The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-08-04
He IS A POWERFUL MAN
Harry Johnson, the New Samson
Is in the City.
SOME WONDERFUL FEATS
Drives Nails With Bare Fists, Tears
Horseshoes Apart and Can Bend
Iron Bars With His
Teeth.

There is man in Anaconda so mar
those of Hercules, to say nothing of
Samson and more modern lights of
lesser brillancy. This man is so
strong that with a single blow of his
fist, protected only by a handkerchief,
he is able to drive 60-penny nail
through a one-inch-and-a-hal scant-
ling. Moreover, to make the matter
still more wonderful, he can draw the
nail out or break it with his teeth.
This strong mans name is Harry
Johnson. He is a member of the color
ed population and comes from the
East He is now giving exhibitions
in different saloons about the city.
1t has only been within the past few
years that Johnson's remarkable
strength has dawned upon him. OF
course, as boy he was able to equal
the best man in feats of muscle, but
he thought little of that Now, how
ever, that he has reached mans es-
tate-he is but 80 and can perform
marvels that surpass the combined eff
forts of six men-he has gradually
realized his superhuman strength.
His weight is 215 pounds; height,
feet 10 inches; forarm, liz inches; BIZ
cops, 17A inches; thighs, 80 inches
calves, IN inches, and neck. 10 inches.
The neck measurement as compared
with the head is most remarkabl He
can without unbuttoning his collar slip
off his shirt with ease over the top
of his head. Another strange point,
his hand is massive, taking a No. IL
glove. while his foot is very small. He
wears a No. 6 shoe.
He has teeth the like of which have
never been known. Not regular teeth
nor beautifully white, but long, strong
yellow teeth-teeth that can literally
bite through iron. His jaw and neck
seem one and part of his broad Shout
ders, so firmly are they set.
The best proof of his power in jaw
and teeth is shown in the feats he
performs. He takes an ordinary three
eighths round iron yard long and.
using his teeth as a wise, twists out
letters Of the alphabet.
With a rod of iron 10 feet long and
one and one-eighth inches in diameter
balanced in his mouth, he braces him
self squarely on his legs and then al
lows the rod to be bent by the com
bined effort of eight men-four on
either end. The only paraphernalia
used is a simple piece of leather to pre-
vent injury to the mouth and teeth
from with the rough IRON. 1T
is all the eight men can do to bend the
iron, so the pressure on Johnson's jaw
is something tremendous. The small
ness of the mans head as compared
with the massiveness of jaw and
breadth of shoulder becomes most pro-
nounced in this act, for the muscles of
the neck swell to the utmost, and, in
fact head and shoulders appear al
most one without the usual connection
of neck.
1t is generally considered most diff
ficult trick to tear in two deck of
cards. Johnson puts three decks to-
gether, and, with bare hands, not only
tears them in half, but quarters them
as well.
He can hold up with one hand a
52gallon cask with two men seated
thereon, in all a total weight of more
than 450 pounds.
johnson performs many other feats,
but driving nail in by blow of the
hand, protected by the slight covering
of a handkerchief, is the most marvel
Gus of all.