The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-12-29
A THRILLING SCENE.
Blsndin and his Bicycle ON the Tight
Rope.

An English paper thus details thrilling
AFFAIR which occurred lately during one OF Blon
din's exhibitions:
After he had crossed in sack, stood on a chair
and had done some OF his minor feats, It was
slackened so considerably tint it would be neces
sary to tighten It, In order to allow his perform.
Ing his new and extraordinary feat OF crossing Il
on bicycle, and he was, therefore, compeIIet TO
appeal to the audience for time to tighten the
rope. Half an honr was asked for and ohecrfuy
ened and the rope tightened IN some % alcuiay cUns
was was ionnd In Iexng the pole TO which the guys
Of the rope havns 9 the io1n teGn
ont OF the ground. Quite three.qnarterys
OF OIL an an hour our elapsed before this was done,
from the west end OF the building carried s liz
assistant as over on his back II was evident, from
poles, that during this passage across the ronc
slackened great DEAL but Blondn either did
nof M observe this or did not think il important,
lot aiter snort interval, during Which he chang,
Gu Gu h!s dress, he appcared on Ills bioycic, and
amId ahs cheers ottlie snecta!eFs started On wHa'
gone far when II became apparent from The dc.
cline In the rope that IL had slackened very much
cles and the impossIblty OF propciling them up
hi began TO calculate tile probabilities Of
Sys eei np the o,ner ene end e Of S sr
but Blondin looked extrcinc,r C, d and c0nIi,ler
:na no fears for hla safety seemed to be enter
tAInca till' alter stopping ccvcrly about mid
way, nc began to traverse the incline. II then
nscame apparent, from the gradual Stacking OF
Ais speed, that he was doing some hard work.
and murmurs began 10 rise from the audience.
when about twenty yards from the landing stage
ne came to dead stop and appeared to rest, bal.
ancng himself cautiously will great pole lie
carried. He then made another effort and got
few yards further, when lie stopped again. II
then hccame apparent that lie could not get
further, as, although to the danger Of disturbing
his equilibrium, hc tried TO jerk the machine for.
ward. It refused TO move. The scene that then
enBued was most exciting. People left their seats:
ladies', with frightened faces, mndc for The doors
and the general mass OF the people at the east end
OF the building made rush TO the west end
hundreds jumping into the arena. When the rush
and noise had subsidized, marvellous stiffness
succeeded: The crowds on the aoor bencaih the
rope, and In the galleries nearest the spot seemed
TO be hushed In eager expectation OF something
unpleasant, gazing with horror.stricken faces on
the performer, who sat motlonlcss Ms u statue OIL
the rope about six yards from the landing place.
while his assistant leaned over the stage, mid nn
peared to be speaking to him, but looked helnlcss
In the emergency. After q delay OF two or three
minutes, which seemed an age the assistant cyj.
denty BY Blondinfs directions, procured n rome.
and this he threw out cautiously. Il fell OH ihe
performers shoulders, and hc with some djllcuI.
", sustained the pole with one hand while will
the other, he tied the rope round his waist. Tho
assistant then gently pulled him in. Every move
OF tae wheels was watched by the audience in
silent horror till the machine ran on the landing
stage, when the suppressed excitement culmIna
te1 In one great shout OF Joy, succeeded by the
Hldest demon 3trations,