Phyllis Brown
In the mysterious world of early 20th-century entertainment, the lives of unusual and extraordinary individuals were often showcased to astonished audiences.
One such moment in history is captured in a photograph that has puzzled and fascinated people for over a century. The 1913 image features three men playing cards: the shortest, fattest, and tallest men in Europe—or so the story goes.
But who were these men, really? Discover their intriguing story and unravel the mystery behind this historical photograph.
The fattest man: Egon Cannon “Colossus”
Egon Cannon, better known by his stage name “Cannon Colossus.” Cannon was a Dutch performer billed as the “world’s heaviest man.”
Weighing an astonishing 738 pounds at the time the photograph was likely taken, Cannon was a well-known figure in the “freak show” circuit of the early 1900s.
His immense size made him a spectacle, drawing curious onlookers wherever he went. Despite the lack of extensive biographical details about his life, Cannon’s image became iconic, particularly through postcards and other memorabilia.
The towering giant: Cornelius Brun?
To Cannon’s left in the photograph is a man of impressive height, dressed in a traditional Russian Cossack uniform. Although not definitively identified, this towering figure is believed to be Cornelius Brun, another well-known “freak show” performer.
Brun was often described as a giant, drawing crowds eager to witness his extraordinary height. Like Cannon, Brum’s life remains largely a mystery, with only a few fragments of his history preserved in postcards and newspaper clippings.
However, his inclusion in this photograph alongside Cannon suggests that he, too, was part of the traveling circus circuit, where individuals with extraordinary physical characteristics were exhibited for public entertainment.
The mysterious dwarf: The 70-year-old flea?
The third figure in the photograph, sitting opposite Cannon, is perhaps the most enigmatic of the trio. Identified in the French caption of the original version of the photograph as a “70-year-old flea dwarf,” this man remains a mystery.
There is little to no verifiable information about his identity or life, and even his supposed age of 70 years could be more myth than reality.
The contrast between his diminutive stature and Cannon’s massive frame made for a striking image, one that has endured as a fascinating glimpse into the world of early 20th-century sideshows.
The legacy of the photograph
The image of these three men playing cards together has sparked curiosity and speculation for over a century, but the true story behind it remains elusive.
While Cannon Colossus and Cornelius Brum have left some traces of their existence, the identity of the third man may never be known.
What remains is a powerful visual testament to the lives of these men, who found fame and recognition, however fleeting, in a world fascinated by the extraordinary.
