Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1859-09-17
The Rival Rope-W Walkers Crossing Nj
agara On a Rope at Nipht.

/
performance of facts new to both That
Blondin was the most interesting, being
nothing less than crossing The Niagara. on
a rope, at night. The Gazette describing
| it, says:
The sun had now hid himself from view
The dark sombrc robe of night was being
drawn over the earth Hurrying to and
fro arc the people; the chief subject of
conversation was Blondn. We passed into
the enclosure whore Blondin had gone some
time previous. The grounds were we'll il
Illuminated by locomotive lamps, and the
opposite side of the river was also LIGHTED
up for 4 considerable extent. The Maid
of the Mist, all ablazc with lights, was pass
ing up and down the river. Blondn made
due preparations, dressed himself in a lin
cn suit with his frocli he has so often worn
armed himself with his balancing pole, to
which he attached some brilliant lights of
various colors, and then sending forth
rocket, which pierced fur up into the deep
blue, he commenced his "cvcnng walk. -
1t Was little past $ o'clock, he proceeded
rapidly down the rope, and was distinctly
visible upon either side. Unfortunately,
the light upon one end of the pole became
detached and fell into the river. The
sight was not so pretty as would have been
had not this occurred. When about mid.
way he took a seat to rest, or perhaps get
better view of the scene Not satisfied
with bchoding things above and around
him, he finally inverted himself and looked
down into the water. 1t was so dark we
! think he did not sec much. Standing on
ms hcad at night ON rope over the chasm
OF niagara, must be sport Arising, he
passed on. Soon after, the other light fell
from his pole, and Blondin was left in i'm
pcnctrablc darkness. Above, around, be-
/ meath, all was dark Nothing more was
seen or heard of him until a shout from the
! opposite shore announced he had safely
crossed the flood. Al little after he star
ted on his return surrounded with fire
! works, consistingo of Roman candles which
gave 4 pleasing appearance. He was liter
ally cnvcloped in a blaze. When about
midway lie laid down his pole and stood up
ercct-invcrtod. Then he suspended him
self below the rope by his heels, and there
| he remained drumming on his chest until
his camp-iires were ali eXtirguishcd. There
he was left, rs before in outer darkness
| \ 1--we Yankee, who was standing by, said
he wondered if he would stay there for
alters" a shout on the bank announced
his fc arrival home Thus ended NJ.
BIondin's night,wnlking. Ttwould be well
/ for him to be careful, when he is asleen,
what he dreams.
a terrible accident occurred at Gcnncs-
see Falls, While De Lave was crossing his
rope. A young clerk named Wm. T.. Jcn-
nlson, in attempting to get an advantageous
| position on the edge of the precipcc, step
ped on plank, which titled and threw
him down 100 feet to the rocky banks of
the river. lcwas drcadfully mangled and
instantly killed. The Rochester American
describes De IIavc's feat us follows:
De Lave appeared at 4 o clock precisely,
having strapped on his back chair and a
salvcr, upon which were lot of small
cakes which were to serve as a lunch He
Immediately took up his pole aud started
out. When about the centre of the chasm.
he stopped ana sat down Taking the
chair from his back, he adjusted it on the
rope, seated himself in it, and composedy
ate up the cakes from the salvcr, which
lay III his lap daring the operation lIav-
ing concluded his meal, he threw overheard
his chair and saIver, and proceeded to the
west side of the river, stopping once or
twice to lie down, stand ON one foot, ETC.
| Aftcra delay OF ten minutes he started out
again till he got over the brink of the Falls
and then he carried QUE his promise to low
CT himself down to the sheet of water
and dip draught from the Hood lie tied
lis balance pole to the rope, slid down and
] a nd IA 10, II