New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1925-10-14
SANDOW, FAMOUS AS
Strong man, dies.
Born a Weaklins, He Developed
Himself Into Perfect Man
ACCIDENT CAUSED DEATH

Years Ago Believed Responsible
For His Sudden Passing in Lon
don Today.
London. Oct. IA R-Eugen San
dow, once hailed as "the worlds
strongest man." died suddenly today
in London, where he had recently
built up practice as health
specialist. 1t Is believed that death
was due to the effects OF motor
accident in which he was injured
some years ago.
Was Frail as Youth
Like Slgmund Breitbart, whom
he preceded as "the worlds strong
est man" and who died In Berlin
only this week. Eugen Sandow was
of German nationality. He was born
at Koenigsburg. In 1867. and Is said
to have been frail in his youth.
Determined to develop himself
physically. he began a study OF the
human body by visiting the muse
ums, and later took course In
anatomy. The story Is told that, at
the halfway stage Of his develop
ment. young Sandow stepped from
the audience to a platform in Lon
don and pested a professional strong
man styled Sampson" who had is
sued a challenge to any one who
would contest with him In a feat of
strength.
Physical Culture Exponent
Sandow was a great exponent of
physical culture for the average
man, and claimed any one could
become strong who underwent his
course of training. His activities in
this direction were recognized in
England in 1911 with his appoint
ment by royal warrant as professor
of physical culture to King George.
The careers of Breitbart and San
dow were similar In many respects,
although Sandow, who was sixteen
years older, had passed his prime
by the time Brcitbart achieved in
ternational notice. Both gave exhi-
bition in the United States as well
as on the continent. Those feats by
Breitbart, who bit iron chains In
two and performed similar feats,
were perhaps the more spectacular.
although It has been remarked that
Sandow might have done these
things II they had been suggested
to him.
Sandow, however, was not as
large as Breithart, who stood six
feet one inch to Sandow's five feet
eight, and who weighed 225 pounds
to the bare 1876 at which Sandow
tipped the beam.
Perfect Specimen
In 1898, during an exhibition tour
In this country. Sandow was ex-
amined by DR.. Sargent OF Harvard
university, who pronounced him
perfect physical specimen. His
weight at that time was only $50.
which he attributed to the hot
weather. His chest expansion was
fourteen inches.
Sandow was naturaIized British
subject. He was born In Koenigs-
burg and as a child was weakling.
His parents were not robust. When
he was ten years old he visited Rome
with his father, and there, seeing
famous statues OF perfect men, was
inspired to make his own body per-
feet.
The youthful Eugen was intended
for the priesthood but on his return
to Germany from Italy he began to
study anatomy and gave al lhis time
to building up his muscles scientiti-
cally. His success at this was re-
markable, but his father d disap-
proved and cut off his allowance.
Found Circuses
Eugen then began to make his
living travelling with circuses and
posing as model. Once in Amster-
dam he fell upon hard times. To get
he went around the
study anatomy and gave all his time
strengthening machines
and then wrecked them with his
strength. He was arrested but was
set free and then became the idol
of Amsterdam.
From that time his fame became
worldwide. Such was his reputation
for strength that burglars who broke
into his house In London and recog-
nized him as he was asleep fed,
leaving their booty behind.
Thousands have taken his course
in physical culture.