Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1870-01-18
a Thrilling Scene

Blondin and his Bicycle On the Tight Rope
| An English paper thus details thrilling af.
fair which occurred lately during one of Blon-
din's exhibitions:
After be had crossed in a sack, stood on a
chair and had done some of his minor feats. it
was found that the rope, which was new one,
had slackened SO considerably that it would be
necessary to tighten it, In order to allow bis
| performing his new and extraordinary feat of
crossing 1t on bicycle, and he was, therefore,
compelled to appeal to the audience for time to
| tighten the rope. Halt an hour vas asked for
and chcerfuly granted, but. after the guy ropes
had been loosed and the rope tightened up,
some difficulty was found in refxiDg the pole to
which the guys were attached. In consequence
of the tension OF the rope having dragged theul
foIciby out of the ground. Quite three quar-
| ters OF an hour elapsed before this was doue,
and then Blondln appeared again, and starting
from the west end Of the building, carried his
assistant over on his back.
1t was evident, from the lowering of some
ballast bags on the guy poles, that during this
passage across the rope sackened great deal,
but Bloudin either did not observe this or dld
not think it important, for after short interval
during which he changed his dress, he appear.
ed on his bicycle, and amid the cheers OF the
Fspectators started on what seemed an awfully
perous journey. He had not gone far when it
that it had slackened very much and people
who understood the nature of bicycles and the
imposslbillty OF propellIng them up hill began
to calculate the probabilities of bis getting up
the incline he must inevitably meet at the other
| end of the rope but Blondin looked extremely
cool and confident, and no fears for his safety
seemed to be entertained, till, after stopping
cIeverly about midway, he began to traverse the
incline. 1t then became apparent, from the
gradual Stacking OF his speed, that ne was do
! Dg some hard work, and murmurs began to
rise from the audience. When about twenty
yards from the landing stage be came to dead
stop and appeared to rest, balancing himself
cautiously with great pole he carried He
then made another effort aud got few yards
further, when he stopped again. 1t then be-
came apparent that he could not get further, as,
although to the danger Of disturbing his euui-
brium, he tried to jerk the machine forward,
| it refused to move.
The scene that then ensued was most exciting.
People lett their seats; ladies. with frightened
faces, made for the doors, aud the general mass
OF the people at the east end OF the building
made rush TO the west and hundreds iumpin
into the arena When the rush and noise had
subsidized, marvellous stiffness succeeded. The
crowds on the floor beneath the rope, and in
| the galleries nearest the spot, seemed 20 be
bushed in eager expectation of something un-
pleasant, gazing withshorror-stricken faces on
the performer, who sat inotoness as statue
on therape, about six yards from the landing
place. while his assistant leaned over the stage,
and appeared to be speaking to him, but look
ed helpless 10 the emergency. After delay
of two or three minutes, which seemed an age,
the assistant, evidently by Blondln' directions,
procured rope, and this he threw cut cautious
ly. 1t fell on the performers shoulders, and
| he with soma dlfficulty sustained he pola vii h
one hand, while with the other, he tied the rope
around his waist The assistant then gently
pulled him in. Every motion of the wheel.
was watched by the audience in silent horror
till the machine ran on the landing stage, when
the suppressed excitement eliminated In one
great shout ofjoy, succeeded by the widest de.
| mOnstratlOns.