The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1859-03-03
Crossing Niagara River on Stills.

The following extract from a letter by
VIM. Collins to the Chicago Press &
Tribune. dated Niagara Falls, Feb. 18th,
tells of wonderful feat, if true, and is a
good story if not true. After detailing
the particulars of conversation at the
International Hotel between Yankee
named Andrew Greenleaf, who has been
circus performer on stills, under the
name of g Signor Gaspa Moreli," and
Southern gentleman, the writer says
Morelli had in fact expressed his con-
yiction that he could cross Niagara Riv
er, walking upon stills, between Goat
Island and the Falls. "I'll bet you a
thousand dollars to fifty ii can't be done p
exclaimed the southerner. Il accept
the challenge" answered Morelli, quiet
ly. The astonishment of his hearers at
this reply may be imagined. "When
do you propose TO attempt it?' inquired
the challenger. Goa Saturday morn
ing, the 18th Of February" TRANQUILITY
replied Gaspa. The assurance with
which he spoke filled every one with
surprise, which was not lessened when
he produced the money for his deposit.
| The stakes were handed over to Mr..
Augustus Train, of Buffalo, and the
company separated to await the result of
this singular wager.
The in terval was spent by Morelli in
constant exercise, for the purpose of
strengthening his limbs, somewhat relaxed
by season of rest. His friends expos
tulated in vain against the apparently in
sane hazard, and even proposed to return
to him the amount he would be compel
led to forfeit. He seemed sure of win
ming, and would listen to no one. To
avoid crowd it was announced that the
attempt would be made on the fourteenth,
Monday, instead of to-day SO that at
seven this morning, there were only
about thirty persons at the river bank
Punctually at the hour Morelli appeared
in fine spirits and condition. He had
with him a pair of stills about twelve
feet long, made of wrought iron, fat,
sharp-ed ged and pointed-shaped in fact
almost precisely like double edged dag
ger. These were firmly lashed to his
legs, and he walked towards the terrible
river with confident smile. The morn
ing was clear and cold, but he was at
tired very lightly, in a dress not unlike
that usually worn by professional gym
nasts. AT ten minutes past seven, he
stepped into the water, which in another
moment was boiling, surging. and rush
ing beneath his feet. The boldest of the
lockers on held his breath in suspense,
as the daring man receded from the shore.
He alone seemed unmoyed, and passed
on, slowly and carefully, avoiding the
larger rocks which were made apparent
by the eddying current.
h His steps at first were very short and
carefully made, but afterwards became
bolder and longer. The stills of course
were SO placed that the current struck
only against their sharp edges, and pro-
duced but little effect; but the danger
from sunken rocks, and the conviction
that single false step would send him
to death produced feeling which was
horribly painful Once or twice he
seemed to lose his balance, and sick
ehing shudder ran through each one Of
the beholders. Recovering himself, he
still kept on-still receded-until to our
straining eyes he could scarcely be dis
tingushed from the foaming waters.
The middle of the river was attained
at last, hours seemed to have fled, but it
was barely seventeen minutes since he
left the shore.
AS he approached the deepest and
most dangerous part of his route. the
suspense became more fearfully intense.
No word was spoken, except that one
man offered another FIVE dollars for a
moments use of his lorgnette, which Of
fer passed unheeded. Just as Moreli
reached the swiftest and deepest portion
of the current, he seemed TO totter-sink