Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1909-02-12
ROYAL STRONG ARMS
Famous Monarchs That RivaIec
the Mighty Samson.
AMAZING FEaTS or MUSCLE
The Emperor nasinianos Could Lift
Three Men With One ffano-Augus-
tps the Strong Of Saxony Carried
Horse and its Rider on His Back


| earliest Of these royal athletes wa
/ Maxinianus. called ~slaximlanus Her
/, culess because u his great strength
I He was the son Of a peasant and ia.
! an enormous physique. He became ,
! common soldier aud was finally mad
emperor by acclaim Of his fellow sol
diers during a stormy period Of Ro
man history
Maximlanus' strength Was prodl
gious II was said that on foot b.
could run down a fox, that he could
lift three men with one hand and that
by gripping the wheel Of chariai
with one finger he could resist the pull
of three horses. Like most men 81
great physical strength. siaxlmianus
was heavy eater History records
that bis daily allowance WAS forty
pounds Of meat and eighteen bottles OF
wine.
Augustus the Strong Of saxony was
another Of these royal Samsons. He
would often seize two Of his courtiers.
graspiBg one with his right hand and
another with his left. holding them up
az arms length and playfully twirling
them about
ON one occasion the horse ridden by
one ~ bis attendants became balky
and refused to bulge. After some min
utes Of c0axing the king dismounted,
placed his Hercuiean shoulder under
the horss's chest. grasplng it by the
fore legs. ana calmly walked away
with both horse and rider This re-
markable performance was witnessed
by number Of courtiers and attend
ants
King Richard Of England C'Coeur de
LlOnJ had tremendous strength. Dur
ing his captivity Ia Germany he gave
a terrible demonstration Of his physical
powers. The son Of one Of tile ward
ems was q youth locally renowned for
his muscular strength and In his as
surance invited the royal captive to an
exchange Of butfcts. The young man
by east OF the dice won the right 10
the first stroke and struck the king a
staggering blow ON the side of the
head. 1t was then the kings turn. and
he landed blow just behind his OPP
pOnent's ear so heavy that the man
was instantly killed
This incident is used Ia Sir Walter
SCOTS famous historical novel "Ivan-
hoe. whore King Richard. the Black
Knight" and the jolly outlaw Friar
Tuck have an exchange OF Bullets,
without. however. any fatal result.
Dom Pedro l., emperor Of Brazil. IS I
also on the list OF royal strong men +
On the occasion Of n carnival he ar
ranged matters so that he was stand
ing on the bow Of the royal barge be-
tween two Of his stateliest courtiers.
In the midst of the festivities
the king reached ont. grasDed court
Ter with each hand. and. after holding
hem for a few moments squirming in
he air and begging 70 lie rel ed be
relaxed his grip ard allowed them to
irop plump into the water. amid the
Frantic applause Of the huge crowd
nat had assembled TO view their mon
lrch The king Joined heartily in the
General hilarity. but what the drenched
purifiers thought about this exquisite
oke Is not recorded. II
Peter the Great of Russia. like Char
possessed great physical as
veil as meatsi power. His years OF
work as blacksmith and ship earpen- /,
er had SO developed a naturally pow
rful physique that he was believed TO ,
q the strongest man In Russia.
The story Is told that certain .
IN little country town had !
that he was the only black !
NTH In the world who could lift his :
wn anvil The emperor hearing of !
he hlacksmith's boast. disguised him ,
aIf as a workman and with single =
set out for the backsmith's
iilage. On learning OF their errand
ie blacksmith without n word laid y
side his tools and, graspirg the anvil =
18th his hrawny hands lifted It with ;,
-eat effort about a foot from the floor !,
hen Peter took hold OF the anvil !
Used II a foot. two feet three. higher :
ad higher. till he finally swung II 10
5 shoulder and calmly walked away
It'll It.
was said 90 be the most ..
,werful man physically of his time. =
ne OF his favorite feats of strength =, =
tN W Vifsth tue Afea NAtct tttStSAN' ~ a.
'ipping IL with one hand.
A worthy successor Of Peter the "
-eat was the late Car Alexander Ill.
no was one OF the strongest men In -
g world He was often called the 80
assian Samson" The ears regular
sitting card was Russian coin some s
hat larger than our silver quarter. ~ =.
hich he would bend almost double
til his powerful fingers
Alexander was also fond OF breaking
rseshoes. and II Is said he never
ind one he could not break in two. -
, could take two fresh packs OF cards ha
Il by gripping the ends with bis ~
nds tear them straight down through Ut Ut
2 middle ~
L Il said that on one occasion a wo-
In companion expressed wish for a
uqNet holder In which to place
ge bunch of roses. The ear took a az
wter tanksryi from a table nearby IS
q with few movements Of his pow. ~