A COMMING SCOTTISH ATHLETE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 5113, 26 August 1895, Page 3

A COMMING SCOTTISH ATHLETE.

—_—^ — It is both interesting and novel to find a modest, beardless boy of 18 years of age, performing feats of strength that mako many of tlio men conjecture what will appear next in the line of prodigies, Authorities agreo in saying that it is only a question of time and proper care when Edwin Dinnio will give perfomianees that will causo the newfound Samsoii to appear as helpless as tho original Samson when he was shorn of his locks by Delilah. One may think of this case as an instance ofpliysicallieredity.' EJvvinllinnie. is a son of tho \vpll;kno\vn Donald Dinnio (now in New Zealand). He was born at Aberdeen on tho 4fch of Juno 1877, so that be is now about 18 years of age. He stands 5 feet 7 inches in height, ant] weighs 12 stone 6 lbs when in good condition. His ehesfc measure .is 40 inches j thigh, 23| inclies; calf, 10 inches; biceps, j 15j inches, On the point of training ho has no advico to give. He says that, as far as be can remember, ho , was the strongest hoy of his age at school, When about five years of age.lie could lift weights which taxed . the strength of comrades 10 years ■ older than himself. His strength increased in proportion with hiV

years. After leaving school Dinnie xomoved to Edinburgh, where ho entered into private service, remaining there till, about nine montliß ago, when he thought he would like to appear in publio and endeavour to add lustre to a name which is a household word all over the world, His feats of strength consist of the following '.—Raising dumb-bell 105 lbs from thoground to stretch of arm above the head with the hand, from shoulder height to arms-length above the head with one hand; raising dumb-bell IGSIbs with both hands to arms-length above the head; lying on his back and raising dumbboll weighing 185lbs, to stretch of arms and supporting the weight of two men sitting upon it; juggles with 601b dumb-bells; while lying : on his back, will support on his chest a piano, a pianist, and eight men, tho whole held up by hands . and feet; also accomplishes the extinordimiry feat of lifting two ponies (harness feat). Fonts of strength are not Dinnie's principal items; he goes in for all-round work, such as throwing the lGlb hammer, ' and putting the 161b ball, throwing ofilbs weight, leaping, vaulting, running 100 yds, wrestling (various styles.) He has issued challenges in the Sporting Life and Sport- ' inij Chroukk to youths of his own age, but has. .never yet j met his match. Dinnie has lately been touring in the north of Scotland with Arthur and Hillcoat's Concert Company, where he has been giving exhibitions along with the wellknown athlete, Gunner Nicoll. During that time Dinnie has attracted ' the attention of a dozen or more prominent athletes, all of whom agree that he is not only the strongest youth of his years ever seen, but that ho is entitled to rank among tho 1 strongest of strong men, What he will accomplish when his strength is fully developed- in from four to ten years—is a matter for conjecture, ' He is engaged for other five months with his present company. Further than that he has meantime no lixed . intentions. It may be stated that Mr Edwin Dinnie is dark-haired, with frank open expression, and very genial manner.