The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1859-08-25

Blondin's Greatest Exploii--II4 Crosses
Niagara River ora ROPE with a Man
! on his Back. g..ga
We take the following from the Buffalo
Commercial Advertiser oft 18th.
+ We have had another sail down oul
noble Niagara, and night well did we en-.
Joy 1t. Often have we said il was one
Of the finest trips one can take. and we
are glad 10 see SO many appreciate the
route. :, Our destination, like that ol
thousands Of others, was the s.cne Of M
Blondin's exploits. In going from Chip.
pewa to the grounds, freight and bag
gage cars were brought into requisition
10 carry the boat load Of passengers
We found every foot Of the ground oc.
cupied, but through the politeness of Mr..
Colcord, obtained an excellent situation.
Blondin crossed from the American to
the Canada side in about ten minutes,
performing nunerop> wonderful feats,
but the crowning feat Of the day was the
one he promised to p rform, though its
practicability was doubted by many
After a rest Of from half to three. quarters
Of nm hour, he proceeded to arrange the
apparatus necessary 10 support man on
his back. this consisted Of belt pass
ing around the waist, supported by straps
over the shoulders; from the sides of the
belt projected iron bands, bent and pad
bed, to support the bend Of the knee Of
the rider. Mr.. Harry Colcord, who &C.
companied M. Blohdin in lis perilous
journey. is is agent. Captain Travis,
as was reported, was to cross. put resign
ed In favor OF Mr.. Colcord, who is abou.
leaving NJ. Bond din. The Captain says
he will cross next trip. Mr.. Colcord is
about twenty eight years Of age, and
weighs one hundred and thirty two
pounds. lie wore his usual dress, with
the exception Of his coat.
We stood by the gentlemen as they
were preparing to start, and not quiver
Of muscle or shade Of fear was per.
ceplble in either. We were astonished
at tI.eir coolness, for they had great and
perlous undertaking before them. Every
thing being ready, at half-past Eve they
started; after walking short distance
they stopped; Mr.. Colcord removed bis
arms from M. 3londin's neck, and his
legs from their position in the irons bands
ant standing upon the rope, rested for
three or four minutes. When ready to
start, Colcord easily regaincd his position.
The walking was very steady considering
that a weight of over two hundred pounds
was being sustained by the rope. The
time occupied in crossing was thirty five
minutes as they rested seven times. AS
they reached the American side, the
excitement was intense--lhe performers
being borne off on the shoulders Of the
crowd. This feat which
Blondin has performed was thought i'm.
possible by nearly ll,for it was feared the
rider would become frightened, and thus
cause Bioudin to loose his balance. The
banks were lined with people as far as
the eye could reach; probably the crowd
was greater than at any previous crossing.
We heard Of no accidents, though some
narrow escapes occurred. A ough-and.
tumble fight was one Of the side shows in
The Queens dominions. a
Next week Blondin crosses the river,
with hi,naa cook stove and
utensils, and will, when in the center OF
his rope, make omelets for the passengers
of the Maid Of the MIST.