Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1859-08-26
INEOUAIED HARDIHOOD.
BLONDIN CROSSING HIS ROPE AT
NIAGARA FALLS WITH A MAN ON
HIS BACK
From the Buffalo Express, 18th.

al the feats, wonderful and startling as
the7 have been, that Blondin has heretofore
performed at the Falls, were so entirely cast
int the shade by his incredible performance
yesterday as to seem trifing and Insignificant.
His uncredited promise to carry man across
the chasm upon his back, was kept to the
letter, and none Of the predicted accidents
resulted from the fearful undertaking. Bl0n-
din first crossed from the American side alone,
performing during the passage most Of the
daring feats described in our account of his
crossing on the Sd inst. After Il short rest
or the Canadian shore, he started upon his
return, with NJ. Colcjrd, his agent, ciinging
t. his back From his shoulders two lOoped
cords were suspended by his side, in which
the legs of the daring rider were swung,
while his arms were clasped about BlOndin's
neck. His position was such that at the
distance from shore to shore he could hardly
be seen, and when the adventures started
lpOn their terrible journey, bets were freely
exchanged among the spectators on this side
Is to whether BlOndin was alone or accom-
panied according to programme. he stepped
out so briskly and firmly that it seemed i'm
possible that his back was freighted with
living load. But as he advanced the rider be-
came more clearly distinguished, and while
all doubts disappeared, the trembling anxiety
of the lOokers-on was painfully increased.
About an eighth of the distance was trav
eIled without any halt OF sign of fatigue.
Then Blondin came to a stop, and Colcord,
slipping his legs from their sings, dropped
his feet upon the rope, and stood supporting
himself with his hands upon BlondIn' S shout
ders while the latter rested. The halt was,
perhaps, of a moments duration, when Col
cord again mounted to his seat, regaining it
apparently with the utmost ease, and acting
with all the self-possession of BlOndin him
self. After this the halts and resting spells
were frequent, the length of the Journey and
the weight of his load telling upon even the
nerve and muscle OF BlOndin. Several times
the spectators were terrified by seeing the
rope tremble and sway from some cause, and
by apparent signs Of exhaustion in Blondin.
Whether these latter were assumed or real,
1t was impossible to say, but especially at the
centre, where the rope is clear and without
guys, he shook and staggered in a manner
to cause the stOutest nerved among the spec
tatOrs to shudder and turn pale. The latter
half of the journey was performed with few
er rests than the first, and the last stage was
one of almost desperate length and Blondin
reached the end of his trip by an almost SUI
perhuman effort of determined will. When
he was fairly upon terra frDlG, the pent up
excitement of the crowd burst forth in deaf
ening cheers and the widest demonstrations,
and the two heroes, Blondin and Colcord,
were seized and borne away upon the shout
ders of the crazy multitude.
1t has been utterly impossible for US to
give an adequate description of this most
wonderful feat. An idea of its marvellous
ness can neither be imagined or conveyed by
words. The part of Mr.. Colcord in the per-
tormance was even more wonderful than
that of Blondin, and to him belongs the
greatest praise for courage and nerve, as ex-
hibited in this daring feat. Blondin had the
courage Of selt-reliance but Colford, being
helpless and dependent, exhibited the higher
courage that springs from faith and conf
dence in another
The crowd present at the performance yes
terday was certainly not less, and probably
greater, than the largest collected at any
time before Twenty-six cars were loaded
for this city last evening, and there were
great crowds from Rochester and the Cana
dian cities, as well as large excursion parties
from Detroit and Chicago, even.