Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1859-07-06
THE GREAT FEAT AT NIAGARa

Description ofthe Locaiity-THe Rops-Ho,r
~ ,ras Stretched ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS of W.
BIondiR-The Croicds Press,,t-Gyeaf En-
h~stasm-Ihs Crossi8g-BiondiR PaUses
across The Retnrn Cock and Bull
Stones, DC, 9e.
tICOrresPondence of the Phila. Evening Bulletin
NIAGARA FALLS, June 80, Up. m.-fhe great
feat of NJ. Blondin has been accomplished,
fact you have doubtless heard long before this
reaches you. The place where the feat was
accomplished was about mi1way between the
Falls and the Suspension Bridge. The river
at this point is some 1S0 feet below the top Of
the Canadian bank, and probably some 20 feet
Jess on the American side, owing to q depres.
|siOn. The rope DETECTED over the gorge to the
amount of full one-third, and was secured by
fifty seven guys on each side, making one hun
Idred and fourteen in all, including large stays
|lrunning from near the centre downwards and
fastening to the rocks on each side The rope
was not quite straight across, but bore some
what up stream, owing to the inequality of
strain upon the different guys which had to be
constantly frightened The guys were all fas-
tened to trees on the rivers banks, and reach
from near the centre Of the stream to dis
tance Of three or four hundred feet on each
side Of the point of termination. The distance
across the gorge at this point is about 1000
feet, and the length of the main rope is about
1900 feet The labor of stretching it across was
immense, and full of peril besides Some four
or five days were spent in getting the first line
across, after which line was hauled over,
and subsequently the rope or cable itself.
During this latter process il was discovered
that the smaller rope was parting, owing to
the tremendous strain Of the current and
Mons. Blondin, with another line attached to
his person, descended the bank on the 4 line
and spliced it over the yawning gulf of waters
L went on the grounds at 3 O'clock, and the
crowd was beginning to pour in rapidly from
all quarters. A place on the American side
was fenced off, in which the private perform
ance was to take place, the proceeds Of which
were to enable NJ. Blondin to pay the expense,
IN measure, for ropes, labor, etc. At 81
o'clock the crowd on both sides Of the river
was immense, and Ii was variously estimated
at from 1000 to 5000, which, 1 Judge, is near
correct, all waiting with bresthless anxiety
for the arrival of the great Blondin. The
american and French flags waved together on
the American side, and the American and
English on the Canadian. On the latter side
Of the river substantial staging was erected,
and a band stationed upon one of them, who
discOursed music to keep the impatience of the
crowd down rs much as possible.
On the American side of the river, various
shows, hurdygurdy players, and things of that
kind were in full blast and strong in number.
A short harangue on Temperance and Slavery
was attempted by an individual of his protege,
boy about twelve years Of age, but the crowd
hooted him down; nothing would take except
Bl)ndin.
At twenty minutes of four, Blondin arrived
on the ground in barouche. or q cab raced;
the cab was tastefully fitted with the Ameri-
can flag, and cards stuck in the side with the
inscription; ...a