History of Arthur Saxon
Bill Klein agrees with what John Murray always used to say: that the possibilities
of weightlifting were never really shown in this country until the Saxon Trio arrived here! In this respect, covering character most various, these three men set new standards entirely, old ones going down before them like chaff being scattered by the wind.
The idea of the Saxon Trio was born in the mind of an envious and disgruntled man: a German named Arno Patschke, professionally known as Arno Saxon. Arno was a Greco-Roman wrestler, also a performer in the strong man line of business. In the year 1897, he was doing fairly well as a circus artist in England, but with Sandow's paycheck as an example for comparison, came to the conclusion that his abilities were very much underrated. Musing on this, he finally hit upon an idea which he believe could well change the situation.
To visit England In pursuance of this idea, Arno hied himself back to Germany ; and there, in Leipzig, where was situated one of the most famous of all the celebrated Continental weightlifting clubs, he forgathered with two of its members named Oscard Hilgenfeldt and Arthur Hennig, and outlined his scheme to them. This was a proposal that they should join forces with him, visit England, and there put on the greatest strong show that had ever been seen in that country. As to the financial rewards likely to accrue, he painted the picture so well that his listeners were completely convinced that up till then they had simply been wasting their time in the land of their birth. So to England they came, described as "The Saxon Trio", and immediately things in the strong man world began to happen.
Arthur was the youngest member of the trio, being nineteen years of age at the time. He then weighed about 13 stone and was already (as was later to be conclusively demonstrated) the most accomplished "Bent Press" performer in the world. What exactly he could do in this lift as a solo performance was never placed on official record at this period, for then it simply formed the first pan of a "Two Hands Anyhow" feat. In this he pressed a barbell of 2671b. overhead from the shoulder with the hand, after-which he picked up and brought aloft a kettlebell weighing 1191b. with the other. He was so sure of doing this combined performance that prior to attempting it every night an announcement was made that-should he fail-he would personally give 23 to any local charity the management might care to name.
The Professor remembers the sensation provided by Sandow's invasion of the Saxons' stage at Sheffield, and what followed it. Upon his arrival here, Arthur had immediately challenged Sandow on the Bent Press, as he knew full well that the latter was actually incapable of performing what he professed on this lift. On the other hand, Sandow refused to credit Arthur's claims, and goaded by the Saxons' continual challenging, he scent along one night to the music-hall in Sheffield where they were appearing, determined to show Arthur up as an impostor and so dispose of him once and for all.
Backed a loser
Unfortunately for his prestige, he backed a loser. For not only did he discover Saxon's challenge barbell to be of a weight far beyond what he had ever anticipated, but he found it presented other problems also. He tried several times to lift it. Each time, however, he failed to put it overhead as Saxon did.
Sandow then recoursed to law in effort to prevent the Saxons making capital of the happening-and won his case! For the Judge ruled that as Sandow had "handled" the bell in exactly the same bodily attitude as Arthur, the Saxons were not justified in stating that Sandow had failed to "lift" the weight under discussion. He made an order, therefore, restraining them from repeating the statement, all their "bill matter" to this effect having thus to be withdrawn.
While this legal victory was a sop to Sandow's pride, it could not obscure from the weightlifting fraternity that a better single-handed lifter than the former had evidently come to town. And as was to be subsequently proved, a much stronger man in all respects!
The Saxon Trio did what no other strong men performers before them had ever done with the exception of mammoth Louis Cyr: they threw their stage open to the public, allowing their weights to be tested any time. And they hadn't been working over here very long before they introduced a quite original innovation to prove further the genuineness of their claims. They made a point of visiting and performing at weight-lifting and physical culture clubs situated in the towns where they were professionally appearing. These impromptu displays were given all over the country.
Used every night
Klein also remembers the thrill that ran through the weightlifting world when Arthur first gave proof that he was capable of lifting 3001b. above the head from the shoulder with one hand. And how-once this had been publicly disclosed-a barbell of this weight was used by Saxon every night in the show when he did his "Two Hands Anyhow" feat, the kettlebell employed making the combined weight 4191b.
He remembers as well-vividly to this day-the greatest of all of Arthur's known performances on the Bent Press. The truth of this phenomenal achievement will be told in the next installment of the Professor's story.
For more check out the book
The Development of Physical Power by Arthur Saxon.
History of Arthur Saxon
By: Alvin Ferguson
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