The weekly Mississippian. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1859-1864, 1859-08-24
The Recent Terrible Performance by
II Blondin.
INTERNATIONAL HorEL.

INTERNATIONAL HOTEL,
NIAGARA FALLS, Aug. 18th. 1859.
Eds Con- Precisely at halfpast four
O'Clock, P NJ, Mons. ]. F. Blondin appeared
upon the American end of the two-inch rope,
which spans the chasm Of Niagara river, dis
lance of twelve hundred feet wide and one
hundred and eighty feet deep; it is only
short distance below the mighty cataract, and
at that point, the current of the stream is very
impetuohs and turbulent He carried bal
ancing pole thirty mine feet long, and weigh
ing forty-nine pounds. He started off at
smart trot, and continued the pace until he
reached nearly the centre when most thrill
ling scene took place, for he was very sudden
ly brought to stop, one end Of his pole CATCH
ing under guy rope, and it came near
throwing him off into the yawning abyss be-
low, but his presence of mind and extraordin-
airy strength of muscle, he quickly threw up
his pole in such position as to bring himself
to the centre of gravity. A suppressed cry of
''Oh! God he's gone," murmured from the
lips of thousands every heart beat with fear
for his safety; some turned away in utter DIES
pair; strong men trembled, and more than
one lady swooned away; but to the astonish-
ment of all he stood upon one leg, the pole in
OuC AdlH4, dlhu waving W VIC IcOPic oh tic
American shore with the other then such a
shout arose from $4,000 people, as completely
drowned the laundering roar of the mighty
cataract. He turned himself round to the
Canadian shore, and ran the whole remaining
distance without stopping. He was received
as he stepped from the rope, with shout after
Shout from the assembled masses on both
sides Of the river also from the densely
packed decks of the "jNad Of tie 1Mist." He
travelled the whole distance Il ,260 feet in
the short time of five minutes and thirty six
seconds. He remained but a short time on
the Canadian side, but returned in few min
utes.
He moved slowly along the slack rope over
the dreadful chasm, but with firm step and
the appearance of confidence. When about
one third over, he lay down upon his back
with the pole across his chest. All of sud
den he turned summerset backward and then
three times forward then stood OIL his
head. He then fastenened his pole to the rope
walked to the center where it was free from
guy ropes, and performed the most daring feats
mortal man dare do or ever will do. He
swung to and fro by his hand, held himself In
horizontal position beneath and at right an.
giles with the rope, then laying across the
rope on his stomach, initiating swimming
hanging by his hands and passing his body
back and forth between his arms, swung him
self by one hand, finally, hung head down
wards suspended by his feet only-and this a
the dizzy hight of one hundred and sixty fee
| below him the furious rapids, and the foam
| ing, roaring of the mighty cataract before hi
eyes One continued cheer arose from tn,
immense crowds, which lasted for several min
utes, when he resumed his journey, and h,
had nearly reached the American side whel
he initiated the Feelings of drunken man.
As he stepped from the rope to terra fr0aa hi
progress to his crrriage was inpeded for som,
grasp him by the hand. He was called upol
for a speech, he merely said 81 cannot speech
but 90 across again on the 18th and viii
carry man on my hack
disappeared to be very much exhausted al
though he wore only thin tights, the perspira
ton was streaming down him, and when
shook by the hand it felt remarkably damp, OF
as Mr.. c. Edward Lester, of the London Time
remarked to me, "wet, very wet
1t is very general opinion that the man i
yet to be born who has the combination o
nerve, muscle and power Of endurance to com
pete with Blondin. Yours etc.
ALBANY PACKHAM.
2. S.-During the performance, fatal &C
cident happened to an Irishman named Mi
chael Neyin he slipped over the rocks on tn
Canadian shore, and was instantly killed
saw his wife weeping bitterly as they wer
making preparations to haul up his body b.
ropes. A. P.