The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1865-08-31


NAGARAFALLs, August II.
Your correspondent, CHANGING to ii
over It this plato yesterday ai,srnoor
was sno1g the spectators At the pesforn
spcs Of Leslie, the competitor Of Blond
in the foolhardy feat Of crossing th
river below Suspeusion Bridge on tigh
rope. II came very nesr being the ias
OF Leslie's exhibitions in thss line, .
rather on that line. He has, il seems
arrangements with the hotel keepers an,
Others interested in Nisgars crowds
to give a series OF these entertainments
and 30 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
o. this occasion Leslie >came down tc
the scene of operations about four O'Clock
in a carriage, accompanied as usual by
his wife and child. The former, if she
feels anxiety, has the skill to dissemble
it. and publicly dismisses her spouse
forth to his narrow Ii0s Of business with
an easy smile. Leslie 10 irish, and quite
hero with his Celtic friends. He va.
ries Blondin's feats with considerable
ingenuity, aud really manages to combine
quite - satisfactory amount Of blood
curdl katures for the delectasion Of
He first went rapidly out upon the rops
with only his balancing polo and display
ed wonderful agility and strength 10 the
deIicacy Of poisc and ease with which he
went through the more common roles Of
the rope walking fraternity. He hung
BY ono hand, by one leg, he did every
thing bu. hang by his cyel;ds, and came
80 near this, that it would have scarcely
added to the entertainment had he done
So
Then he went back up the curve of the
rope to the bank, and after a temporary
disappearance came forth with his feet
an peach baskets. Literally so, for each
foot was strapped firmly to the bottom of
. common splint peach basket, which
rose about his calves like the wide boots
Of the cavaliers. Thus shod he set off
on bis journey. TWAS slow and pain.
full one. The spectators, about a thous.
and in number, held their breath as be
made his deliberate and careful progress,
swiogiDg his legs 10 vide circles to carry
forward his novel footgear. Ooce in the
middle Of the rope he hit one basket with
the other aud . thrill ran through the
spectators at the evident shock it gave
him He however crossed in safety, and
. tremendous cheer rose from either
shore. Much fatigued by the strain on
nerve and muscle, he waited for quite on
interval before introducing his third act.
In this he came on with three pals of
water, which he was to carry over tho
river without spilliog. One was held in
q tiu case fitted to bis head like q cap.
The others were fastened over bis hands
by straps and 50 he set out carrying his
balancing pole. He had, however, over.
rated his strength, so bis friends say, |
who blame him for not declining q
further test Of skill on that day. He
moved steadily down the rope, but with
less Iightness and confidence 10 his mo
lions than formerly. He had proceeded
half way across the river and just com
menced the ascent Of the wide curve of
the rope, when suddenly he became
unsteady, attempted in vain to save him.
self, aud fell from the rope. The pals
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 impos-
s'ble that the man was not lost, but in
falling he caught by one hand, and SO
hung. 1t was not a trick of the rope
walker to lend fresh zest to his perform
ance. He caught at the rope back.
handed, and arrested his fall violently a:
arms length: 1t was with difficulty he
reached the rope with his other hand,
and still more difficult was it for Kim to
draw himself upon the rope. Indeed it
seemed doubtful for many painful seconds
that seemed like minutes, whether he
could regain the top of the rope. His
struggles were watched with silence, but
with the everywhere-appareut apprehen. |
sion that it was struggle of life or death
lie hung by one leg and both hands for
still longer period until by violent
oxer'lon he threw himself across the rome
lie then sat for at least ten minutes ON |
the rope until he recovered little from
the effects of the fearful expose, and
made his way to shore, emitting the rest
OF the performance and being rapidly
driven away in close carriage. The
alarm among his friends WAS intense,
though. they presently so nearly recover
ed as to indulge in CHASTITY Jokes at Les
lies sell 1t was evident: however, that
it came nesv being a fatal end to rash
career, and it IS not believed Leslie's
physical condition will enable him to
resume his fcats at present. There were
present only about one thousand persons
the attractions having lost their sharp
ness. Perhaps this fresh hint of it.
deadly and imminent peril will revive
the attendance of those who 90 to such
scenes with the inner conviction, which
IS neither the wish nor the hope, tn a,
they may on some of these scenes, be ~,
1t the death" as those who still live I,
tell of Sam Patch's last leap. The who'll
r