Smyrna times., 1859-07-07
NJ | s e + Liza \ /. o u 5.
crossing Niagara Falls On d Tigh:
RGre

At the great Falls of Niagara, Thursday,
Mons. Blondin. the expert tight rope dancer,
performed bis marvellous feat of walking acress
the Falls upon tight rope stretched from
shore to shore. About four thouss nd spectators
saw it from the American slde from pleasure
garden, admittance twenty five cenls q head,
and eight thousand from the Canada side, free.
The crowd was quiet, very large proportion
of it being composed Of ladies' The Tribune
says:
Al precisely half past O'Clock, NJ. Blondin
appeared IN the pleasure garden, where the
American end of the rope was fastened There
was short tlght-rnpe erected herein. upon
which the daring FreDchman mounted, and
went through many Of his most graceful and
plea sing teats, TO the great udlnIrstion of the
spectators. He was dressed in a dress simIlar
to the one frequently worn by acrobats and
public gymnasts, viz: pink tights, buckskin
moccasIEs. and span.ed tunlc Of yellow silk
he was bareheod"d, without ever the filles of
white aatin that is frequently worn.
AT 10 minutes past . he stepped upon the
large rspe, where he cUnvsrstd few minutes
with hIs friends IN the most cool aud uncon.
cerned manner. having spp,rently no more
oouot oi MS successfully accomplishing this un-
dertaklng than he had of attempting It. ASH
ood tor momeut on the rope, before stepping
oit, he addressed the crowd as fellows:
"Gentlemen, any one what please 10 across
carry him on my back"
No one seemed disposed TO accent the kind
offer, and having joked few minutes LONGER.
he at last started on his perIlous Journey He
walked rapidly and firmly, 1t he had been on
a bridge, until he chose 10 stup to indulge in
some gymnasiic evnluiIOns tor few minutes.
He balanced himself on one leg, sat down and
laid down on the rope at tull length, then, re
covering himself he walked To the middle OF
the river, where he again stopped To Il COM plsh
Jet another feat not down IN the bill. Here.
standing on the rope, with as muci. ind ference
as if it was u solid platform, he deliberately
lowered a small line to the IIttle steamboai.
the " Maid of the MIST" that had steamed out
TO that point; 10 the line was attached a bottle
OF wine by the captain OF the boat. aud the bot.
Tie being drawn up by the sdventurer, he Opcne
az, and, making a comprehensive bow 10 bo,l
crowds on the sides of the river, he drank the
health OF all present; then throwing the bot,l.
into the river. he walked on, stopping no more
until ne reached the Canada shure He was
exactly nineteen minutes Crossing the river.
including stops On his arrival on the Canada
shore he was cIfeerrd vocIferously. lie waited
here about half an hour, when he prepared 10
return. AT e 42 he stepped on the rope to com.
mence his return passage. He rested brt once,
lying down on the rope for two minutes, and nc.
complishlng the return trip in eight minutes
Az soon as he reached the shore, the cheers
and shouting were almost dealening. Al. Blon
din, having been permitted an instant for re-
freshment, was seized by the enthusiastic
crowd, and placed on their shoulders and borne
sbout in triumph. He was then placed in a
carriage and escorted through all the prlncipa!
streets of the village, the crowd thronging him
on all sides, and cheering in the widest man.
ner lie did not appear very much exhausted.
and manifested no more fear or nervousness
than any ungymnastlc novice would at eating
his breakfast. Heannounces his determination
TO repeat his feat at intervals during The SUN.
mer.