Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-07-02

Mons BIoudin's Great Feat.
The cable on which Blondin crossed the NJ
agar. d stretched over the gorge nearly mid
way between the Falls and the susPension
Bridge Of point where the banks on both |
sides joe vut boldly, considerably lessening the
breadth of the furious current below. The
rope which is about two inches in diameter, is
made fast to large trees on each side. The
Canadian bank is isO feet above the water
the American 100 feet. The rope is DETECTED
over the gorge to the amount Of full one-third'
and is secured by fcy seven guys on each
side including large stays running from near
the centre, downwards, and fastened to the
rocks on each side. The guys arc all fastened
to trees on the river banks, and reach from the
centre of the stream TO distance Of three or
four hundred feet on each side of the point OF
termination The distance across is about lOOO
feet, and the length of the main rope is lSOO
feet The labor and peril in preparing the
rope for the feat were great. Some four or
FIVE days we're spent in getting the first line
across Bloudin attached all the guy ropes
himself Some six or seven thousand persons
witnessed the daring of Mons. Blondin on the
9Oth ult., thus described by the Buffalo Oour'
ier
AT O'Clock the daring Frenchmau appeared
at the head Of the cable, and gave the signal TO
FIRE the gun. He dofIed his purple vest, cap,
wig, and trousers, and appeared baTeheaded IN
flesh coored shirt, tights and hose Monsieur
waved his hand to the band which struck up an
inspiring strain, aud Monsieur boldly started
down the rope towards the yawniDg chasm at
| a slow but steady pace, while every man, wo-
man and child held theirlbreath blondn hun
self was probably the coolest and most indliier
ent person in sight OF the two nations. The
sun about 90 degrees above the horizons, hot
aud hrassy darted his fierce rays full IN ms
face but he calmly and quietly pursued bis
? way using his balance pole. which was OF enOr
nous length, but very slightly. On reaching
the fourth guy, abou 100 feet from the bank
he paused-sat down-then laid down calmly
| on his back, at which the whole OF the I'M
, mense throng were vsibly affected with palpl
, tation of the heart, and seven the bodest he'll
4 his breath" After a moments interval, Mon
, sieur again arose and walked nimbly, stoppin
|. only once more until he reached nearly th
l. centre of the gorge, where he balanced himse
O on one foot again laid down to rest, and finall
l., sat up, beckonng to the Maid of the Mist, whic
ID was below with large number OF people o
board, to approach him At the same tune
d dropped line TO which, when the steam'
came up, was attached bottle Of wine, whic
20 he hoisted up and emptied. The conclusion
TO this feat was greeted with loud applause, tro
Of the assembled thTong on both sides OF the nVe
at From this point the Frenchman made his wa
-, without stopping, and at rapid pace until
III har the lnuU
r. up anxiety of the crowd found vent in loud al
v. oft repeated cheers. As he approached the Z
- madam side an excellent brass band greeted hi
with Get out Of the Wilderness The who
O. time occupied in crossing the chasm, includir
I'll the stoppages, was II 2 minutes. When Il
,e thing was accomplished everybody knew th
!, itwould be, and with scarcely an exception, ea'
IL had predicted the result. All confessed, hos
IS ever, that it was the most astonishing exhit
lis ton of nerve and daring which it had ever be-
their lot to witness
he On arriving at the Canadian side, NJ. Blond
IA gave performance on the tight rope similar
o. that piven previous to the grand feat. A ST.
. scrption was set on foot for the benefit Of MOI
lot Blondin, and quite a respectable sum collect,
on At6:l0 precisely, shout from the Canadi
n side recalled the spectators Cor what there "
nv left of them) to the river banE, from viii
to Mons Bondiu was beheld setting out on his
lis turn. This time the passage was made mu
quicker as the daring artist only paused On'
1t, il the middle of the river, to rest HIMSELF ma
,p ing the passage in exactly seven minutes.
an was received on landing with shouts ofapP lau
i'll the band playing Yankee Doodle, occomPani
he by the shrin whistle of several locomotive
which were drawn up on each bank in waitir
He was also seized by the hand by numero
enthusiastic believers, who warmly congra
ina lated him on the successful termination of
MA perilous feat. Mons Bondn received thu
marks of appreciation with the characters
ere politeness and suavity of Frenchman, a
A. when seized by eager hands and borne in
,tu umph on the shoulders of men to his csrria
- he in no degree relaxed from the graceful
'o- houlmie for which he is so much distinguish
air He appeared to be but little fatigued or excl
the and said that the only anxiety he felt was
the account of his friends the spectators.
We learn that Monsieur Blondin will g
u another performance of similar kind on
nd. Fourth of July, (Monday) when the prebabil
n a is that there will be a largely increased att
ron dance We should not be surprised to see
NJ wheeling barrow across the gorge in less ii
-ne ten days with a man in it. The fact is that "
en- a man of NJ. Blondin's nerve and ability, tn
eri- is scarcely the shadow Of danger in the und
all; taking.