The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1859-07-14
Frtwhtfui SInck. Rope Fcat--Nf. Biou-
din Trnvcrsimy Niagara on ~ Rope.

The telegraph has already announced the ac-
complishment OF this thrilling performance,
unequned for daring aud toohardness "in this
or any other age" The New York f'ribune's re-
porter thus destribes the cable aud the method
Of stretching il across the river:
Several days were passed in getting a small
tope seven.eights OF an inch in diameter, a6ros,
the river 1t was at last accomplished by putting
the end in small boat above the point Il was
desired to reach, aud paying out the rope Us two
stout rowers urged the boat to the opposite side.
Some idea may be formed of the swiftness Of tho
current at this place, when il is stated tina.
though the boat started hulf mile above the
desired spot, the rowers were barely able by The
most strenuous exeruous 10 accomplish the LOO
feet before they were swept down to the proper
point. This small rope was several times broken,
but was finally safely stretched from bank to
bank.
The large rope was delayed week or two
beyond the appointed time, but finally tedched
| Nisgara Falls village on Wednesday, the Cd.
when IT was placed in a cart, surmouned with
a flag, and driven in triumph through the town.
IL is three aud quarter inches in diameter, Is
,3OO ieet long, aud, with the 2,700 feet OF guy
ropes necessary to steady it, cost $3.50. It was
made in two sections, and was spliced by an op-
portune sailor who happened to be at the VIII
lage. The day after 1t was spliced it was fast
ened TO the small rope that was already span.
ming the gulf, and haucd across.
The time intervening between the fixing Of tho
main cable aud the day tor tie performance of
tho feat, wus occupied iu fastening n number Of
guy-ropcs to the rocks and to trees, aud other
immoveable points on the shore from the main
rope, the object being of course to so STEADY the
large rope us 10 render il as firm ss was consis-
tent with the unstable nature of the slender
, pathway. The steadying ropes Were fastened
every eighteen feet along the large one, twenty
nine OF them leading to tho Canada shore and
twenty-five to the American bank. Besides
these, four heavy ropes nearly the size of the
main one, were attached to il ut the distance of
two hundred feet from each other, and descend
, , cd thence to huge rocks on the very edge of tho
river far below. THUS, 1t will be seen that Nj.
Blondin having once resolved TO undertake the
feat, ran no unnecessary risk, but made his pre-
y carous promenade as safe as possible When
the whole was in readiness il was found that the
: detection from straight line was in the middle
OF the rope, sixty feet being some ten feet moro
= than had been at first anticipated, but it was
found impracticeble to strain the rope to great
er degree of tenseness for fear of breaking it,
NJ Blondln personally superintended all the
arrangements, aud every preparation, however
seemingly unimportant was carried on under
his immediate supervision. There was ono
more disappointment about the time, which was
. fixed for Tuesday, the 29th. but was afterward
A ostponed till the Both, to-day, when everything
IN
ready to proceed
j. On Thursday morning the spectators began to
/, assemble, and by the time the feat was to DO
performed, twelve thousand people were there
i TO witness it:
Il At precisely half.past four o'clock, NJ Dion
IS din appeared in the pleasure garden, where the
American end OF the rope was fastened. There
:, was a short tight.rope erected herein, upon
= which the daring Frenchman mounted aud went
=, through many Of his most graceful utd pleas
" ing leafs TO the great admiration OF the specta-
- tors. He was attired in u 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 bear
headed without even the fiIet Of white satih
10 that is frequently worn.
lie AT ID minutes past five he stepped upon tho
n large rope where he conversed a few moments
!, with his friends in the most cool and uncon
Us cerned manner, having apparently no more doub,
re OF his successfully accomplishing this thdet-
x taking than he had of attempting 1t. As he
m stood for minute on the rope, Before stepping
or out, he addressed the crowd as follows:
In "Gentlemen, any one what please to across,
a carry him on my back"
No one seemed disposed TO accept the kind
e. offer. and having joked few Minutes longer
h. he at last started on his perlous journey. He
walked rapidly and firmly, as if he had been on
er, bridge, until h. chose to stop TO indulge in
Il
~ He balanced himself on one leg sat down, md
laid down on the rope at full LENGTH then, re.
on covering himself, he walked to the middle Of tile
ID river. where he again stopped TO accomplish vel
,rs another Feat not n the oill Here, standing on
the rope, with as much indifference as If it was
is n solid platform, he deliberately lowered SIN Il
"a line to the little stealEboGt the Maid of tn,
~ Mist" that had steamed out to that Point tC
A. the line was attached bottle Of @itie by tn,
ed captain of the boat. aud the bottle being dra wi
&C. up by the adventurer, he opened il, All Iakinc
a comprehensive bow TO both crowds on tht
sides of the river, he drank the health OF al
present then throwing the bottle into the river
Of he walked on, stopping no more until he reache,
the Canada shore. He was exactly ninetee,
:, minutes crossing the river including stops. o.
Ia his Arrival on the Canada shore he was cheere,
of vociterously. lie waited here about half 81
". hour when he prepared to return. At 642 h.
stepped on the rope to commences his return pas
sage. lie rested but once lying down on tn
'ed rope for two minutes, accomplishing the rotur,
yer trip in eight minutes.
As soon as he reached the shore The cheer
and shouting were almost dedienng M Blon
rye din, having been permitted an Instant refresh
nd, ment, was seized by the enthusiastic crowd snt
nj placed on their shoulders and horne abont i,
triumph. He was then placed in a carriage an,
escorted through all the principal streets OF tn
ek villSge, the crowd throneing him on all sides
nd and cheering in the widest manner. He dill no
appear very much exhausted and manifested NJ
more fear or nervousness thon any nngymnasti
novice would at eating his breakfast He an
nounces his determination so repeat his feat a
me intervals during the summer.
-. STRANGE EvIngNcE OF VERAclTy.-Peter Yer
''' dine, convict in the State Prison, the othe
''e day coolly and deliheratey laid his finger on
the block took an axe aud Gu. ii off CLOSE to III
ch. hand rolling the finger up in paper he CAV
It to his keeper, saving TO him, "spnd Il TO III
:. Governor as an evidenot Of the tmth." lie ha
'e been en- ieayoring ia get parlonsd. and bein