The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1869-09-15
Velocipede Ride Across Niagara

Velocipede Ride Across Niagara
PROFESS JENKINS EXPLOIT
We copy as follows from the Buffalo
Express of the Goth:
At 2:3O o'clock the Professor made
his appearance ut the small house oU
the Canada side with the pieces of his
and at once proceeded to INIT
them together, n task of no small lalor
With the aid of his men he first placeil
the fore wheel on the rope just at the
edge of the precipice, and while one
man balanced it, another placed il on
the standard from the under side. thus
bringing two strong bars of iron on
either side OF, the rope. All the joints
we're securely fastened with bclts,-
The braces or connecting rods extend.
ing from the standard to the rear SHAFT
in the form Of the letter O made thu
connection complete and very strong
The Professor then got outside Of the
rope, arranged the pinion wheel and
fastened tho balance pole across thelO
part Of the braces. This done. the
seat, q strip Of leather, was secured to
the rear axle by means of straps. This
arrangement, which it was seen at once
would throw the entire weight of the
machine and the rider niiJer the rope,
was source of disappointment, ii NOT
of relief, to many of the spectators,
who, not consulting the inventive GO
Mus of the Canadian Blondin, rather
expected to see him mounted on 4
Greenwood velOcipede, which, Ofcourse
would give good chance for ground
and lofty tumbling.
MURMURs.
All being in readiness the bicycle
was fastened by rope to the bank.
and Jenkins, who had superintendent
all the operations, started for his hotel
to robe. During his absence the crowd
viewed the machine cratically, and
murmurs of "huinbug," "sOld," "who
couldn't etc., were heard. 6ut AZ a
general thing the crowd were pleased
with the ingenious method in which
the great danger supposed to he in
vOlved in the undertaking had been
avoided. By this time the people who
had been pouring in on excursion
trains from all parts of Canada, had
assembled in convenient localities for
observation, 70 the number Of perhaps
5000.
The lion made his second appearance
at $3.50 o'clock, dressed for the perform
ance. He wore white tights, black
velvet knee brooches, shoulder straps
and cross-belts of the same material,
and ON his head was placed erOwM
shaped hat; and all were IrUfasely
bedecked with tiusel and heads. His
feet were covered with buff mocasins.
Before alighting from the carriage, Jen-
kins stopped and spoke to our report
err but there was little nervousness
apparent about lis eyes and mouth,
which, perhaps, was caused by over
smoking, or the enormous qnid of to-
bacco he was seen to bite from bor-
rowed plug.
FALSE s1AuT.
We gave him q word Of encourage
iaeut, and hc at once took his position
astride the rope, and proceeded to ar
range the leather strap or scat, which,
rs it was allowed to toucl, the r0pe,
seemed moro for the purpose Of pro-
tecting the velvet pants from damage
by attrition than to sit upon. In fact,
ne aid not sit, but stoud mp with his
feet about eighteen inches apart, rest
ing on the balance pole. In "A moment
he sraspel the handles Of the pinin.
wheel, and turned them, moving slow
" from the bank, the crowd preserving
u deatll-like stiffness. After pass'"::;
out few yards II halt was made. and
tho photographers were alluwca t'
take his picture. He then returned
and waited five or ten minutes and re-
sumcd his seat. Three pistol shots
were then fired from tho Canadian side,
and it was u go. The machine moved
slowly forward, the rope swsiying gent
ly from side to side until l,e had pass
ed out about fifty feet, when another
opportunity was given the artist, alter
which lie crawlel along at a snail's
pace to the middle of the abyss, where
he raised and waved his hat, and re-
ccivcd n faint cheer in response. From
the centre to the American slsOre it was
evidently hard work to propcl tile bicy
Gle, but at last the edge Of the cliff was
reached, and then the welkin did ring
with the applause of the people. The
time occupied in passing over the ropc
was just eleven minutes.
t45 ~
| II English Female BitteB Strengthen,
4 females.
i Husbands should buy E. f. Is. for sicl
wives.
I +. +. d. brings health and induces hap
pinesss-,