Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1860-06-04
The Rope-waIlxing Mania in New Jersey
De Lave Crosses n Cataract on n Tight

The ROpe-walkinE Mania in New Jersey
De Lave Crosses Cataract on n Tight
rope.
Mons. De Lave, who, following in the wake
of Blondin at Niagara, says Fridays New
York Times, achieved some notorety by his
feats at Rochester, in crossing Genesee Falls
on tight-rope, yesterday gave q similar ex-
hibition at Patterson, N. j., which was wit
messed by many thousand persons The
place selected for the "Grand Ascension
was below the Falls, where the river passes
through gorge at least six hundred feet in
width, and nearly two hundred feet deep.
The rope, which was of MANILA, and OF the
size of an ordinary hawser, was stretched
across the chasm from near "The Cottage on
| the Cliff to the top of morris Mountain"
On the cliff side it was rove through a stout
block near the top of tree, to give 1t the
required hight or level, and was then hove
| taught and firmly secured. Lateral and per-
pendicular stays of small rope were also at
| tached to the large one TO render it firm and
prevent it from swaying under the feet OF the
performer.
In order to turn the affair to the best ac-
count, high board fence protected the en-
| trance to the grounds; but while hundreds
| paid their quarter, thousands who did not pay
| witnessed the feat from prominent points in
| the neighborhoood. Morris Mountain was
y
them being ladies. The "Island, the win
| dows and top of the gun-mill, the print-works
aud machine-shop, commanding view OF
| the scene were alive with people. 1t was
estimated that nearly ten thousand persons
witnessed the sight. Every thing being in
readiness, De Lave made his appearance
shortly after four o'clock, and mounted the
ladder which led to the starting point on the
rope. He was greeted with cheers, which he
Il Aalrs off ND
waving il to the multitude below. He paused
few moments to survey the rope, and aftei
directing that two of the stays, which wer'
| rather slack, should be tightened, he poiset
himself upon the rope, with pole in hand
! and began the walk, keeping time with tn
band, which played "Hail Columbia" Tn
cheers of the multitude We're now hushed
and each one held his breath as the littl
Frenchman walked rapidly forward over th
dizzy hight. The rope slightly swaye'
under his step, but there was no interruption
in his progress, and in about four minutes h
reached the opposite side at the top of MOI
> | rs Mountain
Prolonged cheers now greeted him fror
both sides of the fearful chasm over which h
| had passed. Here De Lave passed anon
| the crowd, receiving what each one woul
. throw into his cap, by which Y is said b
: | realized handsome sum. In ilbout httee
! minutes he again made his appearance, hay
: ing exchanged his jaunty little cap an
5 | feather for drab Kossuth hat. After wavin
! | a signal to the band, which struck up th
"Marseilaise," he began his return. In tn
middle of the rope he stopped, laid dow
: upon his back, rose, sat astride of the rop
4 then on ono side, and repeated these fea
: several times, the spectators cheering fro
both sides Of the river. He concluded h
5 walk, appearing considerably "winded" an
E in profuse perspiration. The performan'
: was now concluded. De Lave gave notice
3 a repetition of the feat on Monday next, wht
) he would walk with peach baskets tied TO b
4 feet stand on his head, and perform 9th
terrific feats" A large number Of pic
y pockets were on the ground, and one ma
4 Israel Mohson, a, butcher doing business
Main-street, lost his pocket-book containiI
4 the ayails Of his weeks business--about $ll