A Modern Samson.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 5010, 18 May 1889, Page 3

A Modern Samson.

There has been exhibiting in New York a strong man, whose feats really entitle him in regarded as a successor of the Scriptural hero whose name he bears. Charles Sampson is about thirty years of age and only of medium height and build, indeed, not by any means the sort of person one would pick out as a Hercules. Yet the following are among some of his feats He can break nine steel wire cables of eight strands each passed around bis body, by the expansion of his chest; in the same manner he can break a steel trace chain, such as is used in truck harness, like glass, and be can pull each link of the chain in two with his hands. He can bend a spike an inch in diameter to a right angle by striking it across bis arm. In a tug of war he has pulled successfully against twelve strong men. He will take a piece of steel chain three feet long, force open one of the links, form a ring of thej chain just largo enough to fit the biceps of his light arm as it hangs loose, then slowly cocking the arm he will swell the muscles and tendons until the chain snaps in halves from the tremendous strain. There is no trick about this j the steel used is three-sixteenths of an inch and formed in double links of an inch and a half long. The tensile strength required to perform the feat is estimated at 4001 b, and it is done with the greatest ease without the performer experiencing anyiinconvenienee. After that he will wind about 12 lengths of steel wire round bis chest, and in less than three seconds by swelling the muscles of Ids chest, back, and shoulders, the metal is snapped. In St, Petersburg he placed himself in the centre of an eight foot ring, and fourteen strong men took hold of the ring and tried to push him beyond a certain limit marked on the floor and failed to do so. He has decorations presented to him by all tho crowned beads on the Continent, especially a very magnificent one, containing eighteen diamonds, conferred upon him by the late Emperor Alexander of Russia, for killing a steer with one blow of his list ; this feat be also performed in Germany and Paris —in the latter place, as the animal was macing he not only knocked it down,but with tho second blow crushed in its skull. During his professional experience he has broken his arm seventeen times. He does not attribute his marvellous physical powers to any freak of , Nature, but simply to careful training.