The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-07-30
FAMOUS STRONG MEN.
Wonderful Feats of Physical Strength
Performed by Louis Cvr, sandow
and SAMPSON.

From the Home Magazine.
The title of champion strong man Of
the world is disputed between Louis
Cyr, Sandow and G. A. Sampson. Each
can perform feats which the other two
cannot, and all seem to avoid a fair
test of strength in competition. Louis
Cyr's performances are, however, in
many cases record Among
his unexcelled performances are the
following remarkable though almost in
credible feats. Lifting 555h pounds
clear of the floor with one finger, un-
protected; lifting 9S7 pounds with one
hand without the aid of his knees;
lifting 1874 pounds with both hands
without the aid of knees; shouldering
with the right hand barrel filled with
sand and water, weighing 433 pounds,
by taking hold of the chimes, and with
out the aid of knees; lifting 97h pound
dumb bell in right hand and SS-pound
bell in left and putting them out SIM
ultaneously to arms length at right
angles with the body, lifting and hold
ing 131A-pound dumb-bell at arms
length in like manner with the right
hand for five seconds, and bringing the
weight back to the shoulder; lifting
347-pound bar bell from the floor to the
shoulder with both hands and holding
at arms length above the head. All
these were performed before trust
worthy witnesses in Chicago, May Z,
1896. In England Cyr lifted a platform
on his back bearing a load of 1856
| pounds. He has successfully pulled
against two horses weighing 1000
pounds each. In May 1885, at Boston,
| Cyr succeeded in raising 4,300 pounds
| live weight.
SANDOW.
| Sandow is perhaps the most perfect
! specimen of physical development and
is the popular favorite of strong men,
probably on account of his manly
! beauty. His muscles are developed to
| the limit and his tests of strength
equal those of the Canadian champion
in most instances. He is delighted
when posing before the public, and the
public forgives him this little weak
ness. In London, in 1892, Sandow lifted
a dumb-bell weighing 1872 pounds in
his right hand from floor to shoulder
and pushed it to arms length above his
head. His ordinary feats, such as
breaking straps fastened around his
chest, and chains by expending his
biceps, are familiar to nearly every
theater-goer in this country and Eng
| land.
Probably Charles A. Sampson, who
claims residence in Detroit and is also
the strongest man on EARTH" haC
more than any other person to do with
the creating of the srrong-man profes.
sion. He holds hundreds of medals
one from the London Athletic institute
together with a gold belt for heavy.
weight harness-liftng. He succeeded
in lifting 4,OOS pounds from the floor
In harness-lifting Sampson excels. II
a contest between Sampson and San
dow in London, in 1889. the latter won
though some unfairness is claimed
The following measurements O.
Sampson give an idea of the extent t.
which the muscles of a strong man ar,
developed; Neck, II inches; chest
(contractedD 80 inches; chest, (normal
AZ inches; chest, (expanded) IS inches
bceps, 10 inches; wrist. Az inches
forearm, 161s inches; calf, 16 inches
thigh, 2e1s inches; height, feet
inches; weight. 175 pounds