C. A. Sampson
I was born in Metz, Lorraine, on the 16th of April, 1859, and lived there during the first two years of my life, and, as my mother afterward told me, was a fat and lusty boy. My father was a surgeon in the French army. I eventually became one of the strongest men in the world, but you have probably heard more about Sandow, one of my main competitors, than you have heard about me. Before I discuss inversion, let me clear the air concerning the events surrounding my competition in London with Sandow in November, 1889.
Sandow was so noted a man, and such a favorite with the public, that on that day of the contest, 10,000 people had actually to be turned away form the door, after the house was so packed that there was not even standing room for another person. As much as from ten to twenty guineas was paid for box seats that night. The result of the contest was highly unsatisfactory and indeed shameful. Sandow, amongst other things, did not even use the materials provided for the contest, but substituted others prepared for his own use. Matters were conducted in such an unfair manner that eventually I left the stage, and the audience not comprehending the true state of the case, were loud in their denunciation of me. There was, however, afterward, an entire change of opinion on the part of the public, as they came to realize the scandalous character of the proceedings.
The following will throw some light on the subject, and set forth the actual situation:
St. Stephen's Review, November 9, 1889
It is a great pity that the competition between Sampson and Sandow at the Aquarium was not properly arranged in all its details before it took place. As it was, Sampson was really very badly treated, and his complaint that he did not get fair play was thoroughly founded. Lords Queensberry and De Clifford did not hear the original challenge, and therefore did not understand the nature of the contest. I did hear it, and Sampson most distinctly stated that his intention was to perform any feat whatever that he is capable of, and that Sandow would have to do each one after him to win his money. He even explained that, owing to the limits of time, he always omits more than half of his performance at the Aquarium, and that he certainly should not bind himself to do only such feats as he was in the habit of doing on the Aquarium Stage if Sandow came up to compete with him. In the face of this, however, the referees on Saturday prevented Sampson from breaking a strap with his chest, just because this was not on his usual program. It is pretty certain Sandow would have failed in this, for he only just managed the easier effort of breaking the wire strand.
Besides this, Sandow never even attempted to break a chain with his hands, although Sampson did so successfully. It is no discredit to Sandow's reputation that he should not be able to do all Sampson can. It is quite certain that Sandow on his own side can do many things that Sampson can not, and if he were the challenger, under similar circumstances he would win. The point is that Sampson challenged Sandow to come on the stage and do all the he (Sampson) can do; and then, behold! Sampson is not allowed by the referees to show his full strength. That he has been hardly used is certain.
Do not think I am whining about something that happened over a century ago. I have shared this incident with you in the hope that it will remind you that it is not who you know or what you know. It is about knowing who knows what you know. I knew a few things that Sandow did not.
