Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1859-08-23
Railg Sirsiaiau.
Blondin's Greatest Feat.
III WALKS ACROSS NIAGARA ON A TIGHT ROPE WITH A
MAN ON HIS Rack.

NAN oN MS bASk.
From tho Buffalo Courier. August lS.
Probably the largest crowd that over assem-.
hled at Niagara Falls was present there yesterday
to witness Mons. Blondn cross tho Niagara river
upon his rope. carrynga man upon his shoul-
dcrs. Excursion trains were run upon all the
roads leading to tho Falls, and every train was
crowded
About half past 1 o'clock NJ. Blondin entered
the enclosure and proceeded to the end of tho rope
ON the American side. His appearance was the
signal Tor general cheering. which was respon-
ded tn from the other side of the river He was
dressed M on former occasions, in silk tights,
bare-headcd and had on his feet rough dressed
buckskin shoes. In few minutes after his arri-
val he asccuded the rope with his balancing pole
and started to cross the river alone. Before eav-
ing he tod u pad of papers around his waist. AT.
ter proceeding about one hundred feet he stopped
swung one foot and then the other, and then walk
ing about fifteen or twenty feet,siopped and stood
upon his hoad-Sat down-turncd sonersets bnck-
wards and forwards, and proceeded to the middl,
of the river, where there are no guys. lle here
hid down his buck ut full length -stood on his
hcad-laid his balancing pole across the rope and
stood upon II with ono foot and balanced il with
tho other foot, his hnnds lying by his side. lie
then passed along the rope to where tho guys on
the Canada side were fastened, and laid down his
balancing pole lie now returned with his body
suspended beneath tho rope, running along with
his hands and feet as nm ape to the middle Of tho
rope, between the guys. lie here went through
with all tho foas attempted by ,ightrope per.
formers, such as hanging by one foot. then tho
other, by one hand then dropping his holy down
full cnth below the rope and whirling round
resting his breast upon the ropc and with arms
mud legs extended IA if in the act Of swimming
lie hang hy both arms. and then passed his body
letwcen his arms and the rope and, in fact, per-
formed all icats ever accomplished by the most
nsilc tight-rore performers He then returned to
where his balancing pole was, took it up, and
crossed to tho Canada bank, stopping several times
to turn somcrscts, stand upon his head. upon
70 t. and to lay Down upon the rope Upon his
reaching the Canada shore he was received with
tremendous cheers from the crowd. aud the loco
m tves on the bridge aud on both sides Of the
river responded with their whistles.
Mr.. Blondin occupied something over hnlf an
hour in crossing, most of the time being spent in
his performances on the rope. lie remained upon
tho Canada side to rest and refresh himself some
fifteen or twenty minutes. and again appeared up
IN the rope. This time he had his agent, Mr..
Henry Colcord. II man weighing about one hun
dred and thirty pounds, unon his back, and
his balancing pole in his hands. lio proceeded
'wn the rope very slowly and cautiously. rs il
feeling every step. until he WAS about one hun
drcd feet from the Canada side, when Nj. Coloord
dismounted aud stood upon the rope Immediately
belind NJ. Blondin. They here remained to rest
probably three or four minutes when Mr.. Colcord
asnin mounted, ani NJ. l.ondin proceeded still
walking very slowly aud stopping occasionally to
balance himself. They stopped five minutes in
crossing, and ench time Mr.. Colcord disnounted
and again resumed his position. llc had his
arms around Nj. Bondin's neck and his legs rest
cd on the balancing pole. llo was in his shirt
sleeves and wore straw hat. About twenty
two minutes occupied in accomplishing the
first half of the rope, and the balance in TWEEN
ty, making fortytwo minutes from ank TO bank.
For some seconds before the American shore
reached the crrwl gathered round the end of
the rope became very noisy. and II good deal Of
excitement prevailed, and when ho reached the
staging on this side safely, tho vast crowd shout
cd with the greatest enthusiasm.
On reaching tie landing NJ B!ondin was much
flushed and appeared very much fatgucd, while
Mr.. ColcorI was pale but did not betray any
signs # fear. 1t was about half past six o'clock
when he reached this side and the trains which
had been detained and were ready, started imme-
diatey fer their several destinations with proba-
bly, five thousand persons.
The daring feat was most successfully accom-
plishcd, and we understand Mr.. Bondin will
peat it on Wednesday of next week.
FURTHER DETAILS.
The Buffalo Commercial advertiser of Thurs.
day evening gives the following additional partic-
ulars
We found every foot of ground occupied, but
through the poltehess Of Mr.. Colcord obtained
excellent situation. Blondin crossed from the
American to the Canada side in about ten minutes
performing numerous wonderful fcats but the
browning feat of the day the one he promised
to perform, though its practicability WIS doubted
by many.
after n rest OF from half to three-quartcrs Of
nm hour, he proceeded to arrange the apparatus
necessary to support man on bis back. This
consisted of belt passing around the waist, sup
ported by straps over the shoulders from the
sides ofthe belt projected iron bands bent and
padded. t., support the bend of the knee of the RI
der. Mr. Harry Colrurd who accompanied Mr..
Blondin in his perilous journey, is his agent
Captain Travis, was reported, to cross but
resigned in favor of Mr.. Colcord who is ab ut
cross next trip, Mr.. Cncord is about twenty
eight wears of age and weighs l32 pounds. lie
wore his usual dress, with the exception Of his
coat -.'
Ave stood by the gentlemen as they were pre-
pairing to start. anu not quiver of muscle
shade of fear was perceptbe in either. We were
astonshed at their coolness, for they had greut
and perions undertaking befors them Every.
thing b-ing ready, at balfpast five they started
after walking n short distance they opped Mr..
Colcord removed his arms from Nj. Blondin's mock
and his legs from their position in the iron bands,
and standing upon the rope rested for three or
four minutes. When ready to start, Mr.. Colcord
easily reganed his position. The walking was
very steady, considering that the weight oil over
two hurdred pounds was being sustained by the
| rope.
1.-The time occupied in crossing was thirty-aye
minutes, rs they restel seven times. AS they
reached the American side, he excitement was
| intense! the permrmers heinz borne on the en-
| thusiastic crowd. This feat which Blondin has
| performed was th'u2ht impossible I,y nearly all,
| for it was feared that the rider would become
| frightened, and thus cause Blondin to lose his