The San Francisco call., 1896-06-28
IKE TONDRICK,
THE INFANT SANDOW OF
BUSH STREET.
A Wonderful San Francisco Child OF
Three Years That Can Lift
and Carry More Than
Forty Pounds.

1t is only within the last year, however,
that Ike has taken to showing Off what
he could do. He was able to walk when
only few months old, but his mother did
not allow him out on the street. When he
was two years old, however, it became inn
possible to restrain him. Ropes to tie him
were snapped like bits of string, and he
would seize anything within reach to
break down a door so that he could get
out of a room.
Ike Tondrick is only a child OF three,
but he has more strength than most of 10.
And he delights in it to such an extent
that he puts in most of his time testing it.
Little Ike's home is on Bush street, near
Taylor, and his parents are both strong
healthy people in the prime of life, so the
boy comes by his phenomenal strength
honestly. He always was strong, and
when only baby showed great yigor in
many ways.
Mrs. Tondrick attempted to combat
this propensity for some time, but at last
it became monotonous and the boy was
allowed to have his way. And he has had
it. No boy of twice his years dare cross
him and he makes it lively for any young
ster that annoys him, no matter what his
age.
As a fighter Ike Is in a class by himself,
but he shows his strength more markedly
in his act of carrying heavy articles.
Twenty-Five pounds is nothing to him.
Thirty he can carry easy and when he
tries he can transport it for distance of
block, which is good deal for nybody.
The other morning Ike and number of
boys were at play and it seems that
large block of wood was needed to hold
up a certain corner of the stage. Some
repairs are being made to the schoolhouse
fence on the corner OF Bush and Taylor
streets, and Ike concluded that the desired
object could be obtained there He found
just the thing that was wanted-a beam
four feet long and seven inches thick both
WAYS.
To have even lifted this would have
taxed the strength of most boys, but the
young Sandow picked it up as if it was q
chip. He held it in his arms and walked
all the way to where the other boys were
without resting. When lie got there it
took two of them to move 1t to where it
was wanted. Ike's great feat, though, is
to carry another boy. He will pick up
one larger than himself and carry him
great distance. He carried stone from
one end of the block to the other few
days ago, and when it was weighed at the
grocery it tipped the beam at forty pounds.
In appearance Ike is good-looking boy,
although a little heavy. But he is solid.
No superfuous fat about him. He is all
muscle and bone. His complexion is
beautiful cream and pink in spite of the
fact that he is out in the sun most of the
time. And how he can eat; anything-no
matter what-disappears like magic when
placed on plate in front of him. He was
never sick day in his life and from his
appearance is not likely to be-
His disposition is remarkably good, con-
sidering the opportunities he has to play
the bully. He is ready to help anybody in
trouble and is not afraid of getting into it
himself. In fact he likes trouble, particu-
larly if it is of lively kind, with plenty
of kicking and scratching.
There is only one thing that mars Ike's
happiness in life, and that is the fact that
he has to wear dresses. He says he is a
boy, but his mother thinks he looks bet
ter in girls clothes, and that good lady
is person that Ike don't trifle with, ex-
cept she tries to keep him in the house.
1t is all right if he can get away, but if he
tears his clothes often she is sure to find it
out and he has to pay for it.
To see this child carrying a heavy load
is an almost grotesque sight. Forty
pounds of wood is as large as he is. Ike
certainly has great future before him.