Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1859-08-24
From the Baaaio Daily Republic. Aug is.

From the Buffalo Daily Republic, Aug Is.
Crossing the Niagara--mons. BIon-
din's tight Rope performances
He Crosses the River with n Man on
His Back.
The number who visited the Falls yester-
day to witness NJ. Blondiais exhibition wac
greater than on any previous occasion.
Forty-nine car loads were taken from this
city alone, and every car was so full that
numbers could not obtain seats. The steamer
Arrow. on its two trips. took not less than
l.200 persons, milking the whole number who
went from this city about 1000. There was
excursion train from Rochester to the Falls,
of 20 cars, all fall. There was train from
Lewiston OF 10 cars, and the Great Western
Railway brought 35 ear loads. The steamer
Zimmerman, from Toronto brought over
100 persons. The Great Western. Detroit
and Milwaukee. and Michigan sCentral-the
last two running in connection with the
former-put on extra trains at half fare, for
excursion to the Falls. Large numbers came
to The grounds where the exhibition was to
take place. in Carriages and on foot; and the
whole number present was not less than 25,-
900.
At about halfpast four O'Clock, NJ. Blon-
din rode into the enclosure on the American
side, and, with but a few moments delay,
started across the river. After going about
through with some posturing. and then. pro-
ceeding a few feet further, laid his pole down
on the rope, with the ends secured by being
thrust under the guys, and stood with his
head on the pole; passing along little far
Their, he again stood on his head; then walk
ing on TO where the guys from the Canada
side are attached 10 the rope, he secured his
pole by putting the ends under the guys and
binding it to the rope with his handkerchief,
and returning to the middle of the rope
where there are no guys, he swung his body
below the rope while clingng to the latter
with his hands, and passed his body back and
forth between his arms; he then hung by one
leg TO the rope, then with both legs; then by
one arm; after which he regained his pole,
and passed on, stopping once twice to re-
peat the feat of standing on his head, etc.
He was received on the Canada side with
loud and prolonged cheering, which was re-
piled to by those on the American shore.
M. Blondn remained about half an hour on
the Canadian side before starting on bis re-
turn. In the meantime there was much
speculation on the American shore as to the
probability of his attempting 10 return with
a man on his back. Hundreds were willing
to wager that be would't; and we learn that
considerable money did change hands in con-
sequence of the exhibition that soon took
place; for NJ. Blondin made his appearance on
the rope ,cih a man on has back. Such an ex-
citement as was then manifested we never be-
fore witnessed. There was rude contention
for the occupancy of places from which the
view of the rope could be had. The anxiety
to see, on the part Of many. was greater than
their sense of decOrum; and there were hun
dreds who could get but occasional glimpses
of the wonderful feat that WAS taking place
over that dreadful chasm.
NJ. Blondin proceed very slowly down the
descent of the rope, and when be had gone
about one hundred feet the man descended
from his back and stood upon the rope at the
same time holding on to NJ. Bondin, who
preserved the balance of both. After stopping
a few moments, the man again mouted the
rope-walker;s back end after being carried
short distance far her, again dismOunted, but
as before, soon got on again, when the two
continued their perilous journey. NJ. Blondin
several times appeared to stagger, as if the
great effort was proving too much for him;
and when he was going over that part of the
rope where there are no guys, his manner in
duced in nearly all an apprehension that he
would fall. He reached, however, after stop
ping several times to rest. the American side
without accident, and was greeted by the
thousands assembled, with long continued
and laundering applause. He was entirely
exhausted, and unable to speak for some mo-
meuts. There was a great rush up to the
rope to see and greet him: and the two fear
to furnish excitement for the multitude,
were borne to their carriage upon the should
ers of few OF the more vigorous and enthu-
siasic.
The gentleman whom NJ. Blondin carried
across, is his agent, Mr.. Henry Colcord and
who, in allowing himself to be carried across.
exhibited as much if not more daring than NJ.
Blondin himself; for, had there any accident
happened, Mr.. Colcord would have been the
most liable TO lose his life, al he had less
chance of saving himself by catching hold of
the rope.
We perhaps will never have occasion to
chronicle greater feats of daring than were
exhibited yesterday by the fearless Blondin
and bis equally fearless agent. We hope they
will not again attempt anything so hazardous;
for fhey can "draw crowd" and furnish
them with somthing sufficiently exciting with
out so great a risk. -
We omitted 10 state ia the proper place
that NJ. Blondn was forty-two minutes in
crossing with his agent on his back, the first
half of the distance having been accomplish
ed in twenty-five minutes. and the other half
in twenty. 1t was about half-past six when
the numerous assemblage dispersed.