The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1859-08-17
The Greatest Feat Of All.

The Buffalo EGpress gives the following
account of Gl Blondn's last and most dar.
ing feat at Niagara Falls, on the 4 h inst.
Mons. Blondi1 rode iato the pleasure
ground, on this side, about four O'Clock, and
started upon his pral journey after very
few moments of delay and preparaion.-
His trip across TO the Conadian shore wns
accomplished quickly, as he proceeded at q
| tripping pace most OF the distance, and only
paused few seconds occasionally, to cor.
rect his balance and obtain slight rest. All
of his feats he reserved for his return iour.
ney.
Arrived ot the Canadian bank, he refresh.
ed himself a little, aud tooka rest Of per.
haps fifteen minutes, when he again stepped
upon the rope and tripped down the slant
| airy plane, towards "the land of the free and
the home of the brave,
When about half way to the centre, he
stopped and sat down, then stretched himself
at full length upon the rope, then performed
q number OF daring antics, and finally stood
Alright upon his head, remaining in that re-.
versed position for length OF time that
seemed a moment at least, swinging and
kicking his feet in the most reckless manner
that can be conceived Of.
Resumiog his journey, he proceeded but
little way when he aouin halted and repeated
the performance, with the addition of back.
ward somersAu!t, aud one or two sudden
swings around the rope, which caused gen i.
eral flutter among the hearts OF the specta.
tors, and brought little screams from yery
many of the lOdics.
Starting forward again he proceeded to
the open space in the centre, between the
extreme guy ropes that branch off to either
bank, where the cuble spans the gulf with.
out stay or accompaniment. Here he paus
ed again, and laying his pole upon the guy
ropes, he swung himself under the cable,
RAN across this central space of single cord
in the style of monkey-hanging beneath
and swinging himself along by is hands and
feet, with great rapidity. Going back again
IN the sumo gymnastic manner, when he had
returned to the Poiut where his pole rested,
lie began series of performances which
outdid in thrilling and startling effect upon
the nerves OF the spectators, all thai he had
done before.
ClUtching the rope with his hands he
swung his body clear from it, and hung for
lengthy period OF more than seconds, sus.
pended by the arms, and by one arm, over
the fearful depth of the chasm. Then he
repeatedly turned suspended somersoult as
is familiar to boys, throwing his feet over
his head and between his arms and hanging
with the shoulder joints in most unnatural
position.
Then he Strengthened his body into hori.
zontal position, still suspended by the arms
thrown backward as described an exer.
tion requiring immense strength, and calcu-
lated to exhaust the nervous strength tre.
mendously. After this he suspended him.
self by the legs, and by one single leg,
hanging head downward-whirled around
the rope--turned more somersaults-stood
upon his head again, and in fact performed
nearly all the most reckless feats attempted
by tight,rope performers under ordinary cir.
stances.
Twice before reaching the bank he halted
and repeated some of these antics, seeming
determined to fatigue himself to the last
point of endurance, and thoroughly satisfy
the spectators with his exhibition of daring
and skill. And they were satisfied beyond
question. The performance was wonderful
and exciting enough for the most greedy
seeker after sensations; and was by tar the
greatest yet given by Mons. BIondin.