The Kanzas news., 1859-07-30
EMPORIA, KANSAs.JULY 80, 1s5s

- - OI9 AocOs
Ehe Lockport IN y Journal & Courier
a-Elng the Gorge Of Niagara River
on fight-Rope.
g the afternoon of June 30th, Mons
/ Bloadln. q Frenchman, walked boldly
aeross the. gorge of Niagara River, on a
single rope, one end of which was fastened
to tree on American SOIL. and the other
attached to one growing on Her Majesty IS
dnmlnlens. This daring feat was witness
led bs thousands of spectators on both sides
! OF the river. The point of ground select
ed Tor Its performance Is about one mile be-
/ low the Cataract, or about equally distant
4 from the Falls and Suspension Bridge
The rope on the American side terminates
siEA forest known as whites pleasure
gnnds, :" which are enclosed, and an ad
Izllsaoa fee of twenty-five cents was de-
manded. In this enclosure was about one
i thousand persons, while the river bank for
one-half mile above and below, was cover
i ed with spectators of the exciting scene.
! On the Canada side there were apparently
i still larger numbers assembled, and more
/ extensive preparations made for the occa-
sion. The distance across the chasm on a
/ straight line, where the rope was suspend
! ed, is about one thousand feet; and the rope,
including the curve, is about 100 feet in
! length. The rope at each end is about 175
j feet from the water, but forms a curve so
/ that the centre is about SO feet nearer the
water.
The rope is secured, or rather its yibra-
tons prevented, by fifty seven guy ropes
on each side, Zone hundred and fourteen in
in all, and extending to the shore at an
/ gle Of about forty degrees with the
rope These are fastened to trees, posts,
and other objects on the bank. The labor
of stretching this rope across the river and
then attaching the guys was immense, and
attended with great peril. On our arrival
on the ground yesterday, about eleven
O'Clock, Mons, Blondin, in day laborer' S
dress, was hard at work putting up his
ropes for performance on land before the
| feat of crossing the river. He is a man of
great phys ysical strength and activity. EY-
erything that he touches seems to part with
its quality of gravitation and partake of the
spirit and rapid movements of the ambi-
| tious tight-rope walker. We informed him
! that we had come to write his obituary, an
ticipating his descent into the river. He
thanked US in broken French for our kind
ness; but it was evident from his appear
anee of unconcern that he had no design
of furnishing an 'sitem'' of that kind. Al
ter taking dinner at the International, at
three O'clock, -ratnrnad to the ground,
| when Mons. Blondin was about commen-
cling his exhibition on the pleasure grounds.
He now wears a wig, elaborately curled; is
dressed in purple plush velvet vest, gay
| ly decorated cap, and white Turkish panta-
| looms None who saw him perform be-
tween the hours of four and FIVE, doubted his
ability to cross the river successfully.
At five O'Clock he appeared at the head of
the cable, and gave the signal to fire the
big gun, cold Lundy's Lane which has
borne that name since taken by Colonel
Miller in the memorable engagement at that
place. From some mismanagment, ''Old
Lundy's Lane'' wouldn't go; but the i'm
patient and daring Frenchman did, amid
the cheers of the multitude assembled on
both sides of the river. Politely offering
TO take any gentleman on his back that de-
sired to accompany him, and finding no
passenger, he waved his hand to the band,
which struck up an inspiring strain, and he
boldly started down the rope over the yaw-
ming channel He bad doffed his cap. wig,
purple vest and trowsers and appeared bare
! headed, in fesh-colored shirt, tights and
hose. When about one hundred feet from
the bank, he paused, sat down on the rope
and laid down on his back. For a moment
the spectators of the scene held their breath,
but were soon ealmed by his evident assu-
rance and composure. After few mo-
ments' rest, Monsieur again arose and
walked nimbly forward, stopping but once
more before reaching the center of the rIv
| er, when he balanced on one foot. again
laid down as though for repose; but be soon
arose, sat up and beckoned TO the -Maid Of
( the 1Kist, which was below with a large
number of spectators on board who prefer
red the 'spit'' to the "gallery." The boat
coming directly under, he let down one end
of ball of twine, taken for that purpose, to
which bottle was attached by those on
/ board. He then threw the other end on the
other side of the rope, which the Maid Of
the Hist drew down, raising the bottle to
the thirsty passenger, from which be drank,
and threw the bottle into the river below.
From this point Monsieur made his way
with rapid pace, without stopping, until he
/ reached the opposite bank, where he was
j warmly greeted, and the anxiety of the
crowd on both sides vented itself in prolong-
ed cheers. AS he approached the Canadi-
an shore7a brass band greeted him with
tsGet out of the wilderness. - The time
occupied in going over was III minutes.
When accomplished, no man pretended
that he had ever seen a feat performed re-
guiring at once so much nerve, muscle and
daring. On arriving on the Canadian side
III. Blondinf gave a performance on tight
rope similar to that given on the American
side.
AT ten minutes past six o'clock 8 shout
from the Canadian side called together what
spectators remained, and Mons B. was seen
/ setting out on his return. The return was
1 l. L IL, ,lr-