Red Wing sentinel. [volume] (Red Wing, M.T. [i.e. Minn.]) 1855-1861, 1859-07-16
THE GREAT BLONDIN FEAT,


The New York Tribune of July lst,
contains over two columns descriptive
of the tight rope performance of Blon-
din at Niagara. select the follow
ing paragraph:
At precisely half past four o'clock,
NJ. Blondin appeared in the pleasure
garden, where the American end of
the rope was fastened. There was a
short tight-rore erected herein, upon
which the daring Frenchman mounted
and went through many Of his most
graceful and pleasing feats, to the
great admiration Of the, spectators. He
was dressed in dress similar to the
one frequently worn by acrobats and
public gymnasts, viz: pink tights,
buckskin moccasins, and spangled
tunic Of yellow silk; he was barehead-
ed, without even the tillet Of white sat-
in that is frequently worn.
At Is minutes past he stepped up
on the large rope, where he conversed
few minutes with his friends in the
most cool and unconcerned manner,
having apparently no more doubt of
his successfully accomplishing this un-
dertaking than he had of attempting
it. As he stood for a minute. on the
rope, before stepping out, he addressed
the crowd as follows: -
"Gentlemen, any one what please to
across. l carry him on my back"
| No one seemed disposed to accept
the kind offer, and having joked few
minutes longer, he at last. started on
his perilous journey. He walked rap.
idly and firmly, as if he had been on q
bridge, until he chose to stop to in.
dulge in some gymnastic evolutions for
q few minutes. lie balanced himself
on one leg, sat down, and lay down on
the rope at full length, then, recover.
ing himself, he walked to the middle Of
the river. where he again stopped to
! accomplish, yet another feat. not down
in the bill. Here, standing on the rope
with as much; indifference as If it was
a solid platform, he deliberately low
cred a small line to the little steam.
, boat, the maid Of the MIST" that had
steamed out to that. point; to the line
was attached q bottle Of wine by the
captain Of the boat, and the bottle be,
ing drawn up by the atlyenturcr, he
opened it, and, making comprehen.
sive bow to both crowds on the sides
ofthe river, he drank the health Of all
present; then throwing the bottle into
the river, he walked on, stopping nc
more until he reached the Canada
shore. Is, He was exactly nineteen min,
Htes crossing, the river, including stops
On his, arrival at the Canada shore he
wasIcheeredtvo ciferously. He waited
here about halt an ahour,e when he pre-
pared to return: Z Ats6:42 he stepped
} ion the rope to COMMERCE his return
! passage. He rested bit once laying
). down on the rope for two minutes, ant
I accomplishing the return trip in eigh'
minutes, e5, .st.,,sIF5a u, ina .,lts d. IN
I As soon as he reached the shore
j the cheers and shouting were almos
lIdeafening.isi NJ. Blondin having beer
permitted an instant for refiesh,nent
; was seized by the enthusiastic Grove
and placed On their shoulders 'anc
borne in triumph, He was then place.
in q carriage and escorted through al
1.-THE principal streets Of the village, thu
crowd thronging him on all sides, ant
cheering in the widest manner. H
did not appear very much exhausted
and manifested no more fear or nerv
/ BUSINESS than any ungymnastic movie,
: would at eating his breakfast. $50
announces his determination to repea
his feat at intervals during the summer
Thus was successfully accomplished
tone ofthe most daring and useless feat
that even this fast age has eyer wit
messed. 10 <. g aalaA ..a 9,l!t to,.,
II l3rl5f9 n EcHlS1lclNf.S,sAT MIRIAM al