Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1859-07-13
Crossing Niagara River Ola a Tight
Rome.

Crossing Niagara River On a Tight
Rope.
For some time paragraphs have ap-
peared i'll the papers announcing that Mons
Blondin, gymnast formerly attached to the
Ravel troupe would cross Niagara river,
below the Falls, on a rope stretched from
shore TO shore. The New York Tribune
gives a detailed account Of the fool hardy
adventure, After giving an account Of Mons
Blondin. in which are detailed some of the
wonderful feats he has performed, and de-
scribing the arrangements made for the ad-
venture, the account proceeds
The morning broke bright aud beautiful.
a few hazy clouds were Ia the sky just
enough to hide the ardent rays of the sun.
and there was most refreshing breeze, and
altogether the day was such that 2 better
could not i;ave been desired. At an early
hour the crowd began to collect. Every
train that arrived from every direction,
brought its proportion of eager spectators,
and every sort Of vehicle that is indigenous
to the Yankee land, seemed to be pressed
into the service to convey their quota of
people who were to compose the immense
(for our provincial town. crowd of people
who congregated here to witness this uost
daring of all fool hardy feats Of modern
times.
At precisely half past four o'clock, Mons.
Blondin appeared in the pleasure garden,
where the American end Of the rope was
fastened. There was a short tigLt-ro
erected herein, upon which the daring
Frenchman mounted and went through many
of his most graceful and pleasing feats, to
the great admiration of the spectators He
was dressed in dress similar to the one /
frequently worn by acrYbasts and public |
gymnasts, viz, pink tights, bucksk;u moe
casins, and spangled tunic of yellow silk he /
was bareheaded, without even the illet Of +
white satin that is frequently worn
At fifteen minutes past five he stepped /
upon the large rope, where he conversed a /
few minutes with bis friends in the most
cool aud uDconeerned manner, having appa-
rentiy 40 more doubt of his successfully ac-
this undertaking than be had of
attempting 1t. As he stood for 4 minute on
the rope, before stepping out, hc addressed
the crowd as follows:
''Gcntleman, any ore who wishes TO cross.
[ carry him on my back"
No one seemed disposed to accept the kind
offer, and having jokei few minutes suger.
he at last started on his perlious journey -
He walked rapidly and firmly, as if he had
been on a bridge, until he chose to stop and
indulge in some gymaastic performences for
a few minutes. He balanced himself on one
leg, sat down and laid down on the rope at
full length, then, recovering himself, he
walked to the middle of the river, where he
again stopped to accomplish yet another feat
not down in the bill.
Here, standing on the rope xith as much
as if II was a solid platform, he
deliberately lowered small line to the little
steam boat, the Maid of the Mist" that had
steamed out to that point to the line was
attached bottle of wine by the captain Of
the boat, and the bottle being drawn up by
the acventuer, he opened it. and making
bow to both crowds on the
sides of the river, he drank the health Of all
present; then, throwing the bottle into the
river, be walked on, stopping no more until
he reached the Canada shore
lie was exactly nineteen minutes crossing
the river, including stops. On his arrival
on the Canada shore he was cheerei vocife-
rously. He waited there about half an hour
when he prepared to return. At 9:42 he
stepped the rope to commence his return
passage He rested but once, living down on
the rope for two minutes, and accomplishing
the return trip in eight minutes.
As soon as he reached the shore the cheers
and shouting were almost deafening Mons
Bloadin, having been permitted an instant
for reireshment was seized By the enthuSias-
tic crowd. placed upon their shoulders, aud
borne about iu triumph. He was then placed
in carriage and escorted through the prin-
clple streets OF the village, the crowd throng-
ing hlm on all sides, aud cheering in the
wlldes. manner. He did not appear very
much exhausted, and manifested no more
fear nervousness than any uugymr1Stic
oovice would at eating his breakfast,
Thus was accomplished one of the most
daring and useless feats that even this fast
age has ever witnessed