The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1869-08-28


Canadian Blondin, and his forte Is In riding
the bicycle on rope. His nrst call for pub
lie attention In this section Of the country
was made In q little handful announcing
that his performances on the tight rope had
astonished the world, and len competitors
far behind" and Furthermore that he would
ride velocipede across Niagara Falls yes
terday afternoon.
Early In the day the crowd around the
Falls was far from small, and by noon the
excursion trains on the Great Western and
Lake Huron railroads had brought thousands
OF people, all anxious to see the man ride
over the Falls In a yclocipede. But the show
was not at the Falls at all, but below suspcn-
sion bridge, on the exact spot where the
genuine Bondin years ago crossed the river
with the man on his back. The rope, two
inches In diameter aud 1000 feet long, was
placed In position last Friday, and made as
secure and tight as possible.
THE "vELocIPEDE" AND TuE ROPE.
The machine used by Professor jenkins Is
not In any sense q velocipede. II is, how
ever, bicycle, and turned upside down
would resemble in some degree a modern
velocipede. The wheels, three inches wide,
are made heavy and Of wood without tires,
but In their places arc grooves one and three
quarter inches deep. The front wheel Is
three feet two inches and the hind wheel
two feet ten inches In diameter. The con.
meeting rods are iron, SO also the balance
pole, which Is 8 feet long and tipped with
ten-pound balls, and weighs twcnty-elght
pounds. The whole thing, with the man
thrown In, weighs 29s pounds, The propel-
ling power is pinion cog-wheel made Of
brass, about nine inches In diameter, which
lie made 10 gear to coggs which surround the
front wheel at the bottom Of the groove.
II was supposed, naturally enough, that
man riding across the Niagara river on a
single rope would draw O large crowd Of
people to the falls; but II costs money to
buy ropes and build fences; and those in-
terested solicited subscriptions to dcfray ex-
penses. The amount raised on both sides Of
the river was $3.50, Of which the Elgin
house gave $50. II was also agreed that
half the receipts at the bridge should go 10
the performer. The expenses were about
81, 900, the rope alone costing $3.50.
The 1000 feet Of good two-inch hemp rope
stretched across the chasm, 900 feet above
the boiling flood, was the fret object 10 be
gazed upon by the crowd, but you could not
reach II without paying 25 cents, which a
great many did, and were rewarded by close
inspection. The cable was fastened securely
and immovably on the American shore, but
on the Canada shore coiled around wind
lass to facilitate tightening, and then twisted
and tied around couple OF cedar stumps.
The detection OF the rope was about 30 feet.
Photographers were early on the ground,
and secured the best locations for their
cameras.
now 1T WAS DONE.
At $50 o'clock the Professor made his
| appearance at the small house on the Can
| ada side with the pieces Of his machine, aud
at once proceeded TO put them together, a
task Of no small labor. With the aid OF his
men he first placed the fore wheel on the
| rope Just at the edge Of the precipice, and
while one man balanced II, another placed
on the standard from the under side, thus
bringing two strong bars OF iron on either
side Of the rope.
All the joints were securely fastened with
| bolts. The braces or connecting rods ex-
tending from the standard to the rear SHAH In
the form Of the letter made the connection
complete and very strong. The Professor
then got outside OF the rope, arranged the
pinion wheel aud fastened the balance. pole
across the D part Of the braces. This done,
the seat, q strip Of leather, was secured to
the rear axle by means Of straps. This ar
raugemcnt, which II was seen at once would
throw the entire weight OF the machine and
the rider under the rope, was a source Of
disappointment, If not OF relief, to many Of
| the spectators, who. not consulting the inven-
| tive genius OF the Canadian Blondin, rather
expected to sec him mounted on a Green
wood velocipede, which, Of course, would
give good chance for ground and lofty
tumbllng.
All being In readiness, the bicycle was f,s-
tened by rope to the bank, and jenkins,
who had supcrintended all the operations,
started for his hotel to robe. During his
absence the crowd viewed the machine criti-
cally, and murmurs Of "humbug," "sold,"
"who couldn't" &c, were heard, but as
| general thing the crowd were pleased with
the ingenious method In which the great
danger supposed to be involved in the under
taking had been avoided. BY this time the
people who had been pouring II on excur-
! sion trains from alt parts Of Canada, had
assembled In convenient localities for obser-
walton, to the number Of perhaps 5000.
The lion made his second appearance at
$3.50 O'Clock, dressed for the performance.
He wore white tights, black velvet knee
breeches, shouder-straps and cross-belts of
the same material, and on his head was
| placed crown-shaped hat; and all were
Profusely bedecked with t.nsel and beads.
His feet wcrdl covered with buff mOccasins.
Before alighting from the carriage,
jenkins stopped and talked with our re-
porter; but there was q little nervousness
apparent about his eyes and mouth, which
perhaps was caused by over smoking or the
enormous quid of tobacco he was seen to
bite from borrowed plug.
| FALSE START.
| We gave him a word of encouragement
and he at once took his position astrlde the
rope and proceeded TO arrange the leather
strap or seat, which, as II was allowed to
touch the rope, seemed more for the purpose
OF protecting the velvet pants from damage
by atritlon than to sit upon. In fact, he
did not sit but stood up with his feet about
eighteen inches apart, resting on the balance
pole. In moment he grasped the handles
| OF the plnion wheel, and turned them, NOV
Ing slowly from the bank, the crowd pre-
serving death-like stiffness.
After passing out few yards halt was
made, aud the photographers were allowed
to take his picture. He then returned and
waited five or ten minutes and resumed his
seat. Three pistol shots were then fired
from the Canadian side, and 1t was
90.
The machine moved slowly forward, the
rope swaying. gently from side to side until
he had passed out about 1fty feet, when an
other opportunity was offered the artist,
after which he crawled along at a snail's
pace to the middle Of the abyss, where he
raised and waved his hat, aud received q
faint cheer In response. From the centre to
the American shore It was evidently hard
work to Propel the bicycle, but at last the
edge OF the cliff was reached, and then the
welkln did ring with the applause Of the
people. The time occupied In passing over
the rope was Just eleven mlnutes.-B,.GaIo
ELprssS, 26M.
The DRoUGHT.-The 81. Mary's Beacon Of
Thursday says
The cry OF drought! drought" like the
"Wolf' cry Of the fable, has al last come to
be no idle exclamation. 1t has obtained In
the last week or so q terribly substantive
meaning In this latitude. From all sections
Of our county, from nearly every neighbor-
hood, from personal observation aud the |
most reliable sources of inquiry are our crop
data drawn, and we feel fully authorized to |
say that no such general disaster to our two |
great staples-corn and tobacco-has oc-
CURED In the life of the present generation |
as now prevails In our county. Unless our
own eyes have cheated us and we have been |
deceived by others, the fourth OF an average
crop OF corn aud the third OF an average |
crop OF tobacco are the most this year that |
can now be reasonably hoped for under the |
most favorable conditions Of the weather. |
We speak, OF course, Of the general pros |
pect. There may be, and there doubtless Is, |
on some estates better promise, owing to |
local causes, but this, too, must inevitably |
wither unless we have rain In a few DAYS,
aud OF this at present writing we see not |
the slightest DFOsDect, The thouphtfnl of |