FAMOUS STRONG MA

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 248, 10 January 1928, Page 14

FAMOUS STRONG MA

william awANN Kb WRESTLER " 1 MEMORIES OF HY* A Sterling Englishman of fw. class, who gained the repi Robin Hood, was the Swann, overseer of the a? * ship, in the Borough of HydTT'i says "The Hyde Reporter/*’ —W The Swann family origi».n. from Mottram. but they as farmers at Greenside, early part of the 19th cent®* ! best-known members of gE* J! were the two brothers (born about 1828). and born in 1831. They were the Joseph Swann, farmer, of and they had had an named Robert. Held Horeee Up William Swann became os, most noted wrestlers of hia deed, it is said that at one i>sHm 1 career he was the most m!* l wrestler in the world. The at Greenside was formerly uwO a public house and a t'annsteiac father of William and Sarnua/iT 1 ling matches took place in a J' hind the house, and were ati^* 1 ' great crowds of sightseers. C travelled miles to witness the and old inhabitants speak the great excitement whi/** matches caused. The veteraaiid." in glowing terms the story of In Swamn’s victories, and of v _ brother Samuel paced rouag 1 during the combat, and by theSL ll of his own right arm kept mob, in order that fair play secured for the wrestlers. ‘‘Sam Swann,” as he was c*. called, was the strongest day in Cheshire. He was 014,1 of enormous chest measurenrS—was one of those men who know the full measure of fu" 1 strength. He could grasp ap an one hand and crush it to frapa®? the force of his grip. Ho scS, up a potato or an apple, m.' it into pulp until the fruit ran (J? ter between his fingers. Eh. the strongest of horses as mtian things, and it was woe betide a>2 tory colt if Sam Swann hell :hee Stories of his feats of strwmh numerous. Men tell how he awn a horse shoulder high. Hein,; known to take his horse ftm* shafts, place his head under the L and stand upright with the ashn* his shoulders. When out carting, if the ew stuck in a rut, or the horse, fija pull the vehicle over some ow Swann would put his shoulders back of the cart, and lift it g®' the obstruction. It is said that*, occasion, when he had a laadei, full of some heavy material, oeee! suddenly came off. Withrut w. tion Swann lifted the loaded tank it firm with one hand, and dim, the wheel with the other. 1 Amusing Stories Another tale runs that he m»a accosted by a constable, who fc* ened him with arrest for some inn ary piece of misconduct. Swainl pened to be riding in his cart «: moment, and without more ido leaned over the side, took the ctari by the collar, hoisted him into a vehicle, and drove off with him to; farm, where he regaled the ten* officer with some good home-ine ale and cheese. There is anothe rto the effect that Swans m , occasion met a troublesome feller the room of an inn. The two lei cross purposes, and to aettk 4 wrangling Swann took hold of - opponent, and lifted him up with m force as to send the unfortunates! head clean through the ceiling. As was to be expected, ha Swann was a great acqukt&n 1 public meetings in case of dlstmtia In my younger days there wen a noisy election meetings in "Hyfc, ■ it was often found necessity ta a the chucking-out process in openti I can remember that the mere mail of Sam Swar n’s name had aqtfaM effect upon a rowdy audience, it Swann believed in maintaining taw a order, and h e maintained it by M cal force, if necessary. w*. paw. party looked on him as a mfgan against disturbances at their mietiw he could "make rings” round a tagi roughs, and there was no need toe for the assistance of the police it Sam and his sons were stewards mootincr