The Lambertville press. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1858-1???, 1860-07-18

WILLIE ACCOUNT OF BIoNDIN.
the Home journal for last week, Mr..
n. P. Willis gives one of his sketchy
accounts Of his visit TO Blondin's per-
formance at Niagara
A8 we approached Niagara, the
printed advertisement, distributed
through the cars, informed US that NJ.
Blondin was to walk the rope across
the rapids that afternoon--an unex.
pected sight, for which we determined
to expedite our dinner, and defer the
contemplation Of the cataract. We
joined the crowd towsrd the show in
t'l5 middle of the afternoon, and en-.
tered the enclosure ct the republican
end Of the rope (the other end, Of
course, being in her Majesty's domip.
ion, for the accommodation Of the
more privileged spectators.) There
was q great rush OF the entrance, and
we had some trouble to guard the Ia.
dies who were with US against the
rudeness Of two or three well dressed
men, who, thought, must have been
dining too freely--explained afterwsrd
by the fact that their unnecessary 81.
bowling and crowding we're merely to
call of attention while they picked nay
companions pocket! The wallet
which they stole (minus $500 and some
private papers which it contaiped)
was found the next morning under the
Suspension Bridge near by,
A band Of music was out-plsying
the roar of Niagara very vigorously.
and, in front of the raised seats, stood
rough board shanty which was to be
the dressing-room Of the performer !;
and reaching from thissto the rope
was fenced in passage way, at the
extremity of which, near the brink Of
the precipice, succeeded in getting
the most favorable stand The view
of the fearful rapids below the occs-
sional passing Of a railway train across
the chasm by that miracle Of mechanic
ingenuity the suspension bridge the
sublime scenery of the opposite shore,
end the comments of the surrounding
crowd, helped to while swsy the hour
or two of expectation, under n very
hot sun. "a. as. s8
Retiring to his sdanty. for n minute
or TIVE, after al vas arranged, his re-
appearance was announced by grand
utmost-isnia from the bapd, and for
ward ceme Tecumseh with @ high
crown Of many-colored feathers on
his head--not with a, slow pace, as
would be expected from: an Indian
chief, Int dancing a@jig all the way to
the prscipice. 1t vas curious, how
ever, TO sec that the smile on his lip,
and bis other signs Of meriment for the
many, were altogether mechanical and
artificial, while the closely pressed eye
lid, through which his keen blue eye
was hardly visible, showed the inner
minds utter absorption and concen-
tration in the work be. had to do.
The rope was drawn from shore to
shore, eight hundred feet across and
two hundred and fifty feet high over
the Niagara rspnIs--a perilous bridge
for human feet to walk ! / took hoM
OF his arm as he stood trying the rope
for q moment, with the ball of bis foot.
1t was like bunch of iron wire, quite
unimpressibie. And away be went
his moccasined feet hugging the sides
of the swaying cable, his balance pole
playing up and down, and his little
figure gradually diminishing as he
walked steadily on and reached the
middle of the chasm, where he pro.
ceeded to stand on one leg, holding
the other ont at right anglesi The
spectators, Of coures, were all breath.
lsasly ailsnt-~though ] fonnd it much