Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1861-10-23
A Frightful Scene.

u" eNhioHioh at Iremorne, on Monday
evening the 18th ultimo. A female Blon-
din had been engaged to cross the Thames
on tight rope from the garden. 1t IS
said that the actual span of the river at
this point is two thousand feet wide. while
.he height of the rope from the water va.
ried from fifty to one hundred feet. In
mense crowds had collected to witness the
feat, and the artistic when she made her
appearance was greeted with loud bursts
OF applause. Two.tblrds of the distance
had been accomplished with apparent t
case and certainty, when the performer
stopped TO rest on one of the main sup
ports OF the rope. She remained so long
that apprehensions of cQateteap8 began
to spread Nor were they groundless, for
attempts were made by attendants on
shore and in boats to tighten the remain
ing six or seven hundred feet of rope
For very great part OF this formidable
way, no guy-ropes were to be seen. There
were reports of the ropes having been cut
IN the course of the preceding night for
the sake of the weight by which the main
cord was or should have been made steady.
On the other hand, it was alleged that
these weights or guys had never been put
up.
After sitting wearisome length of time
on the rarrow ledge on the summit of the
timber support, the performer essayed 10
advance. She very soon found the task
too dangerous, and backed to her awk-
ward resting place. The time from her
first arrival at this point 10 her finally
quitting it was full three quarters of an
hour. Again the female Biondin set forth.
and at this time made so much progress,
that when she hesitated for the second
time it had become nearly impossible for
her to recede. This she nevertheless at.
tempted 10 do under the greatest difficul>
ties. The rope swayed like a garden
swing, Cries we're raised for line, and
when one was brought efforts were made
to throw i. oven the cord on which the
poor creature endeavored to maintain her
balance.
The excitement became general and
soon grew into alarm. For while many
pacified their fears with half suspicion
that the danger was only acted, but its
reality soon became apparent. Twilight
was deepening and in little time she
would be unable to see the rope Having
stood fd ten minutes or longer, ufdecded
whether TO attempt retreat or an ad.
vance, the female Blondin sat down on
the rope, ana balanced her pole across her
knees. Renewed efforts were may TO
throw cords over the main ropes, but with.
out success. at lenth an outcry was made
that she was going TO fall. At that time
she relinquiShed her pole, which came
splashing down among the boats below.
In another she was clnging by her hands,
NOW to the tight" rope, now to a couple
of weights, and now to the cords by which
part of the rope was held in perfect
steadiness. The courage displayed by her
at this time was truly admirable. Des~
cending by the grasp Of three quarter
inch cord, or mere whale line, in fact, this
daring imitator of the "Iero of Niagara"
reached in safety boat that had been
rowed to her rescue. On reaching the
boat she was loudly eheered, and received
quite an ovation on her return to the gar
dens, where she lamented with tears her
not having completed task which she
felt perfectly competent to'perform' Her
hands, it is stated, were severely cut by
the line which had afforded her the means
Of escape.