A Feat of Strength.

Manawatu Herald, 14 January 1904, Page 3

A Feat of Strength.

The Dunedin Star has the following : —ln consequence of the advertised announcement that Dr. Gordon, the “ strong man. ” now appearing with Fitzgerald's Circus, would act as a swingle tree between a lorry with a five-ton load and four horses, Lower Rattray street was thronged with people lately* The doctor made his appearand opposite the Terminus Hotel, and in a very few minutes was harnessed to the lorry. The lorry, with its five-ton load, was attached by means of chains and straps to the biceps of both arms, while the chains leading from the four-horse team were held in the doctors’s hands and strapped there. The word to “go ” was given, and as the horses put their might to the work the lorry, with its load, came away as though the animals had been attached to the conveyance in the orthodox style. A merry pace was soon obtained, and the rise to the Post Office was safely negotiated. Just as the corner of Princess street was reached an electric tram came round the corner, making straight for the horses and lorry. For a few moments it seemed inevitable that the strong man was going to certain death. At least, the roar which went up from the assembled crowd would have led any person to come to that conclusion. However, by an almost superhuman effort, Dr. Gordon managed to swing the concern round, and the inevitable collision was only sufficient to smash a couple of hand rails in front of the tramcar. The doctor got his back under the fore part of the waggon, and fairly lifted the front round. He then proceeded along Princes street, up the hill, to the Post Offiie. After being released from his perilous position he fastened to the lorry the trace chains used in hauling the conveyance, and with one hand pulled the iron links asunder. The performance throughout was greatly applauded, and at its conclusion the doctor was greeted with a hearty burst of applause, and it was only with the greatest difficulty that he made his escape from the admiring crowd.

Seen by representative of this paper afterwards, Dr Gordon said that for the first portion of the journey the feat was as easy as shelling peas to him. However, when approaching the Princess street corner, and seeing the electric car coming straight towards him, ha began to feel that he was face to face with real danger. Harnessed as he was, he knew that it was utterly impossible to free himself from either the lorry or the horses, and the position was one which called for a feat of almost superhuman strength, if he was to get out alive. Acting on the impulse of the moment, he put all his strength under the fore-carriage of the conveyance, with his hips, and shifted tbe body round just as tbe tram crashed into the front of it. The strain caused by the impact was, of course, very severe, hut as he felt that it was neck or nothing he stuck to his work and came through successfully. Had he let go with his hands or had a chain broken, he must have inevitable been torn asunder.