At the time, strongman wasn’t even a recognized, established sport. This was its “novelty” spectacle days, in which everyone from footballers to … participated.
And concerning the numbers listed …
Hahahahahahahahahahahaha hahahaha!
Most strongmen were the guys ripping up phone books or bending bars in their mouth. Bill Pearl, former Mr. Universe, made more money doing strongman stunts than he ever did as a bodybuilder. Chuck Sipes was another guy who did such feats like bending spikes and tearing license plates in half.
That was back when people expected bodybuilders to be as strong as (or stronger than) they looked. Didn't the old AAU shows have a weightlifting portion and a bodybuilding show for their contests?