The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1860-09-12
Blondin and Farini at Niagara.
The Buffalo Express Of the 3oth ul

The Buffalo Express of the 3Oth ult =,
recounts the fea,s of the rival rope walk.
ers over the Niagara as follows:
The announcement that these uotori.
Gus individuals would each carry man
upon their respective backs over their re
spectlve caples, drew a crowd TO the Falls
yesterday. At least one thousand Der
sons went from this city BIondin's per
tormance WAS witnessed by, we should
say, four thousand people, stationed with.
in his enclosures on the American and
Canadian sides, and upon the Bridge.
Precisely at four o'clock the French
man made hls appearance, and ran out
upon his rope. Having proceeded per
haps two hundred feet, he commenced a
serles of gymrastic exercises that we ven.
ture 10 say lao other man in the world
would dare attempt FIRST he Law full
length upon the rope; then tie turned a
number ot back somersauIts; then he
hung by bo;h feet; then bv one foot ::
then 10y one leg crooked at the knee Joint:
then he stood upon his head These
teatS were performed with amazing rnp
iGuy-a rapIdi;y that WAS fearful! TO wi,
hess or would havc been but for the per
tcct sell possession that was apparent in
every notion.
Having reached the centre of his rope,
Blondrn laid aside his balance pole. plac.
ed hIs stomach upon the cable and went
through the motions Of swimming, after
which be descended the swing. which is a
permanent fixture At that point. This
swing hangs about thirty Zee, below the
caOe Here he sets himself whir!inu.
making eighteen revolutions in about as
many seconds, performing various other
surprising festS concluding and cjimaxing
the who!e 5v hanging 10 the swiag with
his head downwards. lie then ascended
/" the cable, picked up his pole and ,rot.
ted to ihe Canada side. The time occu
pied in the whole journey WAS little over
fifteen minutes.
After a delay Of about halr an hour,
which Was rnaluIy occupied in adjusting
the guys, Monsieur B,oudin made his an.
pyarancc on the Canada end Il the cable,
bearing his agent, Mr.. Harry Colcord,
upon his back. Considering the fac; tha,
MIR ColcOrd weighs one hundred and
forty five pounds, and that B.ondin him
self weighs bat one hundred and twenty
hive, II may he imagined tha, he had
pretty good load to carry. 1t WAS per
trctIy wonderful 10 witness the ease with
winch BI"ndIn achieved this most diff.
cult and dangerous undertaking. Col
cord left his prrch-we cannot think of a
better w"rd-lUt twice during the entire
walk, and then merely stool upon the
rope !or half a minute or SO, for the pur
pose Of STRENGTHENING out" In exactly
fourteen minutes from tie time they left
the Canada shore they were received up
on the Americas side with the hearty
plaudrts Of the assembled thousands.
Farini started with his mana Cana.
dian by the name Of McMullen-at five
o'clock. lie entered upon his task with
evident fear and trembling, and proceed.
ed with 1t in bungIing and awkward
manner. Having gone about fifty, feet,
he compelled his animate load TO descend
legs, place its hands upon his shoulders.
and lrudge along after him. 1t was car
ry and unload, unload and carry for three.
quarters Of au hour that he occupied in
hIs performance hich is ackuowl.
eiged by al to have been an exceedingly
sorry one 1t was witnessed by less than
fifteen hundred persons. Farini may have
pluck, but no lacks tact aud experience.
lie may aspire to be called the rival of
B!ondin, but at presen, he must consent
to be kHo"n merely as lis imira,or.