The Howard union. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1865-1866, 1865-08-31
Correspondence of the Chicago Tribune.
\ THRILLING SCENE OF PERIL


The American BIondin on the
Tight KOpe-ae Crosses i'm Peach
Baskets and with Three Pals of
Water-His EaRA from the Rope
Narrow Escape from a Fearful
Death.
CATARACT HOUSE, Niagara Falls, Aug. IL.
Your correspondent, CHANGING to lie over
at this place yesterday afternoon, was among
the spectators at the performance of Leslie,
the compdb beIs. OF Blondin in the foolhardy
feat Of crdssfAs,she river below Suspension
Bridge on tight rope. 1t came very near
being the last of Lesle's exhibitions in that
line, or rather on that line. He has, it
seems, arrangements with the hotel keepers
and other parties interested in Niagara
crowds, to give series of these entertain
ments, and in addition receives the gate
money for admission to the enclosures at
the ends Of the rope, on either bank, which
gives the best views of the performance.
On this occasion Leslie came down to the
scene of operations about four o'clock in o
carriage, accompanied as usual by his wife
and child. The former, if she feels ankle
ty, has the skill to dissembe it, and publicly
dismisses her spouse forth TO his marrow
line of business with an easy smile. Leslie
is Irish, and quite hero with his Celtic
friends. He varies Blondin's feats with
considerable ingenuity, and really manages
to combine quite satisfactory amount Of
blood curdling features for the deleotation
Of gazers.
lie first went rapidly out upon the rope
with only his balancing pole and displayed
wonderful agility and strength in the deli
cacy Of poise and ease with which he went
through The more common roles of the rope
walking fraternity. He hung by one hand,
by one leg, he did everything but hang By
his eyeids, and came SO near this, that it
would have scarcely added 10 the entertain
ment had he done so.
Then he went back up the curve Of the
rope to the bank, and after q temporary
disappearance came forth with his feet an
peach baskets. Literally so, for each foot
was strapped Hrmly to the bottom Of u com
mon splint peach basket, which rose about
his calves like the wide boots Of the oava-
liers. Thus shod he set off on his journey.
1t was a slow and painful one. The spec
tators, about thousand in number, held
their breath as he made his deliberate and
careful progress, swinging his legs in wide
circles to carry forward his novel foot gear.
Once in the middle of the rope he hit one
basket with the other and a thrill ran through
the spectators at the evident shcck it gave
him, He however crossed in safety, and q
tremendous cheer rose from either shore.
Much fatigued by the strain on nerve and
muscle, he waited for quite an interval be-
fore introducing his third act. In this he
came OH with three pals of water, which he
was 10 carry over the river without spill
ing. One was held in tin case fitted &c
his head like a cap. The others were fast
ened over his hands by straps; and SO he SET
out carrying his balancing pole. He had,
however, overrated his strength, SO his
friends say, who blame him for not declining
further test Of skill on that day. He
moved steadily down the rope, but with
less lightness and confidence in his motions
than formerly. He had proceeded half way
across the river, and just commenced the
ascent of the wide curve of the rope, wher
suddenly he became unsteady attempted il
vain TO save himself, and fell from the rope
TIL epails went down sheer two hundred
feet into the swift rush Of waters Fastening
to the whirlpool. The spectators CLOSED
their eyes in horror. 1t was believed i'm
possible that the man was not lost, but il
h. falling he caught by one hand, and SO hung
1t was not trick Of the rope-walker tt
lend fresh zest to his performance. H,
caught at the rope back handed, and arrest,
ed his fall violently at arms length.
was with difficulty he reached the rop,
= with his other hand, and still more Difficult
was it for him to draw himself upon tn
rope. Indeed it seemed doubtful for man
= painful seconds that seemed like minutes
: whether he could regain the top of tn
= rope. His struggles were watched wit
silence, but with everywhere appnren
apprehension that it was struggle of Iii
or death. He hung by one leg an
= both hands for still longer period until b
q violent exerGon he threw himself acros
the rope. He then sat for at least ten mir
. utes on the rope until he recovered litll
e. from the effects of the fearful expose, ar
in made his way TO shore, emitting the rest
er the performance and being rapidly drive
ne away in close carriage. The alarm amoI
- his friends was int ense, though the
Isl presently SO nearly recovered as to ihdule
in ghastly jokes at Leslie's sell. 1t vi
GNlNGlti HuWSFtIi lHdl IL DSlAlS
- fatal end TO rash career, and it is not b
lieved Leslie's physical condition W
enable hIm 10 resume his feats at preseI
There were present only about one thousa'
persons, the attractions having lost the
sharpness. Perhaps this fresh hint Of
deadly and imminent peril will revive the
ma ma tendance of those who go to such scenes wi
al. the inner conviction, which is neither I
i a wish nor the hope, that they may on sol
of these scenes, be sin at the DEATH"
ol- those who still live to tell OF Sam Patel
1sstt last leap. The whole business, of viii
Leslie and Blondin are the leaders, is
all basing and inhuman, and perhaps will OF
na nc. be checked as tavorite pastiae Of certa
=" class of people, by some such horror re
Id ized as that which so nearly overlook LeSl
of