Newbern weekly progress., 1860-06-19
FROM OUR CORRESPONDENTS.
First Feat of the seasOn-BlOndin at Mi
aSara Falls.
Rr1rr.1n N Inna 6

| 4
First Feat of the season-Blondin Nj.
| aSara Falls.
BUFFALO, n. Y June 6.
Dear Progress Yesterday, according to wide
~ published advertisement Blondln made his
first grand gymnastic exhibition of the season at
Niagara Falls or rather at Suspension Bridge
Ample facilities were offered for the con-
veyance of sight-seers to the field of operations,
first, by the morning and afternoon trains on the
Niagara Falls Railroad, and second, by the staunch
steamer Clifton which, under the efficient COM
mand of Capt Kingman twice made the voyage
to Chippewa. and in connection with the Erie
and Ontario Railroad landed passengers within a
! few rods of Blondin's enclosure on the Canada
side of the river. / was fortunate enough to be
in time for the O'clock, A. NJ, trip of the Clifton
and had opportunity on floating down the ma
iestc food of the river of the lakes to deliberate
" come to the conclusion that Buffalo people have
at their very thresholds specimen of river see
merry which is very hard to beat either on this or
any other continent.
t Stepping from the cars few hundred feet be-
low the bridge, the preparations which have been
made by the dstn guished acrobat are readily
comprehended. Two or three acres of grount on
either side of the river enclosed by high
board fence. within which seats. have been erec-
ted capable of accommodating vast cencourse
of spectators. Beneath the bridge and along its
whole length awnings have been stretched SO as
to prevent clandestine gazers from the upper side
of the exhibition. The shape of the river bank
on the lower side renders fair view of the rope
almost IMPOSSIBLE outside of the enclosures
The rope, which is new, and of MANILA about
two and half inches thick, costing $l,5OO is Sc
curely anchored by an iron pillar, on each side
Thirtv-two guys, fixed latererally on either hand
extend from the rope, and arc fastened with wind
lasses on the bank By this means, the rope is
steadied, and can be drawn in any position On
the Canadian shore the depot the rope-llne IS
rustic summer house, which visitors will remember
which makes very pleasant point of observation
for a chosen few.
Between three and four o'clock, the crowd be-
gan to gather within the fence and upon the
Bridge. The Bridge Company reserved the right
of taking on a thousand spectators at a quarter
apiece and, as the view from there is fine one,
this point is well patronize1. The roofs of seve-
raj of the buildings in the town were crowded, and
few other precarious localities, from which view
might be obtained were also thronged. Altogeth.
er, we should Judge, about QUO people witnessed
the daring passage.
The hour fixed for crossing four o'clock,
but a number of preliminaries had to be atten-
ded to- and it was five o'clock when Blondin
stepped upon the rope on the American SIDE He
was fancifully attired, somewhat in Indian style.
He wore cap of waving many-colored feathers,
and over his yellow tights light tunc Of
Indian bead-work. His neck and were
bare.
The almost incredible exploits of last summer,
have in great measure prepared peoples minds
for anything which Blondin may choose to do
There is that in his cool, self-possessed, and un
waverng demeanor which takes away, from eye
witnesses of his feats, any feeling of nervous hor-
ror which ought to be felt under the circum-
stances The rope actually seems to be as safe
place for Bondin, the sidewalk is for common
people. The mastery manner in which he does
the deed takes away half its marvelousness to the
unrehectng locker
The rope is 800 feet long; its DETECTION is 60
feet and at the lowest point is two hundred and
thirty feet from the seething t' hell of waters .
which dashes madly down the awful gorge of
Niagara. Blondin ran brisl1ly down the MANILA
slope, pole in hand, for few hundred feet, when
he stopped short-threw out one foot and stood,
poised above the chasm, on the other presenting
from the opposite shore the dimensions of large
sized gnat. A little further he sat down, rest
ing his pole-the same one used by him in st.
James Hall-across his knee, and here in the
most unconcerned manner he rested, waving his
plumed cap to the spectators. In the middle of
the rope he again stopped, and this time lay down.
almost disappearing from sight. his pole mean
while lying across his breast. Up the hill again
he took his perilous way, and within a few hun
dred yards Of the Canadian bank he halted,
struck attitude, and stood for minute
statuesuue and motioness. Nothing could more
illustrate the triumph of human nerve
over the terrors of Nature in her widest mood.
Above the thunderous turmoil of the torrent stood
Monsieur. slim and diminutive, yet sublime in
the consciousness of his nerve and pluck, and
looking for all the world as if he were the presi
ding spirit of all the scene. He landed the
Canadian side in seven and half minutes from
the time of his start rather pale and detected, but
not whit the worse for the journey. He COM
planned of the sun which had shone directly in
his face.
About quarter of an hour afterward, he drank
a glass of lemonade, and started on his return
trip. Fifty yaads out, he went backward, and
again assumed the statuesque pose when Mr..
Evans, who hand with his apparatus, |
took photograph of the hero of the rope. He
crossed, on his return, in about five minutes
and so the exhibition closed.
This is stated to be only the opening of series
of much surprising feats, which will doubt
less draw immense crowds in the of the
season. We understand that Madame BlondIn
yesterday witnessed the unparalleled exploits Of
her husband at the Falls, for the first time.
Among the daring feats advertised during the
summer is the feat of crossing in Stills, which
will be the most daring feat accomplished
by man. CAVALIER.
TRENTON, n. c., June IL.
Dear Progress :-Politics with us is the order
of the times big and little great and small, seem