The Sun.
London, England, 1860-08-27 00:00:00

FATAL ACCIDENT.

A most deplorable accident, by which two poor
men lost their lives, occurred on Thursday night in
the Portobello-gardens. It will be recollected that
in
some time since advertisements appeared the
public journals, announcing that M. Blondin, whose
name is familiar to the public, in
. connection with
the Falls of Niagara, over which he is stated to
have performed several perilous acrobatic feats on
the tight-rope, would make his debut in these gar-
dens, and perform " a terrific ascent" on a rope at
an elevation of 50 feet from the ground. The'rope
on which M. Blondin was to walk was placed on the
piece of ground to the right of the principal pro-
menade. It was fastened at one end to upright polo;
at a distance of aboxt 30 feet from the ground, the
other end being secured to other poles, which were.
at an elevation of 50 feet, so that the rope presented
an inclined plane, sloping in the direction froth
which the ascent was commenced. The entire length
was something more than 100 yards. The two well
who unfortunately were killed were stationed at
the end of the rope 50 feet from the ground, on a
small platform or ladder, for the purpose of hold-
ing lights and receiving M. Blondin when he had
accomplished his journey. Their names are !viol
Cunningham, a carpenter, and Thomas Neill, the
gardener of the place; both were married, and had
families. Shortly before ten o'clock M. Blondin
appeared upon the top of the ladder, at the com-
mencement of .the rope, and began to walk along
by whch he
steadily. The blue fire which was lighted when
he set out threw a bright lurid glare, i
could be distinctly perceixed cautiously treading
the rope, steadying himself with
the aid of a
balancing pole. He had passed the two poles which
formed the first prop to the ropes, when a sudden
crash was heard ; the last two poles came down,
and he was seen to fall to the ground. The crowd
at once rushed to where he fell, not exactly under-
standing what had occurred, but believing that he
;e however, quickly got up, and
had
vr
were attracted to the real scene
escaped uninjured. In afe
momentsay;aa stated d killed
that. il
thehpe heeo
of the catastrophe, by the sound of groans proceed-
ing from the place where the poles fell. A scene
of great contusion ensued, several of the torches
having bet n extinguished, and the precise nature
or extent of the accident not being yet known'
When lights were procured the two unhappy men
were found lying on the ground—one of theln
(Cunningham) bleeding from a wound in the head.
They were raised immediately and conveyed upon
cars to the Meath Hospital, where they were at mien
attended to by Mr. John Keegan, the resident
pupil, who, after an examination, stated that they
were both dead. The bodies were then given into
the care of the police, and an inquest will be held
on them to-day.—Dublin paper.

A GALLANT RESCUE.—About four o'clock in the
afternoon a boy fell over into Folkestone harbour whilst at.-
tempting to stop a a cap blown in that direction by the wind.
Ropes were thrown to the lad from two or three of the
nearest vessels, but he did not appear to hive sufficient
energy to catch at either of them ; and although boats were
being pulled rapidly towards him, his weakening struggle°
evidenced too plainly that he must have sunk ; when a brave
fellow, named Thomas Horton, suddenly sprang from amon4
the spectators, succeeded in catching the drowning lee
at the first plunge, and held his head above the water until
a boat arrived to their assistance. A cheer resounded from
all sides as the rescue was effected ; but a more substantial
mark of admiration was not wanting, for we observed
subscription was immediately set on foot to reward Horton
for his courage and success.