The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-03-09

DAY OF SENSATIONS-GnEAT EXCITEMENT
IMMENSE CRowDs-BANLoN AND BoND-Thc Oldest
inhabitant scarcely recolect greater mauifes-
tation Of excitement on the streets Of Charleston
than that which occurred yesterday. The causes
were Hanlon and Bond. For months past the public
curiosity on the subject Of velocipedes has been
gradually increasing. Mr. Dues invention, and his
Sunday twinkling through the streets, intensified
the general interest. and Hanlon's huge posters.
with pictor al illustrations OF velocipede race.
wrought the excitement up the highest PITCH ready
to break out in any absurdity at the slightest oppor
tuuity. Tho opportunity was not long wanting. An
authorized notice appeared in The NEWS OF yester
day morning stating that one of the Hsnlons wou d
start with his velocp'de at the the corner nf Queen
and at twelve NJ and give the business
men of East Bay and Broad-street the first op-
portunity Of seeing the mechanical horse. Long
before the appointed hour pc ple gathered In
crowds in the neighbcrhood OF tho designa-
ted starting point and along the proposed route.
and also on Meeting and King streets. They waited
long and PATIENTLY e., however impatient many
of them were, they showed no signs OF it. People
within view Of the corner Of State and Queen streets
were still gazing intently but wearily on that inter-
estiug locality when oil at the cry was raised
that the velocipede had gone up Meetng-sreet and
the moro infatuated portion Of the crowd started in
that direction at run. They were, OF course, too
late. On reaching Meeting-street they found them.
selves among the straggers at the tail-end Of the
crowd running up the street. and seeming to grow
denser as 1t was more distant They we're told that
the velocpedes had gone up to the Washington Race
Course for regular run-best three heats in five.
They took the increased their speed on foot
hoping to be in before the end Of the fun but when
they reached the corner of Hasel aed Meeting
Streets they saw small crow gathered at the door
of the Pavilion Hotel, and were informed that the
Hanlons had been up to the shell road. taken run
up and down, como back and gone into the Pavilion
to take drink. Somebody had been badly sold.
So much for excitement number one Excite
ment number two equally great, but in 1t no.
body was disappointed. All saw rs much as or
more than they expected to see. The account of
Bonds walking on Saturday from the top OF the
Pavilion Hotel to the top OF the store Of Messra.
Strauss Vance Co. on tight rope had spread
through the city like wild fire, and tho announce
ment that he would perform the same feat yesterday
at three p II. drew crowd Of not less than five
thousand persons to see him. Meeting and Hasel
streets we're both blocked for considerable dis
lance each way for more than IN hour and the p az
IN o: the Charleston HOTEL the veranda OF the Pav
ion Hotel aud the windows and roofs IF tue neigh
boring houses were filed with spectators. Bond
perforDe the feat several times with complete cue
cess. Alta height of fifty feet over paved street
he performed all the maneuyres usually performed
by tight ope dancers in circus at height OF eigh
or ten feet over bed of sawdust &c sat down and
got up again, turned somerscts over the wire. bal
anred himself on his back, slipped down aud caught
with his legs. and did many wonderful things
that to say he stood on his head in mid air would
scarcely be On exagseration. He concluded
his performance by walking across on the ropc
dressed IN long calico dress, supposed to represent
the Greclan Bend but IN reality bearing very dis
tant resemblance to tina! striking costume. One
was rather reminded OF the o d nursery thyme,
"Whituer o,d womlu? Whittier so high?
To sweep the cODweos from the skyl"
In the intervals between his performances Eoad
would walk around among the crowd aud take UP q
collection, aud he no doubt made good Gcll o
money by his exhibition The Gro sd was so great
that when it was dispensing Meeting and Hase
streets especially the former, looked Us if long pro
cessions were pour ng through thcn. Bond is St
well satisfied with his receipts that hc says hc will
stay here tho remainder Of the week, performing
every day.