The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1870-01-27
ThsIlHng Scene os, "A 1ig,at Rope.

AI-aLLi32lS scene GA "a / s. s2t Rope.
An English paper thus details thrill
ling afiair which occurred during one Of
B.ondin's recent exhibitions:
After he had crossed in 8 sack stood on
chair, and had done some Of his mirror
feats, il ssas fouDd the; t1e rope, which
was a nely one, had slackenei 50 consid-
era5ly that II would be necessary 10 tight
en- il, ia order 10 allow of bis performing
his neg and extraordinary feat Of crossiag
II GA q bicycle, and he was, therefore,
compelled 10 appeal 20 the audience Tor
TIME TO tighten the rope. Hall an hour
was asked for and cheerlully granted, but,
after ;hcguy ropes had been Ioosened and
the rore tightened up, some d liicaIty was
iound4n reiixirg The pole 10 which the
guys were attached, IN consequence of the
tension uf lthe rope having dragged them
iUrcibly ou. Of ;be ground Quite three
quarters OF an hoac elapsed before this
was done, and then B.cndin. appeared
again, and starting from ihe west end of
the boiiding carried his assistant over on
bis back. Z, was evident, from the lew-
eiing oF some ballast bags on the guy
poles, that during tiis passage across, the
rope slackened good deal, hui Blondia
either did not observe this r-did not thiua
it important, Tor alter a short intervrl,
during which be changed his ,Acss, he ar-
peaFed on his bicycle, and amid the cheers
ot the spectators sioried on what seemed
an awful perilcps journey. He bad not
gone lar when il became apparent from
the decline of the rope that 1t had slack
ened very much, and people who under
stood the nature Of bicycles aud tl.e In
possibility Of propelling them Up hiIl began
to calculate the probabilities of his getiiag
up tine incline lie must inevitably meet IT
ghe other end Of ihe rope, but Blondin
looked extremely cool and confident, and
40 fears for his safety srcmed 10 be en-
teTtained til, after stopping cleveTiy about
midway, he began TO traverse the incline.
II tlen became apparent Sffon the gradU,
a Stacking q lis speed, thai lie was dung
some hard work, and mursIu s began 10
rise from the audience. When about
twenty yards ftom The landing stags he
came TO a dead stop aud apPeaeed TO pesf,
balancing himself cautiously with great
pule he carried He then made another
efMt'an got a few yards fHrthor, WHEN
he stopped again. 1t then became appa-
rent that be could not get further. as, al
though to the de1 ger of disturbing his
equilibrium, he tried 10 jerk the machine
forward, II refused 70 move. The scene
pic left their seats; ladies with frightened
faces, made for the doors, and the general
mass of the people at the east end of the
building mate rush 10 the west end,
hundreds jumping into the arena. When
the rush and noise had s0bsided, a mar~
veilous stiffness succeeded. The crowds
on The floor beneath the rope, aud in ihe
galleries nearest tie spot. seemed 10 be
Lushed in eager expectation OF something
unpleasant, gazing some with horror
stricken faces OF Tie performer, who sat
mUtioGless as statue on tie rope, about
six yards from the landing place, while
his assistant leaned over the stage an1
appeared 10 be speaking TO him, but looked
helpless in the emergency After the de-
delay of two or three minutes, which
seemed an age. the assistant, evidently by
B.ondju's directions, procured rope, and
this he threw out cautiously. ir fell on
the perlormeI's shoulders, and he, with
some difficulty, sustained the pole with
one hand, while with ihe other he tied the
rope round lis sist. The assistant then
gently pulled him in. Every move Of
the wheels was watched by the audience
in silent horror till the machine ran On
the landiug stage, when tie suppressed
excitement eliminated in one great Shout
Of joy, succeeded by the widest demon
siraiIons.