The Athletes and Athletic Sports of Scotland

22 ATHLETIC SPORTS OF SCOTLAND. stood by this time that the present writer is of opinion that there are men living at the present time of greater personal strength than any Samson, Milo, or Topham of preceding ages. From what has been already said, it is clear we can now make no comparison between the strengthof the strongmen of former times and those ofthe present day, with the exception of Topham. In Topham's weight-lifting we have astandard of comparison, and the following arethe feats we place against Topham's lift of 1,836 lbs. In America, some twentyyears ago, several athletes gave their attention to devising apparatus- harness itwas called—for lifting heavy weights,with the result that Dr. S. W. Winship lifted 2,600 lbs., John J. Lucas 2 ,700 lbs., Ambrose A.Butts 2,737! lbs., and W. B. Curtis 3,239 lbs. —1403 lbs.more than Topham. There can be no doubt but what the Americanathletes had better apparatusthan Topham for concentrating the strength of the bodyon the weights to be raised, but Donald Dinnie, with apparatus inferior to Topham's, in that he had not supports for his arms, with mere shoulder-straps has lifted 1,904 lbs. But in no branch of athletics do records last long now-a-days. About 1884, the performance of a young Canadian named Louis Cyrbegan to attract attention. In his twenty-second year his weight was18 stones8 lbs., andstanding under aplank, with legs slightly bent at the knees, back bent forward, and hands resting ona stool, he pushed up with back, arms, andlegs, until the plank and pig-iron resting on it, weigh­ ing 2550! lbs., was raised clear of the trestlesit rested on. This was pretty fair for a young beginner, but in 1888, atBerthierville, Canada, using thesame method,he raised 3,536 lbs. ofpig-iron, 1 ton, 11 cwt, 64 lbs ! In hand-liftingthere is less room for improved apparatus, and here againthe modern men completely eclipse Topham. G. W, Winship lifted1,200 lbs., W. B. Curtis 1,230 lbs. ; in1880 L Lenssing, Cincinnati, lifted 1,384 lbs.;in 1833 David L. Dowd, Springfield, lifted 1,442^ lbs.;and on roth December, 1890, at Boston, U.S., Jefferson, an amateur weight-lifter, liftedwith his