Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1870-01-07
BL0ADlh.
Thri ling Scene ON Tight Rope

Thri ling Scene on n Tight Rope.
Au English paper thus details n thrilling
affair W hich occurred during one Of Bon |
din's recent exhibitioust
After he had crossed in n sack, stood in n |
sack, stood In chair, and had dono some
of his minor feats, it was found that the
rope, which was new one had slackenel |
so considerably thai il would be ne essary
to zig hi EN- it, in order to allow OF his per-
forming his new snd extraordinary feat of
crossing il on a bicycle, and he was, th-re
fore, compelled to appeal to the audience
| foi time TO tighten the rope. Half an hour
was asked for and cheerfully granted. but,
after the guy ropes had been loosened and
the rope tightened up, some difficulty was
| found in refxing the poe into which the
| guys were attached, in consequence Of the
tension Of the rope having dragged them
| forcibly out Of the ground. Quite three
| quarters of an hour elapsed before this was
| done, and then blondin appeared again, a I'D
| starting from the west end of the bdilding
carried his assistant over on his back. Ii
1t was evident, from the lowering of some
ballast bags on tie guy poles, that during
this passage &C oss, the rope slaoksnel n
| great deal but Bloudin either did not Oh
serve this or did not think il important, for
otter a short interval, during which he
changed hisldress, he appeared on Ii bicg
Gle, and amid the cheers of the spectators
started on what seemed an awfully
perilous journey. lie had not gon
for when Il became apparent from The de-
| inc of the lope that II had slack n ID very
, much, and people who undel stood thu nature
: Of byccles and the impossibility of propol
Hing them up hill began to calculate the pI o.
liabilities OF his getting up the incline he
must inevitably meet at the other end Of the
rope, but Blondin looked extremely cool
anil confident, and no fears for his snfety
seemed to be .eutsriained till, after stopping
cleyerly about midway he began to traverse
the incline. 1t then became apparent, from
the gradual Stacking Of his speed, that he
was doing some hard work, and murmurs
began TO rise from the audience. When
, about twenty yards from the landing stage
lac came to u dead stop and appeared TO rest,
b. balancing himself cautiously with a great
!. | pole he ca ried. lie then made another TO
0 and got n few yards further, when he stop
ped again. IL then became apparent thai
i lie could not get further, as alt oush to the
= danger Of disturbing his equilibrium, h'
o tried to Jerk the machine forward, II refus eC
% TO move The scene that thea ensued wa
't most excing. People lofttheir seats; ladies
with frightened faces, made for the doors
'e aud the general mass Of the people at tn
~ east end of tue building made rush 10 IN
10 west end, hundreds Jumping into the arena
10 When the rush and noise hal subsidized
marvellous stiffness succeeded, The crowd
~ on the floor beneath the rope, aud the gal
10 leries nearest the spot, seemed to be hushe
in eager expectation Of something unplea'
~ ant, gazing some with horror stricken face
=, on the performer, who sat motioRless us
~ statue on the r 'pe,. about six yards from Ii
~ landing place, while the assistant lenno
W over the stage and appeared to be speakin
to him. but looked helpless in the emergenc.
After the delay Of two or three minute
which seemed an age, the assistant. eviden
ly by BlOndin's directions, procured rop
aud this he threw out cautiously, Il fell {
90, the performers shoulders, and he, vii
-, some difficulty, sustained the pole with oil
- hand while with the other he tied the rol
round his waist. The assistant then gent
IA pulled him in. Every move OF the whes
mo was watched by the audience in silent wo
der till the machine ran on the laDdln
70. place when the suppressed exeiteme
in. bursted ia one great shout OF Joy, succeed
IN. by tho widest demonstrations.