ONE OF SANDOW'S ADVENTURES.

Northland Age, Volume 3, Issue 39, 14 May 1907, Page 5

ONE OF SANDOW'S ADVENTURES.

Sandew tells the following story of a narrow oscapo from assassination which fell to his lot some years ago: "I was once visiting a town in Italy, where there was a strong man named Antonio, who boasted of never being thrown. I promptly sent him a challenge, and it was accepted. The trial was fixed at the local theatre for the next night. Just as I entered the door of the theatre a friend of mine hurried up to me in a great state of excitement, and urged me to leave the place, as it was , rumoured that if I threw Antonio 1 the townspeople would never let me leave the town with a whole skin. | However, I was determined to meet j the man, no matter what happened. ! As I gazed at the large and noisy j crowd, and saw the people fighting at the entrance for seats, I felt. rather nervous, but once on the stage j I became calm and collected again. | A big, splendidly formed man was Antonio. You do not want to have, details of the performance. Suffice it that ia the end, with a mighty ef- j fort, I threw him A scene of wild I excitement ensued when I was pro- j claimed the winner. It was general- j ly recognised that the throw was a fair one, and, after many speeches and some ‘health-drinking,’ I got away from the theatre in company with a friend, who was glad to find things had passed off so well.

"But" (continues Mr. *Sandow) “my night’s adventures were not yet at an end. As wo wandered along, chatting earnestly, I noticed many dark figures hurrying past us. For some reason I felt uneasy. Soon we reached a little bridge leading over a small canaL Then we saw what it all meant. Both sides of the bridge were lined with furious Italians armed with every kind of weapon. They evidently meant to have revenge on me for conquering their local champion. Retreat would then have been out of the question, and oven if it had not been, I question whether I should have retired. My blood was fairly up, and I determined, with a great nobbed stick which I had, to do battle. I advanoed towards the mob, and to my great astonishment they at once gave way, and allowed me to pass. Immediately I got to the other side of the bridge, I turned round and began to laugh at the cowards. But at once a horrible sight met my gaze, and my laughter ceased. Only a short distance off lay my unfortunate friend, stabbed to death. The sight gave me a terrible shock, and the scene of the brutish murder will remain in my memory as long as I live."