Kate Williams was born to a popular local
preacher, and worked at a tannery in Abergavenny. She met William Roberts at
the local women's gymnasium he ran in 1890, when she was fifteen. They fell in
love; in spite of Roberts already having a wife and family, they left town
together and were never parted for the rest of their lives.
Williams's first
professional appearance was as a replacement act at a fete hosted by Roberts in
Pontypool, Wales. They began to bill together as Atlas and Vulcana after they
began to appear in London in 1892. In 1903, Vulcana and Atlas were engaged by
Harry Rickards and toured Australia.
Atlas, a true
showman of his times, greatly exaggerated the lifting capacities of himself and
Vulcana, and so most of his published boasts have been dismissed. On more than
one occasion, he was challenged to his face, and shown to use weights lighter
than he claimed. At these times, Vulcana's reputation suffered alongside his,
though her authenticated accomplishments were genuinely remarkable for a woman
of her era.
Vulcana reached the
height of her popularity in France, impressing the l'Halterophile Club de
France with her feats of strength, earning her a medal from the "Father of
French Bodybuilding", Professor Edmond Desbonnet, and the cover of La
Santé par les Sports. She was honored with over one hundred medals throughout
her career.
Her
best-authenticated feats were bent press with her right hand of at least 124½ lb (56.5 kg), with some authorities
accepting a press of 145 lb (66 kg), and an overhead lift with a 56 lb (25 kg)
weight in each hand.
She freed a wagon
stuck in Maiden Lane, London in October 1901 by lifting it before astonished
witnesses.
Authorities believe
Vulcana reached the peak of her strength in about 1910. On 29 May 1913 at
Haggar's Theatre in Llanelly, she lifted a challenge bell that rival
strongwoman Athelda failed to raise after twenty-five minutes of trying.
Attributes: Agility d6, Smarts d6, Spirit d6, Strength
d12, Vigor d12
Skills: Fighting d6, Knowledge (Bodybuilding) d6, Notice
d6, Shooting d4
Charisma: +2 Pace: 6; Parry: 5; Toughness: 8 Sanity: 5
Edges &
Hindrances: Code of honour, Attractive, Brawny,
No comments:
Post a Comment