Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-09-20
A Female s'BIoRdIn'--FrIghtfuI


The London papers contain accounts or a
degrading exhibition at CremOrne, on Mon
dsy evening, the 18Th ult. a female biondlh
had been engaged to cross the Thames on d
tlght rope from the gardens. It Is SAID mat
the actual span of the river at this point IS
1000 feet wide, while the hight or the rope
from the water varies from nifty to ABOUT one
hundred feet. Immense crowds had e~ollected
to witness the feat, and the artistic wheD sue
made her appearance was received with loud
bursts of applause. TwO-tnirds OF TIE as
ance had been accomplished with apparent
cas- and certainty, when the performer stepped
to rest on one Of tue main supports Of the rope.
she remained so long that spprehensi0ns OF a
cORtretsmPs began 70 spread. Nor were they
groundless, for attempts were made by stten-
dants on shore and in boats 70 tighten the re-
naming six or seven hundred feet Of rope.
For q very great part Of this formidable
length no guy lines were TO be seen. There
were tales Of the ropes having been 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 a weari-
some length of time on the narrow ledge on
the summit Of the timber support, the perform
er essaVed to advance. She very soon found
the task too dangerous, and backed to her
awkward resting place. Tue time from ner
first arrival az this point to her hnal quitting II
was fui three quarters OF an hour Again the
female Biondin set forth, and at this time made
90 much progress that when she hesi'ated for
the second time il had become nearly impossi-
bic for her to recede. This she nevertheless
attempted to do, under the greatest difficulties
The rope was swsying like a garden swing.
Cries were raised for a line, and when one was
brought, efforts were made to throw 1t over the
cord on which the poor creature was endeav-
oriDg 10 maintain her balance. The excite
msnt became general and soon grew into alarm.
For while many pacrhed their fears WIN a
half suspicion that the danger was only actedi
but it really soon became too apparent. Twi
light was deepening, and in a little time she
would be unable to see the rope. Having
stood ten minutes or longer, undecided to at
tempt a retreat or an advance, the female Blond
In sat down on the rope, and balanced her pole
across her knees. Renewed efforts were made
to throw cords over the main rope but unsuc-
c~essful. At length an outcTE was made that
she was going to fall. At that moment she re-
! Iinquished Der pole, which came spiashing
down among the boats below.
Ia another she was clinging by her hands,
new to the slight' rope, now 20 a couple Of
weights. aad now to the cord by which that
part of the rope was held in imperfect steadi-
ness. The courage displayed bv her at this
I period was truly admirable. Descending by
the grasp Of a three quarter inch cord, or mere
| whale line, In fact, this daring imitstoT Of the
GHpro Of Niagara" reached in safety a boat
which had been rowed to her rescue. On
| reaching the boat she was loudly ehesred, and
received quite an ovation on her return to the
gardens, where she lamented with tears her
not having completed a task which she felt
thoroughly competent to perform. Her hands
1t is stated, were severely cut BY the line which
had afforded her the means Of escape. It is
stated that this p~erilous exhibition is to be re-
| peated.