Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1901-11-20
THE CIRCUS SAMSON.
TRICKS OF THE STRONG MAN
AND HOW MANAGED.
GOOD DEAL OF HUMBUG IN THE
FEATs HE PERFORMS KNAcK OF
BREAKING STONES WITH FIST.
TEETH TRICKS EXPLAINED.

the feats that seem so wonderful when
done by these tan bark Samsons. In
fact, few Of them require any particular
muscular exertion, but are accomplished
simply by trickery.
The dumbbells used by the perform
srs are always hollow and weigh much
less than the figures marked upon them
would indicate. When you see man
pretending to put above his head bell
marked 400 or 500 pounds, you may safe
~ conclude that he is trying to fool you.
The very greatest weight ever lifted in
this way was 245 pounds, 'Cyclops' ac-
complishing the feat in Cleveland in
1893. Genuine dumbbells closely resem-
bling the hollow ones are thrown out
into the audience for inspection, but
these are never the ones used by the
strong man or woman.
Another common feat that arouses
wonder is the breaking of stones with
the fist. Spectators think that man
who can bring his clinched hand down
upon q rock and flake piece off with
one blow must have tremendous mus
Giles, but an ordinary man can do this il
he knows bow, while, on the other hand,
old Samson himself couldn't have done it
unless he had been put on to the trick.
You will notice that the strong man
always provides solid piece of iron or
stone upon which to crack his rocks.
Now, if he held the stone to be smashed
firmly against this support he might
pound away at it until doomsday with
out hurting anything but his fist, but
notice closely, and you will see that he
holds the small stone sixteenth of an
inch above the support, and when he hits
it it's the conclusion that breaks it.
Any one can do it neatly after a little
practice.
"a little more real strength is needed
In the feat of lifting barrel of water
and two men with the teeth, but not
much. A man of ordinary strength can
accomplish it. To begin with, the water
barrel, which if genuine would weigh
with its contents about 900 pounds, has
false top and bottom and holds only
enough water so that a little can be let
out of the bunghole to deceive the on
lockers. Fastened to the barrel and to
the waist of the performer and conceal
ed by sash which he wears is a rope.
This is deftly hitched to the barrel when
il is lifted up for him to take the mouth
piece in his teeth.
THE mouthpiece exactly fits his
mouth, so that whatever weight comes
here is usually sustained by the jaw.
Here comes the thrilling moment. Two
men lift themselves upon the barrel, and,
with two other sturdy fellows to support
his back and keep his balance, the strong
man slowly lifts the barrel. Bending
back, he supports the weight at an angle
of about 45 degrees, apparently with his
teeth, but actually upon his chest. It's
sensational act; but, as matter of fact,
more strength is required in the men who
support him than in the star performer
himself Not more than POO pounds were
ever actually supported by any athlete
in this fashion.
"The mouthpiece used in this trick is
employed in all acts where the perform
ers appear to hang by their teeth. 1t is
so constructed that when one gets it in
his mouth he cannot let go of it until the
weight is taken off. So circus folks do
not really support their weight or the
weight of any other object by their teeth.
1t is actually on the neck that most of
the strain comes, and performers doing
this stunt very much gets an abnormal
neck development. Nowadays my neck
measures sixteen inches. but when / was
in the business it was nineteen inches
around.
ABOUT Tue Only act that requires
strength is that of supporting horse on
a teeter board, but even in this trick the
most important needs are nerve and
well trained horse. Bodily strength
comes third I'll never forget to my
dying day the first time | tried this. /
had rugged up two chairs as strongly as
possible in barn and fastened them to
the floor, after which / had put board
across between them to support teeter.
upon which | had trained my pony to
walk. When the animal had learned his
lesson thoroughly and would ascend the
teeter and balance at the word of COM
mand, | prepared for the final test.
"In place of the board connecting the
chairs | put my own body. Across my
chest put the teeter board. Then, lock-
ing my feet firmly in one chair and my
arms around the back of the other, l
called, 'Romeov
HE came from the hall. straight for
the teeter Then my nerve failed me. l
cried Whoa! wildly, but Romeo didn't
seem to know the meaning of the word.
On he came, directly up the incline.
There was no backing out. All that L
could do was to hang on desperately, and
this | did. When Romeo got above my
chest, he balanced himself gracefully for
awhile-it seemed an hour to me, though
it was only few seconds-then he went
off the other side. l had succeeded, and
the trick was not so hard as l had feared.
sit appears to the audience as if the
man in this act was supporting the
weight largely with his neck. Such is
not the case, for most of it comes on his
arms and legs, and the latter are fastened
so that they cannot become loosened. 1t
takes strength, but not extraordinary
strength.
"Not unlike this trick, but requiring
even less muscular power, is the feat Of
supporting a lot of people on board
placed across your body while you are
bent over backward. This is certainly
the easiest way for man to support his
family | know of. Before the athlete
bends his body his feet are braced SO
strongly that they can't slide. Then he
bends back and board is placed across
his knees and shoulders, upon which an
other hoard ia mt croSswise for the men