Johnson Pic

https://scontent-man2-1.xx.fbcdn.ne...a97pG8hnaWQTBDWm9QJn4-vcWv48gAzUw&oe=684F320E

Very nice pic Mac.

 

This was right before Johnson started that ill advised armless comeback.

 

This has to be some promotional stunt photo. There is really no athletic benefit to the immense strain to his shoulder sockets trying to pull on two horses like that.

 

his was nothing for Jack, the next pic shows jack throwing those horses around like rag doll's..

 

Actually, Johnson was known for performing strongman stunts. This particular pic however might’ve been just for the cameras.

Correct or not, I’ve read this pic previously described as being taken in 1910 while Johnson was training for Jeffries - as you said, it would be crazy to risk possible injury via such a stunt with a fight upcoming, not least the FOTC.

 

Oh, I'm sure Johnson did do strongman stuff but that particular photo just looks like something gimmicky for the cameras. There is a Strongman event called the Pillars of Hercules, which most approximates that, but it's two pillars held up by chains where the strongman in the middle holds the grips with his hands.

In that photo from the way his upper arms are being tied to the horses they'd just rip his shoulders out of his sockets, if he actually tried to put force against moving horses.

 

Can’t comment on the set up. I’d have to check other examples of that stunt to determine if the way Johnson’s arms are harnessed was kosher.