A STRONG MAN

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue VII, 20 November 1889, Page 2

A STRONG MAN

. ♦ Salvini, the tragedian, himself a man of great pbyulque, is fond of recounting the feats of strength performed by othew, aad especially he used to dilate on *he extraordinary neive and strength of a Venetian mason and bnlldec whom he had known. The name of the man was Luohtnl. Ha died a few years ago Id Venloe at an advanced age, bat np to the last preserved much of his extraordinary strength. He wan by trade a mason, and though not rich was always In comfortable clroumstanoeo. HIo strength was allied to wonderful prosecco ol mind and aoolneau under trying circumstances* Once, for iuetauco, ha was carrying oat to a villa he was building, some miles from Vonloa, a large anm of money with whloh to pcy off hia workmen. He caitled the moooy, which was In silver col o, ever bio Bhonlder, thongh It would have taken two ordinary men even to lift i . At night he found himself dome dlstanoo from his destination, and so he was obliged to " pat np " at a email Inn. He went to b-.d early, pholng the bag of slkor ia the bottom drawer of a small <-h.-u. of drawers ia the bedroom. About tnidoighfc be was awakened by a rough Bhake of tha ahonldor, and, opening his eyea, saw by the light of a small oil lamp two of his own workmen, eaoh of whom h»d la hia hand a stiletto, the uncomturtably sharp points of which were prasaad againat either side of his throat. Loohloi gcaiped the sltoatlon instantly, and saw lhathe was m a position w,he?e hia enormous strength availed him but little, so he coolly B aid, " What do you want?" " The money," was theaoawer, " Where "it Is m that draper," and he pointedto the cheat of drawers. One of the ruffima remained to guard, the recumbent Luohiai, while the other went to the drawer indiqatod. and tried to open It It would ngt budge. •« Give me the key," h.e. growled, "It is not looked," announced Luohtnl. « Open It, then," said the robber, aud BtUi with the stllletto at his throat Luohlnl rose, and with one fcand palled op 9Q the drawer which th* other could not even badge with all hh B treogtb. Atthe men'a bidding he, the* pulled o««he ba«f of money ? nd. <hrew It on the floor. pc«k«ts with loose oofn so as to lighten iSrfnjU?*. Bering coin the other's S«S out-t Pl p ped his prudenoo. WithJW.pog his polnard from Luohinl'a throat he bent down and burrowed bis bands In the pile of money and began to follow his comrade «je«mple. The looked for opportunity had corao for liuoblnl. He calmly stooped forward, grasped one of therobbera by the hair In either hand, and then spreading ont his arms and bringing them together again with incredible force, he oroehed In the two man's okoJU as If they had been egg shells, aad they were dead without a groan. Rearing a noise at the window, Luphinl then looked out and saw that a. third scoundrel was keeping watoh outside. Taking up one of the dead men In one hand^he opened the easement, and, calling out, "There's something for yon^ ' he pjcthed the dead robber at the living one with sooh foroe that the man below waa not only aoaced almost to death, but was seriously hurt, and limped off as fast a is fraotured leg would allow him* LnchUji went baok to bed, and oa'- m i v I ■!•# till morning. y