight out OF him. Then shook Ryan a
little as be got mp So they both went 20 the
house with me nice and quiet. They got a
month each"
Whitman was passing Miners Bowery Thea.
ter rscentiy when he heard an alarm OF fire
He ran In and found smoke coming up
through the orchestra floor. He pushed over
and smashed seven iron orchestra chairs with
one thrust OF his shoulder. and tore up the
foor with his fingers. A few pals OF wnter
put out the fame before the flremen arrived.
An iron awning in front OF No. 282 Grand
street recently broke down. and threatened
20 fan and iniurs wsyfsrsrs Whitman
climbed MP rope hung by his teeth and
used both hands to tear away the dangerous
iron and throw 10 down. Then he slid down
fne rope and went on about bis business.
What does this remarkable policeman look
iikei He is five feet eight and half inches
tall aud weighs (net) 1872 pounds. He is 40
inches around the chest II inches around the
neck. io1k inches around the bicsps. II around
tho forearm. 91S around the wrist, 2J around
The thigh. and II around the calf
He does not look like man of remarkable
strength whsr you see him dressed. He l. 81
years old. brown-haired aud brown-eyed
He was a professional athlete known ~
nAjsx" before he became a policeman on
Hsrch I. lsDl
81 hope 10 see the commissioners put n
st@nasium IN every police station" be said
70 me- tIt wouldn't cost much money and 10
wouldn't take up much room. IL would do