Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1859-03-01
DARING FEAT AT NIAGARA-CROsSINC
-- ON Stills ABOVE THE FALLS

Correspondence Of the Press and Tribune
MAGMA FALLS, Feb. IL, l859-Feeling
sure that the readers of the Press and Tribune
will be interested in the recital [ write to give
an account, however imperfecty. Of one of the
most reckless feats of daring ever attempted.
One evening, about q week ago while sitting
In the saloon of the International Hotel. / be-
came interested in an animated conversation
which was in progress between two persons, of
whom one seemed to be Southerper and the
other an Italian. The latter had registered
his name a. ''SignOr Gaspa MOreli.' but / have
since learned that he Is really a Yankee bow:
that he was born and raised near Stonington.
Connecticut, and was dubbed by his affection
ste parents Andrew Greenleaf As he grew
elder he was afflicted with an intense desire to
become a circus performer. and finally ran
swsy from home To connect himself with some
stTOlling company. lie was for awhile a mem-
Der Of BaTnumS immense Show and his
astonishing performances upon stilts will be re-
membsred by thousands lie had before this
time assumed the name he now bears as well
Ia escape recognition aS to avoid the fate of a
''prOphet in his own country He is a hand
some, frank looking man, OF about twenty five.
has a falr complexion. and wears a small black
mOustache. At present he j. staying here
without an engagement. The conversation
referred TO was discussion upon the possible
feats which might be accomplished by a man
upon stills SignOr Moreli (as will call him)
asserted his ability to do many things a be-
lief IN which required considerable faith The
SOutherner, who is a well known sporting gem
tleman of New Orleans evidently thOug ght the
Signor was lying pretty hard, and at his last
announcement be laughed long and loud Mo-
T0ll hSd IN fact expressed his cOny ict lion that
he could crOss Niagara River, upon stills, be-
tween Goats Island and the Falls 81 will
bet You thousand dollars to fifty that il can
net be donc' exclaimed the Southern gentle
man- :. accept the challenge" answered
al.
his hearers at this reply may be imagined
When do YOU propose 70 attempt il 20 on
quired the challenger. ..On SATURDAY. morn
ing, the 18th of February" TRANQUILITY replied
Gaspa.
The assurance with which he spoke filed
every one with surprise, which was not lessen
ell wien he produced the money for his deposit
The stakes were handed over To Mr. Au1ustus
Train, of Buffalo. and the company separated
to await the result Of this singular wager The
interval was spent by Morelli in constant exer-
else, for the purpose of strengthening his limbs.
somewhat relaxed By season of rest. His
friends eXpOstulHted in vain against the apDa-
rently insane hazard. and even proposed to re-
turn 10 him the amount he would be compelled
10 forfeit. He seemed sure of winning and
would listen to nO.One. To avoid a crowd, il
WAS announced that the attempt would be
made on the l4th, (Monday.) instes al Of to-day;
80 that at seven this morning, there were only
about thirty persons by the river bank Pune
tually at that hour Morelli appeared in fine
spirits and condition. He had with him pair
Gf stilts about twelve feet long. made of wrought
iron, fst, shsrp-edged and pOinted-shaped in
fact almost precisely like a double-edged dag
ger. They were firmly lashed to his legs and
he walked towards the terrible river with a
confident smile The morning was clear and
cold, hut be was attired very lightly. in a dress
hot unlike that usually worn by professional
gymnasts. At ten minutes past seven. he slep-
ped into the water, which In another moment
Was boiling, gurgling. and rushing beneath his
z feet. The bJIdest Of the lookers-on held his
breath in suspense, as the daring man reeeded
from the shore. He alone seemed unmoyad,
and passed on, slowly and carefully. avoiding
the larger rocks which were made apparent by
the eddying current. His steps at first were
tsTy short and carefully made but afterward.
became bolder and longer. The stills of Course
were So placed that the current struck only
against their sharp edge, and produced but
little effect; but the danger from sunken rocks
and the conviction that single false STEP
would send him to death, producing a feeling
which Was horribly painful Once or twice ht
seemed to lose his balance. and sickening
shudder ran through each one Of the beholdcrs
Recovering himself be still kept On-still re.
ceded, until 10 our stTaiEing eyes he could
scarcely be distinguished from the fOaming
waters.
The middle of the river was attained al last
seventeen minutes since he left the shore
As he approached the deepest and most dan
geTVus part Of his route. the suspense became
more fearfully intense. No word was spoken
except that one man offered another 81 for
moments use Of his lOrgnette, which offcI
passed unheeded. Just Ms Moreli reached tn;
swiftest and deepest portion of the current, hC
seemed to tOtter-sink-hc threw up his arms
closed my eyes. Opening them a moment
after, saw that he was still standing. few
moments more and he had reached the Cana
dian bank-he was safe. and fell exhausted int
the arms Of two inen, who were waiting to re
ceive him.
At this hour (3 P. m y he was nearly recovered
nnd though still in bed, receives the eOngrat
HlatiOns of dozens of visitors who come pOurins
in lie left the American shore $50 feet above
the fall and came out about 1000 feet above
the Canadian. The money has already beer
handed over 10 him, and all will agree that il
was fsiTly won. His generous opponent is abl,
10 afford his los. and speaks in praise of Mo
relli more Enthusiastically than any.
Yours truly. WILLIAM COLLINS.
DECIDEDLY YPEEsoNAL.-President Buchanan
uses no tobacco. General Cas- drinks no .'BOur
hon Senator Douglas uses no pepper. and thu
Postmaster General eats but two meals a day
y T. Willis cuts his own hair. Caleb Gushing