The Van Buren press., 1859-07-20
Mons. nlondins Great Feat.

Mons. Blondins Great Fsat
The cable on which Blondin crossed tine
Niagara, is stretched over the gorge nearly
midway between the Falls and the Suspen-
sion Bridge at point where tho BANKS GA
both sides tut out boldly, considerably less
ening the LreadtA of the furious current pc-
low. The rope, which is about two incnes
in diameter. is made fast to large trees on
each side The Canaiian bank is loV aeet
Above the water, the American F6O feet.-
The rope is detected over the gorge to the
amount of full one third. and is secured oy
iftv-eeven guys on each side, including
large guys running from near the centre
downwards, and fastened to the rocks on
each side The guys are 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 !"
about l 1000 feet and the length OF the main
rope is /, 300 feet. The labor and peril IN
preparing the rope for the feat was great
Some four or five days were spent in getting
the first line across. Blondin attached all
the guy ropes himself. Some six or seven
thousand persons witnessed the daring oil
Mons. Blondin or the 3Oth ult:, thus de-
scribed by the Buffalo Courier: i
| At 5 o'clock the daring Frenchman az
peared at the head of the cable, and gave
the signal to fire the gun. He doifed his
purple.vcst, cap, wig, and trousers. and ap-
peared barcheaded in hesh-colored shirt,
siyhts and hose Monsieur waved his hand
to the band, which sturck up an inspiring
strain, and Monsieur boldly started down
the rope towards the yawning chasm ut
slow but steady pace, while every man.
woman and child held their breath. Blop-
din himself was probably the coolest and
most Indifferent person in sight Of the two
nations The sun about 20 degrees above
the horizon, hot and brassy, ,iarte.i his
rierce rays full in his lace, but h, almly and
quietly pursued his way, using his balante
pole which was OF enormous length, but
very slightly. On reaching he fourth guy.
about 100 feet from the bank he pansed-
sat down-then laid down ca,Inly on his
back, al which the whole OF the immense
th:ong were visibly affected with pa!p;tation
of the heart. and "even the boldest held
his BREATH"
After moments interval. Monsieur
again arose and walked nimbly. stopping
only once more until hc rea he'd nearly the
centre OF the gorge, where he balanced him
self on one foot again laid down to resi-.
and finally sat up. oe"koning to the Mald
of the Mist, whi n was below with large
number of people on board, to approach n
him. AT the same time he dropped line
to which, when the steamer came. up, was
attached bottle OF wine. whi n he hois:ci
up and emptied. The conclusion OF this
far was greeted with loud applause. from
the assembled .throng ON both sides o. the
river. From this point the Fren, ,hmsn
made his way without stopping. AMI at
rapld pace until he reached the opposite end,
when lifelong pent-up xiety Of the crowd
found vent in oft repeated cheers. As he
approached the Canadian side an ex ,ellent
brass band greeted him with SECT out OF
!. the Wilderness The whole time occupi-
cd in crossing the chssm, including the
stoppages, was III minutes. When the
thing was accomplished everybody knew
that it would be, with scarcely an exception,
ca n had predicted the result. All confess
na--h however, that it was the most astonish-
ing exhibition or nerve and daring which
it had ever been their lot to witness.
On arriving at the Canadian side, NJ Blon-
din gave performance on the tight rope
, similar to that given previous to the grand
feat, A subscription was set on foot To-.
the benefit Of Mons. Blondin, and quite a
respectable sum collected.
AT q. 10 precisely, shout from the Can.
adian side recalled the spectators Tor what
there was Lett of them) to the river bank,
from which Mons Blondin was beheld set
ting out on his return. This time the pass
age was made much quicker as the daring
E artist only paused once, in the middle o. the
, river. to rest himself, making the passage
in exactly seven minutes. He was received
on landing with shouts of applause. the
. band playing Yankee Doodle, accompanied
by the shrill whistle of several LOGON olives,
which were drawn up on each bank in wait
: ing. He was also seized by the hand by
numerous enthusiastic believers, who warm
ly congratulated him on the successful ter
minaticn OF his perilous feat
Mon. Blondin received these marks of ap-
probation with the characteristic politeness
and suavity of Frenchman, and when
. seizci by eager hands and borne in triumph
on the shoulders Of men to his carrage, he
IN no dsgree relaxed from the graceful bon
homm.e, -: which he is so much distinguish
ed lie appeared to De but little fatignel or
excited and said that the only anxiety nc
felt was on account Of his friends the pera-
: tors,
We kagn that Monsieur Blord.n will
give another performance OF a similar kin.l
ON the Fourth Of July, Monday wnen the
pfoba ,iilty is that there will DE largely in
creased attendance. We shoulI not ,e sur
prise,l to see him wheeling barrow across
the gorge In less than ten days with a man
IN nH. ne fact Is that with a man oil M.
Bion lin nerve ana ability, there is scarce
~ the shadow OF danger IN the undertaking
- There was great excitement in Kan
MAS Clty some days sIn1e on he intro tuc-
tlon OF. a water cart to sprinkle the streets
The Boys hnrrael the news pa psr reporters
followed it from street to street to see how
} 1t worked. an gool-heartel old woman
: ran out to inform the driver that all his
j scGtey s00s acQsting