Katie Sandwina

Catherine Brumbach (* May 6, 1884 in Vienna, † January 21, 1952 ) was a German circus star, the beginning of the 20th century by her stage name Sandwina, or Katie Sandwina, became world-famous as the " Strongest Woman in the World ".

Life and Circus

Brumbach was born as the second of fifteen children of the Lower Bavarian ringmaster couple Philip and Johanna Brumbach, born Nockin in a circus wagon. The grandfather Gustav Brumbach from Viechtach had 1846 Circus Brumbach established the Catherine's brother Bernhard further led.

As a little girl Catherine went with her family on in the ring. As she grew older, her father called a profit of one hundred marks for those who could defeat her in wrestling. But no one succeeded, for she had inherited a strong physique. Her father is said to have had a chest measurement of 142 cm, her mother a bicep circumference of 38 cm. Three of her sisters, Barbara, Marie and Eugenia, were also of considerable physical strength. She herself was 1.84 m tall and weighed more than 90 kg.

While such a concept in Zwickau she learned at the age of 16 years to three years older Max Heymann know when she threw him with a single swing to the ground. The unemployed acrobat made ​​her immediately to marry him and they were married shortly thereafter without parental consent, although she was still a minor, and fled to Norway. The police there, they initially held, at the request of her father, but they were able to provide the marriage papers. Upon their return they forgave Philip Brumbach. The marriage lasted for 50 years, although Katie claimed in an interview in 1910 that she was still single.

At a presentation in Paris John Ringling became aware of them and hired her for his circus companies. In October 1901 Catherine went with her father, the ( horse dealer ) stated as a profession " coper ", by ship from Hamburg to New York, where they arrived at Ellis Iceland on the 24th of the month. Her husband Max was first followed on April 11, 1906.

Speaking at a public challenge in New York to compete with their strength, they defeated the champion Eugen Sandow by bringing a weight of 136 kg in the air. Then she called herself Sandwina, the feminine form of Sandow. For many years Sandwina occurred in known circuses, just in the Ringling Brothers & Barnum & Bailey Circus. One of its attractions was to lift her husband with one hand over her head. In addition, they could bend iron bars and resist the train of four horses. During the winter break, the couple Vaudeville occurred, the American way of vaudeville theater.

During this time she had two sons: the elder Theodore Roosevelt Martin Beck Heymann ( born January 25, 1909 in Sioux City, Iowa, † July 17, 1997 in Brooklyn ), under the name Teddy Sandwina as a boxer in the heavyweight 1926-1932 was known. He achieved 46 victories, including 38 with whacked The younger son Alfred Heymann ( born September 25, 1918 † 30 March 1994 Columbus ( New Jersey)) was an actor and singer and used the pseudonym Al Sander ( s ).

1942 Sandwina left the circus world. Five years later, she opened with her husband a " Bar and Grill " restaurant in Ridgewood (New Jersey ), where they were still small art pieces for the best. She died at the age of 67 from cancer.

Sandwinas life story was already steeped in their lifetime legends, creation of which she was not indifferent when comparing their interviews with the known facts. Therefore, it seems not easy in today's world to filter out the actual circumstances.

Swell

• Kate Carew: " Barnum & Bailey's ' Strong Woman ' Tells Kate Carew - This Young Goddess of the Tan Bark, Who Tosses About Her Husband as She Would a Feather, Explains How She Came By Her Strength" New York American, April 16, 1911, 2 -M. After a review by Jan Todd: Center Ring: Katie Sandwina and the Construction of Celebrity. Iron Game History. Volume 10, Number 1, November 2007
• Sidney Fields: " Hercules can be a lady". New York Mirror, December 15, 1947 Reprint in: . Iron Game History. Volume 9, Number 2, December 2005