Marshall County Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1855-1859, 1859-07-14
Gi.ea t feati I'm Rope walks: I :

u
lsHIM. Biondin, a Frenchman, performed
the extraordinary feat of walking upon
rope across the Niagara river, below the
falls The rope was three and a quarter
inches in diameter, 800 feet long, which.
with 2,700 feet of guy ropes, necessary TO
steady it, cost 1890 Some 1900 per.
sons were witnesses of the performance
The reporter of the Tribune, who saw the
fun. says: I.-.l f....,... ~..r
At precisely half past four clock Mons.
Blondin appeared in the pleasure garden.
where the American end Of the rope was
fastened. There was a short tight rope
erected herein, upon which the daring
Frenchman mounted, and went through
many of his graceful and pleasing feats,
to the great admiration of the spectators
At 5 minutes past he stepped upon the
large rope where he convegsed few mo-
ments with his friends, in the most cccl
and unconeerned manner. having. appa-
rently, no more doubt of his successfully
accomplishing this undertaking than he
had of attempting it. AS he stood for a
minute on the rope, before stepping out,
he addressed the crowd as follows: Gen
tlemen. any one that pleascs to cross, l
carry him on my back"
No one Seemed disposed f. accept the
kind offer, and having joked a few min
utes longer, he at last started on his per-
ilous journey. He walked rapidly and
firmly, as if he had been on a bridge, until
he chose to stop to indulge in some gym
nastic evolutions for 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 again stopped
TO accomplish vet another feat, not down
in,the bill. Here standing on the rope,
with as much Indifference as if it was a
solid platform, he deliberately lowered
small line to the little steamboat, the
maid of tire Mist" that had steamed to
hat poiat; TO the line was attached bot
tie of wine by the captain of the boat, and
the bottle being. drawn up 10y the .adven-
tnrer, he opened it, and. making com
prehensIve bow 10 both crowds on the two
sides Of the river, he drank the health Of
all present; then throwing the bottle into
| the river, he walked on. stopping no more
until he reached the Canada shore
He was exactly 10 minutes crossing the
river, including stops. On his arrival on
the Canada shore. he was cheered vocifer-
ously. He waited about lalf an hour.
when he Prepared to return. At Gag he
stepped on ihe rope to commence his re-
lurn 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 had reached the
shore. the cheers and shouting were al
most deafening NJ Blondin. having been
permitted an instant for refresh nent, was
seized by the enthusiastic crowd. placed
on their shoulders. and borne about in tri-
umph. He was then placed in a carriage
and escorted through all the principal
streets of the village, the crowd thronging
him on all sides. and cheering in the Wild
est manner. He did not appear very
much exhausted. and manifested no more
fear OF nervousness than any angymnaslic
novice would at eating his breakfast. He
announces his determination to repeat his
feat at intervals during the summer