THE STRONG MAN

Shannon News, 8 December 1925, Page 3

THE STRONG MAN

SANDOW VERSUS SAMSON. ■lnto his obituary sketch of Eugei: Sandow the Right Hon. T. P. O'Connor, M.P., introduces Sandow's own story in his own words of the challenge which brought the strong man fiist into fame. ' It was Mr. Aubrey Herbert who called his attention to the big chance ; which fortune opened to him. This was a challenge from "Samson," then reputed to be the strongest man in the world, and carrying on a series of successful exhibitons at the London Aquarium and elsewhere. The challenge was for a £IOO prize to anybody who could equal the feats of His pupil "Cyclops," and a prize of £IOOO 10 the man who could beat Samson himself. "We sat quietly in the stalls until Samson appeared on the stage and announced the usual terms of his challenge," wrote Mr. Sandow. "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 I stepped on co 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. But when I Look off my cr at there was a change in the atmosphere. Samson (himself left off laughing at mc. and every face became as serious as my own. l ( First Appearance. !

"Cyclops, the pupil, performed his iirst feat, which consisted in lifting Uvo weights of a hundredweight each over his head and lowering them with extended arm:;. This was immediately duplicated by me. Then he ;ii'ted his bar-bell, weighing 2401b5., over his head from the ground by both hands. I did the same. The third feat, which I duly performed, consisted of lifting a dumbbell, weighing 2101 b., and holding it out at arms' length, then, bending down, raising over the head another dumbbell weighing 1003 b. As I had then equalled all the feats of Cyclops for. which the challenge was offered we askedv for the £IOO, but' Samson claimed that Ave should go on repeating the performance until one of us gave in. The manager of trie Aquarium said this would not be right, and proposed that Cyclops should, set me two more tests. I was willing. "He then raised a, weight of 2401 b. lying on his back with a couple or men sitting on it. I repeated that. The last trick was the raising or a huge, stone, weighing about 5001 b.. with 'the two half-hundredweights on it. Cyclops, standing on two chairs over .the stone, lifted the lot with his little finger about 4in..' from the ground. I followed suit. Samson was then about to hand over the £IOO, but I explained I had not concluded my contribution to the evening's amusement. I was making a bid for the £IOOO to be won by equalling his own feats. This seemed rather to stagg-er Samson ,and he asked for a postponement of the affair. We agreed,, and an arrangement was for the contest to 'come off on the i'olloAving Saturday, November 2, I£B£>. "On the night the Aquarium was packed so densely with people that I could not/get in at the ordinary doors I had'to burst open a side door before I could procure admission. Samson Avas, already on the stage, • and -I only saved the appointment by half a minute. The two judges of the contest wore the Marquis of Queensberry and Lord de Clifford. Samson commenced the performance by bending an iron rod OAer his calf, arms, and | neck.' I copied him. Next he burst [ a wire ca-ble that Avas Avound round his chest. I bur.st a fellow one. Then I he snapped a chain on the muscles lof his arm. This I also did. Samson still complaining,. I offered to perform some feats Avith a dumb-bell of my own. If he or Cyclops could equal them 1 Avas content to call the whole affair a draA\ r . I lifted my dumb-bell, weighing 2801 b., with one hand, lay clown On the stage and rose again with the weight. Then I fastened chains round my arms, lifted a dumbbell of 2201 b., and burst the chains before putting it doAvn. Samson then declined to proceed any further, but the judges expressed themselves satisfied. . My party claimed the £IOOO, and it Avas promised for the morning; but I never received it r and I finally compromised the matter Avith the Royal Aquarium for £350." SandoAv's fortune was made on that night. He got innumerable engagements, always drawing big croAvds and big money. Soon he conceived the idea of taking up the teaching ot physical culture, and cpened extensive premises in St. James's street, where he invited all the world to come and be improved in health and strengthened in muscle. At once the school Avas an enormous success. Young gentlemen wishing to increase their prowess in sport, middle-aged gentlemen wishing to diminish their groAVing stoutness, flocked to Sandow and avotc made Avhole. For year.;, and up to the day of his death, SantlOAV dreAV a fine Income from his institute. Owing to large and judicious advertisement and his systematised methods he became something ljike a national figure, and his name as familiar as that of a statesman or a great artist.

Personally, writes "T.P.," he was «v curious mixture of great shrewdness and a simplicity that amounted sometimes to childish naivete. He held to his opinions in business management with obstinqbfly and sometimes with angry passion. He had a quick and dominating' temper; sometimes his language was rough, and his blazing eyes and raised arm—he never struck a I)low, as a matter of fact —made hint a somewhat affrighting spectacle, especially to those who did not know him. But his temper