THE STRONG MAN.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 14 December 1925, Page 13

THE STRONG MAN.

. SAN DOW VERSUS SAMSON . [nto'-'liis 'obituary-' sketch of Eugon Siuklow the Rigiit Hon. T. R. O Ounin6r, M.P., introduces Sandow’s own story iu-.ins own words of the challenge which brought the strong man ilrst into fame. JLt wan Mr Aubrey Hubert who called his attention to the big chance which fortune opened to him. This was a challenge from ‘'Samson,” then reputed to bo the strongest man in the world, and carrying on a series of successful exhibitions at the London Aquarium and elsewhere. The challenge was for a £IOO prize to anybody who could equal the feats of Jus pupil “Cyclops,” and a pr.ze of £IOUO to’ the man .who could beat Samson himself. “.Wo fiat quietly in the stalls until Samson appeared on the stage and announced the usual terms of'his chaL lenge,” wrote Mr Sundew. “Then Mr Fleming rose and accepted it, asking if the money was ready. A note of £IOO was produced, and it was stated that the £IOOO would also be forthcoming. Then 1 stepped on to the stage. Seeing me in evening dress, which effectually disguises my physique, everybody seemed rather surprised and the audience evidently came to the conclusion that I had very little chance of winning, llut when i took.off my coat there .was a change in the atmosphere. Samson himself left off laughing at me, and every face became as serious as my own.

FIRST APPEARANCE

“Cyclops, the pupil," penorined his first reat)Awhich cons.sted in lifting ttfo weights of a hundredweight eaen over Ins head and lowering'- them with extended arms. This was immediately duplicated by me. Then lie kited ins bar-bc'li weighing 2401 b«., over his head ■.from; the ground by both hands. I did the same . The third feat, which I dulj ■ performed, consisted of luting a dunihI bell' weighing 21U1b., and holding it out at... arms' . length, then, bending down, raising over ttie head another dumbbell -jvcighing 1001 b. As I bad then equalled all the ieats of Cyc.ops for 'wnich the challenge was ortered we asked for the £.IOO, ' biit Samson claimed that we should go oil repeating the performance until one of us gavo in. The manager of the Aquarium said this would not be right, and "'proposed- that Cyclops should set me two more tests. 1-was .willing. “Ho then raised a weight or 2401 b., lying-on las back with a couple of men sitting bit ft. 1 repeated that. The last •'trlcjk raismg of v a, hugo stone, /weighing" afybut 50U1b.," w.i,th the •-•two . hali-huhdrqdweights on it.; Cyclops, 'BlhiidingvonWtwo chairs over, the stone, lifted; the lot’-with his lit tie-finger about 'Tin'-fTbui vTlio' ground'. I followed suit. Samson' then about to hand over The/"£4Otfjddnil L explained I had not concluded 1 my Coutr.bution to the evening’s amusement .1 was making a bid for the £IOOO to be won by liis own feats. This seemed rather to stagger Samson, and he asked for a postponement of the affair. AVe agreed, apd anlarrangeiiieht ,was made for the '‘cehteatv-tokcomG off on the . following Saturday, November 2, 1889. , ,„‘.-‘On,.vhe ! night the Aquarium was packed so densely with people that I could not.get in at the ordinary doors. .If had; tb/burst open a side door be-' Toro 1 could procure admission. Samson was/already on the stage, ..and I only" saved jthe appointment by half a minute;.,;: The two judges of the con-tesb-yveTe The Marquis, of Qugepsberry - 1 ' ,S&m§oh -comm'ehced. the performance by, bending an iron rod over liis calf, arms, and neck. I copied him. Next he burst a, wire, cable that was wound round TiiS chest.:.T; burst a follow one. Then he snapped a chain on the muscles of his arm. This 1 also d.d. Samson still comp.aining, 1 oitered to perform soma-'feats/witn a dumb-bell of my own. if lie or Cyclops could equal them I was content to call the whole Affair ;ai. .draw. 1. l.fted- my, dumb-bell, :jybighirigT;2Bolb., - with one .hand, lay •dqiviii .opfiliitb ! stage and- 'rrose again -wiftli theghthight. Then f , I fastened; 'chains roxiifd 'my arum, lifted a dumb-; bfll of 22Uib., and burst the ;■ chains, llie|ore putfijig it down. Samson then dechncxl toTpicceed any further, ( but. the judgeViihxpressed themselves satis-’ fieri. My party claimed the £I.OOO, and it was promised for the morning; but,!, never, received it, and i finally cjjSftfprohiisedv.the matter with the Royal i|Vq : tiajrniui lor £350.” Sanciow’s "fortune was made on that night. He got innumerable engagement's, always drawing big crowds and big money. Soon he conceived the idea of tak.ng up the teaching of physical culture, and 'opened extensive pfehuaes, in St Street,, where, he invited--: all the woi:l,d -to come and be improved inAieallii dnU; strengthened in muscle./ AT-, bribe trie’ school was an enormous : Young gentlehien .wishing to' increase their-prowess in sport, middle. aged gentleman ■. wi.sjhing to’ .-diminish. fhoiK growing stoutness, flockedtcHSandow and wore mado whole, for years, and up to the day of his death, Sandow drew a fine income from his institute. ’ Owing to largo and judicious advertisement and his systematised methods he became something like a national figure and -his;name, as familiar as th,at of ,a. statesman or a great artist. Personally, writes “T.P.,” he was a curious mixture of great shrewdness and a simplicity that" amounted somietimes to childish naivete... He held to his opinions" in ' business - management with/ .obstinacy .and .sometimes . with angry passion.. He had, a quick and dominating temper; sometimes his language, was ■ ropgb-, and his blazing . eyes and raised arm —he - never struck a bl6w, as hl matter of fact—made him a somewhat affrighting spectacle, especto those who did not know him. Rut his temper passed as quickly as it came, and was always followed by some kind act; which was at once ,a sign of repentance and a bid for reconciliation. The man upon whom he had poured his angry scorn would the same evening be sharing a good dinner from him and sitting beside him in a box at a theatre;

Once, many years after he had achieved fame, he gave a luncheon to inaugurate a patent food, and presented each of the three or four hundred guests with a gold watch, complete with illuminous face then a novelty—and chimes. This lavishness was the talk of the town. LESSON FOR A TRAINER “Sandow’s most impressive feat of strength, in my opinion, was performed in private,'-' said Mr Lang Neil, who was Sandow’s general manager before the war. “He and I returned from lunch one winter’s day to the institute in St. James’s Street. Sandow, who had eaten, a hearty meal, wore a heavy overcoat and smoked a largo cigar. Suddenly one of the trainers in the room overhead, who had been amusing himself with a 1001 b weight, put in down none too gently on tho lloor. Sandow, wearing hia overcoat and silk hat, went upstairs. Ho seized ihe weight with one hand. ‘This is how you should pick up a hundred pouncls ; ’ he said, and still talking and smoking his cigar, lifted tho weight easily over his bend; ‘and this is how you should put it down.’ He put it on tho Hour r ij..- .-. as a feather. Mon from.ail waik . <.■'■! •’ consulted Mr Sandow. I remember Sir George Alexander was acting oneo in (l play in which he had to throw a man over tho side of a. shin. Ho was not physically a strong man, so ho came to os .to teach him how to do it.”