Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-11-30
FRENCH. GIANTS.



Markets.
A queer ceremony has Just taken
place at the Halles, the big central
market Of Paris. It Is q competition
Of men with abnormal strength to be
elected permanently as the strong
men of the market"
The Halles Is a large iron building
covering more than twenty acres Of
ground, the structure being divided
by covered streets 4s feet long and
so feet wide.
Before Ave in the morning the
competitors began to arrive at the
main entrance and Notwithstanding
the unreasonable hour crowds Of
spectators were there to witness the
novel competition. which was to be-
gin exactly at five and did not finish
until nearly eleven. After the arrival
Of the judges the applicants grouped
themselves around the starting point
and waited for the word to begin.
Each candidate must show his abil-
ity to carry without resting. q huge
sack filled with stones Weighing $50
pounds, for forty-five yards. No sign
Of strain must be apparent nor may
the men totter under their burden.
Some Of the competitors got no fur
ther than few steps; others who had
accomplished the feat were disquali-
fed because the effort left them ex-
hausted. When a candidate did sue
ceed in his task to the satisfaction Of
the judges he was greeted by the
crowd with wild yeils Of approval.
Men from every province OF France
entered for this contest, which occurs
only once in svery two or three years.
When death or continued sickness
depletes this body Of men who are
employed for the heavy lifting at the
Halles then the t-ial takes place. The
corps consists Of 62l men.
The duties of the strong mem
the only name ever given them-are
to unload the sacks Of -four, cases
Of cheese, boxes of fresh sea fish and
other produce coming to the market.
but the final aim Of each man is to
handle the grand fruit" This is the
last great stepping stone in their
work, for which salaries Of from $500
60 $1,000 a year are paid. It is not
a magnificent sum for an American
workman, but for France 1t is colos-
sal.
Giants in stature, broad shouldered,
big boned, a great muscular develop
ment, skin toughened by exposure,
one can only compare these men to
superb Percheron horses They are
fully organized and perform their du-
ties like well-drilled army. Each
market is divided into ten gangs Of
strong. men," q foreman and assis-
tant foreman at the head Of each
SQUAD. A chief is over the foremen
and then this little battalion is watch
ed over by the prefect Of police. Po-
lice Commissioner Giuchard Is their
general and decides all important is
sues, such as, in this present case,
judging in the examination Of the
new recruits.
This corporation, II one may so call
it, cannot be put in the category Of
any other workmen's organization. 1t
is the union Of the aristocracy Of Ia
Dor, for 1t has existed ever since the
reign Of Louis *, who bestowed on
them their title Lies Fort de ia
kknk ~
marquises of the renaissance, for 1t
dates from the year 1850. Many Of
these knights Of labor have descend
ed from ancestors who can be traced
as far back as the sixteenth century.
The men all act in perfect harmony.
There is never any dissension among
them, neither do they discuss griev-
ances in public, indulge in strikes or
make themselves obnoxious by
threats for imagined wrongs. They
are self-respecting citizens In every
way, but If provoked by assault they
can defend themselves ably. as was
proved one night short while ago.
One Of their number started for
his work at the Halles in the early
hours Of the morning. Finding him
self ahead Of time he stretched out on
a bench which was placed In Sc
cluded spot on the street and soon
fell asleep. Suddenly he felt some one
trying to steal his pocketbook. In
stantly he was on his feet facing two
"Apaches"-the dangerous and muir
derous vagabonds Of Paris. They
reached for their knives but before
they could attack him the strong
man" grabbed each one by the nape
of the neck and knocked their heads
together again and again like two
nrnnats In O punch and Judy show